On the 25th of Kislev we begin to celebrate eight days of ‏חנוכה‎ or Dedication, in commemoration of the victories of the Maccabees over Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria. Antiochus had attempted to force the Jews to idolatry, and to make them abandon the worship of the true God. The Jews, led by the Maccabees, resisted, and, armed with faith in God, gained the victory over large armies of the enemy. The Temple, which had been defiled by the heathen soldiers, was again purified, and the Service of God re-established. For lighting the continual lamp (‏נר תמיד‎) pure oil was wanted, that had not been touched by the heathen. Only a small cruse of pure oil was found, which was believed to be sufficient for one night; but it sufficed for eight days, by which time a fresh supply could be procured. The Feast of Dedication commemorates the victory of the faithful over the faithless, of the true religion over idolatry, of light over darkness, and is celebrated— (1.) By lighting ‏חנוכה‎ lights, one on the first evening, and adding one light each successive evening, so that on the eighth evening eight lights are kindled. (2.) By giving expression to our feeling of gratitude in psalms (‏הלל‎) and prayers of thanks (‏על הנסים‎). In the Morning Service a few verses from Num. vii., on the dedication of the Altar, are read. On Sabbath Chanuccah, Zechariah’s vision, Zech. ii. 10 to iii. 7, including the vision of the golden candlestick, is read as haphtarah; and if there happen to be a second Sabbath Chanuccah, 1 Kings vii. 40–50, a description of the various vessels and ornaments in the Temple of Solomon is read on that Sabbath. Note 1.—The ‏חנוכה‎ lights remind us, in the first place, of the reopening of the Temple and the resumption of the regular Temple Service. But they are also intended to remind us of the light of our holy faith, which Antiochus Epiphanes attempted in vain to extinguish. For it shed forth its light again, and shone brighter and brighter every successive day. We thus learn that when our religion is imperilled, firmness against temptation or force is sure to lead to success and victory. 2. Before lighting the Chanuccah lights the following blessings are said: ‏ברוך … אשר קדשנו … להדליק נר של חנוכה‎ “Blessed art thou ... who hast sanctified us by thy commandments and hast commanded us to kindle the lights of Chanuccah.” ‏ברוך … שעשה נסים לאבותינו בימים ההם בזמן הזה‎ “Blessed art thou ... who wroughtest miracles for our fathers in days of old at this season.” On the first night ‏שהחינו‎ is added. ‏פורים‎ PURIM.