TO THE MEMORY OF THE LATE MINA LIPPMAN AARON THESE PAGES ARE DEDICATED ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE STORY OF CHANUKAH BY BENJAMIN SACKS B. A. [Illustration] HEBREW INSTITUTE PITTSBURGH PA. ---- 5678 ---- COPYRIGHT 1913 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE FESTIVAL The festival of Chanukah was instituted by Judas Maccabeus and the elders of the Congregation of Israel in the year 3595 on the 25th day of Kislev ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration] THE STORY OF CHANUKA. Upon the death of Alexander the Great, under whose reign the Jews enjoyed freedom and peace, his kingdom was divided among his generals, one of whom took Egypt and another, Syria. There was continual strife between the kings of these two countries, for each wanted to subject the other to his rule. Palestine, being situated between Syria and Egypt, became the battlefield upon which their armies fought. At times, the kings of Syria would be victorious, and at times the kings of Egypt would gain the upper hand. For a long time the armies of Egypt were victors, and so it happened that many of the Jews went to live in Alexandria, where they acquired many of the Greek customs practiced there. Judea, in the meantime, became a tributary to Egypt. The Jews were treated well by the Egyptians; they were allowed to appoint their own governors; and their religion was not interfered with. About 100 years after the death of Alexander, Antiochus III., surnamed the Great, ascended the throne of Syria. He conquered Egypt and with it Palestine. The position of the Jews, however, was not changed; they were mildly ruled, and their government was left in their own hands. Antiochus was succeeded by his oldest son, Seleucus Philopater.