Chanukah begins the 25th of Kislev and goes for 8 days.
Chanukah is the celebration of the Macabees victory from the Syrian tyrant
Antiochus over 2,300 years ago in ancient Judea. Antiochus seized Judea and
forced everyone to worship his Idols. Some people obeyed, but many resisted,
one of which was Judah Macabee. Judah and his brothers formed a resistance
force. They chose their name, "Macabee" (meaning "hammer") as the name of
their force. After much fighting, the Macabees finally drove out the invaders
and recaptured and freed the land. When they conquered Judea, the Syrians
destroyed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The Macabees reclaimed the temple,
only to find it destroyed and Idolized in the Syrians way of religion. The
Macabees finished their job of restoring the temple on the 25th of Kislev.
Judah and his followers wanted to light the N'er Tamid, or the eternal light,
but there was only 1 days worth of oil left. But the oil stayed burning for
8 days, until more oil was acquired. The word Chanukah means "Rededication",
relating to the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem.