...to all who celebrate. The festival of lights,or f the rededication of the temple, commences this evening, Sunday November 28th, with the lighting of the first candle on the menorah. The candles of the menorah are lit to celebrate the rededication of the Jewish holy temple after the Syrian-Greek occupying army was driven from Israel by a relatively small band of Jews under the leadership of Judah the Maccabee. The temple had been defiled by the Syrian-Greeks and when the Jews went to light the temple's seven branched menorah, they found they had enough oil for only one night. Somehow, that oil wound up lasting 8 days. The menorah today has nine flames, one for each of the 8 days/nights the oil lasted when the temple was rededicated and the shamash, a helper or attendant flame, from which to light the others. (More at the sources here and here and here.)
All the best,
Glenn B
