Dr. Jodi Magness

Right, exactly. And the reason is because of its proximity to Christmas. Now, so because of that, Hanukkah has become presented as a major Jewish holiday. But actually, it's not a major Jewish holiday. In fact, it's a minor Jewish holiday. Because the major Jewish holidays are biblically mandated. In other words, the major Jewish holidays have a scriptural basis in the five books of Moses.

Right, exactly. And the reason is because of its proximity to Christmas. Now, so because of that, Hanukkah has become presented as a major Jewish holiday. But actually, it's not a major Jewish holiday. In fact, it's a minor Jewish holiday. Because the major Jewish holidays are biblically mandated. In other words, the major Jewish holidays have a scriptural basis in the five books of Moses.

Right, exactly. And the reason is because of its proximity to Christmas. Now, so because of that, Hanukkah has become presented as a major Jewish holiday. But actually, it's not a major Jewish holiday. In fact, it's a minor Jewish holiday. Because the major Jewish holidays are biblically mandated. In other words, the major Jewish holidays have a scriptural basis in the five books of Moses.

These are holidays that the God of Israel commanded his people to observe. So the major Jewish holidays, well, you have the great pilgrimage holidays to the Jerusalem temple, right? So you have Sukkot, which is the Feast of Tabernacles and Passover and Shavuot, which is the Feast of Weeks. And then you have the new year and then you have Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

These are holidays that the God of Israel commanded his people to observe. So the major Jewish holidays, well, you have the great pilgrimage holidays to the Jerusalem temple, right? So you have Sukkot, which is the Feast of Tabernacles and Passover and Shavuot, which is the Feast of Weeks. And then you have the new year and then you have Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

These are holidays that the God of Israel commanded his people to observe. So the major Jewish holidays, well, you have the great pilgrimage holidays to the Jerusalem temple, right? So you have Sukkot, which is the Feast of Tabernacles and Passover and Shavuot, which is the Feast of Weeks. And then you have the new year and then you have Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

And those are the major holidays. So this holiday, Hanukkah, has no scriptural basis. It is a holiday that was invented probably by the Hasmoneans, the successors of the Maccabees, to legitimize their dynasty. It's a holiday that probably was not, well, I could say certainly was not recognized by

And those are the major holidays. So this holiday, Hanukkah, has no scriptural basis. It is a holiday that was invented probably by the Hasmoneans, the successors of the Maccabees, to legitimize their dynasty. It's a holiday that probably was not, well, I could say certainly was not recognized by

And those are the major holidays. So this holiday, Hanukkah, has no scriptural basis. It is a holiday that was invented probably by the Hasmoneans, the successors of the Maccabees, to legitimize their dynasty. It's a holiday that probably was not, well, I could say certainly was not recognized by

For a while, among at least some sectors of the Jewish population, the Qumran sect associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls would not have recognized this as a legitimate holiday. So the only reason it becomes important or it's important today is because of its temporal proximity to Christmas. I like to compare it to Thanksgiving here in the U.S.

For a while, among at least some sectors of the Jewish population, the Qumran sect associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls would not have recognized this as a legitimate holiday. So the only reason it becomes important or it's important today is because of its temporal proximity to Christmas. I like to compare it to Thanksgiving here in the U.S.

For a while, among at least some sectors of the Jewish population, the Qumran sect associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls would not have recognized this as a legitimate holiday. So the only reason it becomes important or it's important today is because of its temporal proximity to Christmas. I like to compare it to Thanksgiving here in the U.S.

It's a holiday that's kind of like a national holiday in a way, but not a religious holiday.

It's a holiday that's kind of like a national holiday in a way, but not a religious holiday.

It's a holiday that's kind of like a national holiday in a way, but not a religious holiday.

Absolutely. And so everybody thinks Hanukkah, you know, and the cleansing of the temple is the end of the story. But what happens after that is that Judah and his brothers continue the revolt, even after the rededication of the temple, because the Seleucid kingdom was growing very weak. And they took advantage of that.

Absolutely. And so everybody thinks Hanukkah, you know, and the cleansing of the temple is the end of the story. But what happens after that is that Judah and his brothers continue the revolt, even after the rededication of the temple, because the Seleucid kingdom was growing very weak. And they took advantage of that.

Absolutely. And so everybody thinks Hanukkah, you know, and the cleansing of the temple is the end of the story. But what happens after that is that Judah and his brothers continue the revolt, even after the rededication of the temple, because the Seleucid kingdom was growing very weak. And they took advantage of that.

And there's another series of battles and Judah loses his life and another couple of his brothers eventually die. But what happens eventually is that under a couple of Judah's other brothers, Jonathan and Simon, Eventually, the Jews are able to gain independence, complete independence from Seleucid rule. This finally happens under Simon, the youngest of the five brothers.

And there's another series of battles and Judah loses his life and another couple of his brothers eventually die. But what happens eventually is that under a couple of Judah's other brothers, Jonathan and Simon, Eventually, the Jews are able to gain independence, complete independence from Seleucid rule. This finally happens under Simon, the youngest of the five brothers.