The History of Hanukkah

With regards to the holiday of Hanukkah, while most everyone knows about the Maccabees’ victory over the mighty Seleucid Greek Empire and the subsequent miracle of the menorah oil lasting for eight days, less known are the parts of the story that involve Jewish power struggles, religious oppression, civil war, and a political alliance with Rome. Even though the “good guys” aren’t all good, Hanukkah remains a celebration of resilience, beating the odds, and standing up for one’s beliefs.

Big Ideas

1. The festival of Hanukkah is a celebration of resilience, beating the odds, and standing up for one’s beliefs.
2. The Hanukkah story (as well as other Jewish stories) are more complex and interesting than the version of the story that is commonly known. 
3. The true Hanukkah story is as much about internal division as it is about religious oppression by the Seleucid Greek empire. 

Essential Questions

1. What does it mean to stand up for your beliefs?
2. How do the more complex elements of the narrative impact the Hanukkah story? 
3. How did internal division contribute to the conflict in the Hanukkah story?

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