The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-11-30

~ Feast " Dedication, known
IN llbPew Is Chanukah.s viii b
Stfated In the tfi-cities and in
~ jewish cirrlss II tho world. be-
eIkniss q shutdown. Sunday, Dsc.
eghi6 fssslsal lasts Or sisht'
~ ana u observed g ono Of the
jyous Aoli6ays 10 the Jewish al
jSdar.
Il Friday evenings sermon q the
fisCtty Temple Emanuel. Elev-
tl and Brady streets. Davenport
Rabbi J. l.. Baron, will be on
IN Cleansing Of the Temple:
I ~ Will Yov Celebrate ftr The
enii Jacob and Beth Israel syn
Z Sogues Of this city will also con-
net services Friday evening and
bn4ay evening. Friday evening.
-. IL, the s6fmon will DO given
~. Hsrsog Of Chicago, who
lil tpeak on DUTY to Judaism"
W91Sday morning children Of the
pcG island and Davenport Sun
~ tebools will give program at
II temple. A feature Of the pro-
Gtln1 will be the lighting OF the
eight candles In commemoration OF
q time when the Jewish people
Gpn6 only q one-day supply OF oil
~ the temple, but which through
Gmfracle lasted eight days.
~ Origin OF Feast.
The origin Of Chanukah is traced
y : historical event Of trench
Gus consequence to the Jewish
tboplo. In the year 1913 B. G. E.,
l1s Syrian King Antiochus Nv or
xpipkanes had resolved upon an
i1peSialistic policy OF unifying all
tls provinces ANA peoples in his
4pmaln. Al Z preliminary measure
ttwards this contamination Of his
ambition, an edict was promulgat-
q. compelling ill his subjects to
a1ops . common religion, that Of
he Greeks. Tsf
'HThIe decree met with unexpect-
u opposition among his least pow
6lfut subjects, .he Jews. The poly
tlsisn OF tho Greek religion, its
" morality and debaslng influ-
tacsa melted the Jews to rebel.
Hon. Under tho leadership Of the
o6ed priest, Mattathias, and after
M death, Ais son. Judas Macca-
bus. armed resistance was array
a against the powerful armies
which Antiochus sent against the
iunahitants Of Palestine. The valor
II this heroic hand triumphed over
ne mighty hosts OF Syria. The
temple At Jerusalem which had
been denIed by idolatrous
pyactices was rededicated to the
worship Of the one God. The re-
dedication took place ON the o6th
day Of Kislev. according to the cal
sudAr OF the synagogue. in the year
l15 B. C. 3. In cOmmemoration. Of
The victory. the Feast Of ChanukAh
y celebrated even unto this day.
= Legesds Preserved.
sJLegcnds. Impressive Of this tri-
umph and the festive character OF
the celebration, have been preserv-
I'd. Al old legend recoInts the
RirsculOus preservation Of q single
cruise Of undecided oil, found IN the
temple at the time Of the rededica-
tlon. which burned for eight days.
The kindling Of lights In the home
and In the synagogue is a distin-
gushing feature OF the festival
The traditional practice is to light
one candle on the first night, two
on the second. and so on until
eight are kindled on the last day
Of the feast.
The special prayers recitsd in
the synagogue In connection with
Chanukah stress the triumph OF
tho spirit Of God over the might
and power Of goddess man.
The festival is utilized by the
modern synagogue as an occasion
for participation Of the children
at the religious schools in plays or
pAgeants which express the glo-
fious victory Of the few and feeble
over the mighty hosts of oppres-