Hanukkah History Timeline

Circa 200 BCE

– Judea (modern-day Israel) is under the control of the Seleucid Empire, a Hellenistic empire with a strong influence from Greek culture and customs. Jewish practices and customs are allowed at this time.

175 BCE

– Antiochus IV Epiphanes becomes the ruler of the Seleucid Empire. He imposes harsh policies, outlawing Judaism and mandating the worship of Greek gods. Jewish practices, including observing the Sabbath and studying Torah, are forbidden.

168 BCE

– Antiochus orders the desecration of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. He installs an altar to Zeus in the Temple and sacrifices pigs (a non-kosher animal in Judaism) on the altar, desecrating the Jewish holy site.

167 BCE

– The Maccabean Revolt begins. Led by a Jewish priest named Mattathias and later by his son Judah Maccabee, Jewish fighters (the Maccabees) rebel against Antiochus’s oppressive rule. The Maccabees engage in guerrilla warfare to drive the Seleucid forces out of Judea.

164 BCE

– The Maccabees successfully reclaim Jerusalem and the Second Temple. They cleanse and rededicate the Temple, removing all signs of Greek idolatry.

The Miracle of the Oil

– During the rededication, the Maccabees find only a small amount of ritually pure oil to light the Temple’s menorah. This oil is expected to last just one day, but miraculously, it burns for eight days, allowing time to produce more consecrated oil. This miracle becomes the foundation of Hanukkah.

Hanukkah is Established

– The eight-day festival of Hanukkah is established by Jewish leaders to commemorate the miracle of the oil and the rededication of the Temple. The holiday becomes known as the “Festival of Lights.”

Modern Observance

– Today, Hanukkah is celebrated by lighting the menorah for eight nights, exchanging gifts, playing dreidel, and eating foods fried in oil (such as latkes and sufganiyot) to remember the miracle of the oil.

This timeline highlights how Hanukkah commemorates the Jewish struggle for religious freedom and the miracle of the oil, which are central to the holiday’s traditions and symbolism.