Dr. Jodi Magness

And in the meantime, they're able to go and prepare new special oil to keep the lampstand lit. And that then becomes sort of the origin story, if you wish, of Hanukkah, the holiday of Hanukkah, which basically celebrates the outcome of the revolt, right? But this symbol of the lampstand becomes associated with the holiday of Hanukkah.

And in the meantime, they're able to go and prepare new special oil to keep the lampstand lit. And that then becomes sort of the origin story, if you wish, of Hanukkah, the holiday of Hanukkah, which basically celebrates the outcome of the revolt, right? But this symbol of the lampstand becomes associated with the holiday of Hanukkah.

And so Hanukkah then becomes a holiday that is celebrated for eight days, right? Eight days and eight nights. And where, you know, the lampstand, now the lampstand, by the way, in the Jerusalem temple had seven branches, right? It had seven branches. It had a central branch in the middle and then three branches on either side of that.

And so Hanukkah then becomes a holiday that is celebrated for eight days, right? Eight days and eight nights. And where, you know, the lampstand, now the lampstand, by the way, in the Jerusalem temple had seven branches, right? It had seven branches. It had a central branch in the middle and then three branches on either side of that.

And so Hanukkah then becomes a holiday that is celebrated for eight days, right? Eight days and eight nights. And where, you know, the lampstand, now the lampstand, by the way, in the Jerusalem temple had seven branches, right? It had seven branches. It had a central branch in the middle and then three branches on either side of that.

Well, for the holiday of Hanukkah, that lampstand for use in the holiday of Hanukkah, the lampstand was kind of adapted and an extra branch on either side was added to it. So now you have one central. So for each, yes. Right, and then four arms on either side of it with those four arms, meaning eight, symbolizing the eight days and nights of Hanukkah.

Well, for the holiday of Hanukkah, that lampstand for use in the holiday of Hanukkah, the lampstand was kind of adapted and an extra branch on either side was added to it. So now you have one central. So for each, yes. Right, and then four arms on either side of it with those four arms, meaning eight, symbolizing the eight days and nights of Hanukkah.

Well, for the holiday of Hanukkah, that lampstand for use in the holiday of Hanukkah, the lampstand was kind of adapted and an extra branch on either side was added to it. So now you have one central. So for each, yes. Right, and then four arms on either side of it with those four arms, meaning eight, symbolizing the eight days and nights of Hanukkah.

And so for the celebration of the holiday of Hanukkah, it became traditional to light this lampstand and every night an additional lamp was lit and still is lit until all of them are lit finally on the last night of Hanukkah. So that's how we get that, what's called a Hanukkah menorah. That is sort of the symbol of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah today.

And so for the celebration of the holiday of Hanukkah, it became traditional to light this lampstand and every night an additional lamp was lit and still is lit until all of them are lit finally on the last night of Hanukkah. So that's how we get that, what's called a Hanukkah menorah. That is sort of the symbol of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah today.

And so for the celebration of the holiday of Hanukkah, it became traditional to light this lampstand and every night an additional lamp was lit and still is lit until all of them are lit finally on the last night of Hanukkah. So that's how we get that, what's called a Hanukkah menorah. That is sort of the symbol of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah today.

And so the holiday of Hanukkah actually celebrates the outcome of the revolt here, at least in 164, with the rededication of the temple to the God of Israel and symbolizing really the continued survival of the Jewish religion, of Judaism until today. So here I just want to point out to your listeners that Hanukkah, therefore, has nothing to do with Christmas.

And so the holiday of Hanukkah actually celebrates the outcome of the revolt here, at least in 164, with the rededication of the temple to the God of Israel and symbolizing really the continued survival of the Jewish religion, of Judaism until today. So here I just want to point out to your listeners that Hanukkah, therefore, has nothing to do with Christmas.

And so the holiday of Hanukkah actually celebrates the outcome of the revolt here, at least in 164, with the rededication of the temple to the God of Israel and symbolizing really the continued survival of the Jewish religion, of Judaism until today. So here I just want to point out to your listeners that Hanukkah, therefore, has nothing to do with Christmas.

It has nothing to do necessarily with gift giving. There's no connection between Hanukkah and Christmas, except that they occur at roughly the same time of year. I teach my students about this a lot. I do my little what I call my Hanukkah rant and rave, which is that if you ask most people, at least in the U.S.

It has nothing to do necessarily with gift giving. There's no connection between Hanukkah and Christmas, except that they occur at roughly the same time of year. I teach my students about this a lot. I do my little what I call my Hanukkah rant and rave, which is that if you ask most people, at least in the U.S.

It has nothing to do necessarily with gift giving. There's no connection between Hanukkah and Christmas, except that they occur at roughly the same time of year. I teach my students about this a lot. I do my little what I call my Hanukkah rant and rave, which is that if you ask most people, at least in the U.S.

today and probably in many other parts of the world, if they know of any Jewish holiday at all, can you name a Jewish holiday? many of them will only be familiar with Hanukkah.

today and probably in many other parts of the world, if they know of any Jewish holiday at all, can you name a Jewish holiday? many of them will only be familiar with Hanukkah.

today and probably in many other parts of the world, if they know of any Jewish holiday at all, can you name a Jewish holiday? many of them will only be familiar with Hanukkah.