page_title: Hanukkah
section_title: Battles of the Maccabean Revolt
hierarchical_section_title: Hanukkah / Story / Battles of the Maccabean Revolt
caption_attribution_description: The Knesset Menorah, Jerusalem (detail - Hasmonean)
context_page_description: Hanukkah is a Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire. It is also known as the Festival of Lights.
  Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, called a menorah. One branch is typically placed above or below the others and its candle is used to light the other eight candles. This unique candle is called the shamash. Each night, one additional candle is lit by the shamash until all eight candles are lit together on the final night of the festival. Other Hanukkah festivities include playing the game of dreidel and eating oil-based foods, such as latkes and sufganiyot, and dairy foods. Since the 1970s, the worldwide Chabad Hasidic movement has initiated public menorah lightings in open public places in many countries.
context_section_description: Selected battles between the Maccabees and the Seleucid Syrian-Greeks:
  Battle of Adasa (Judas Maccabeus leads the Jews to victory against the forces of Nicanor.)
  Battle of Beth Horon (Judas Maccabeus defeats the forces of Seron.)
  Battle of Beth-zechariah (Elazar the Maccabee is killed in battle. Lysias has success in battle against the Maccabees, but allows them temporary freedom of worship.)
  Battle of Beth Zur (Judas Maccabeus defeats the army of Lysias, recapturing Jerusalem.)
  Dathema (A Jewish fortress saved by Judas Maccabeus.)
  Battle of Elasa (Judas Maccabeus dies in battle against the army of King Demetrius and Bacchides. He is succeeded by Jonathan Maccabaeus and Simon Maccabaeus, who continue to lead the Jews in battle.)
  Battle of Emmaus (Judas Maccabeus fights the forces of Lysias and Georgias).
  Battle of Wadi Haramia
caption: Maccabees on the Knesset Menorah
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