The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-12-01
Jewish Children Celebrate sChanuckah" :.
 For Eight Days

l4 Considering that Christmas comes but once a year, and lasts only twen- ty-four hours. many a Christian youngster will feel envious of his Jewish companions today, for the chief festival of the Hebrew children. 'ChanGckah" which begins this even ing, will continue for a period of eight days. The Feast of the Dedication of the Temple, which commences on the twenty-fifth of the month Kislev, cor responding this year to the second of December, is. observed by old as we'll as young, but. like Christmas, it is looked upon as special occasion for rejoicing among the rising gener- ation.
 At sundpWn this evening the pater- fly will light a candle and thus usher in the celebration Tomorrow night he will light a second candle from the first, and so on until the eighth night there will be eight candles burning. To add to the interest of the children. the candles are often coIored ones.
 This rite has an ancient historical significance. Away back in 65 B. c. the foundation for the present cele- bratfOn was laid when Judas Macoa- baeus, the gallant Jewish general, led a successful revolt and capture1 Jer- usa1em. Antiochus Epiphanes, a. Syr- ian monarch, who held sway over Palestine, had attempted to suppress the Jewish worship. The patriotic Massachusetts was the son of Matta- thias. an old village priest, who start ed the revolt.
 The triumph of the Jews followed a period of unparalleled slaughter Antiochus. the Syrian king, had des- troyed the walls of JeFusaIen,s and decreed the general and exclusive in troduction of Greek idoIatry The image of the king was placed in the faT Tes R0dt teSr7 fIao altar, new a1tars were erected all over the country where the Jews, on pen alty of death. were forced to wor- ship Jupiter. and the Hebrew Scrip tures were burned, Thousands after thousands were slain or dragged into a captivity worse than death.
 When Mattathias and shis five sons Judas, John, Simon, Eleazar and Jon athan, were commanded to sacrifice to Jupiter, they drew their swords and declared that they would never submit. Their brave example arous- ed others, and thousands Hooked after them into the desert, where they des+ stroyed the altars of their Syrian op-, pressors, Contempt of death gave victory, and when the old patri ot priest died in 166 and gave the com rnand of the army to his son Judas the latter soon displayed military genius that places him in the front rank of Hebrew martial heroes. He won several fOVerW heln1ng victories, and terror reigned among the Syr- ians in Judea. The greatly superior ferces of the Syrians, led by their ablest generals, were defeated by the Jews. and Jerusalem was reconquer- ed. Their triumph was brief, how ever, and five years later Judas was killed in battle, with all his compan- ions.
 When Jerusalem was recaptured and the temple rescued and purified and rededfcated to the worship of Jehovah, the high priest found only a small bottle of unpolluted oiI.A This was enough to last but one day, but, accordingto the legend, it miraculous ly burned for eight days. This is the, origin of the rite of the eight candles
 On the evenings of Chanuckah the Jewish children receive gifts and play games, while the elders play cards, eat pancakes, and drink tea. Chan rckah is the only time when music is allowed in the orthodox synago- gues. The Hebrews long ago made a vcw thatAuntil the Messiah comes they will not play music in the sacred edifices