Historical Overview Of Chanukah

The period which led up to the Maccabean revolt began with the conquests of Alexander the Great. The young Alexander had succeeded in conquering the Persian Empire and then all of the civilized world of his time. In the wake of his armies, the Greek culture was spread among the conquered peoples.

The situation in the Land of Israel was not at all secure even before the advent of Alexander. Many close to Alexander were attempting to persuade him to curtail the freedoms the Jews possessed, particularly in regard to the Temple service. Then a miracle occurred which prompted Alexander to grant even greater dispensations to his Jewish subjects.

The Talmud records the encounter of Shimon HaTzadik, the High Priest, with Alexander as the young Emperor entered Israel. The High Priest, leading a delegation of distinguished elders, went out to meet the Emperor. To the utter amazement of everyone present, upon seeing the High Priest, Alexander dismounted and bowed to the ground. He explained that the apparition of this holy man appeared to him before each battle and led his troops to victory. It is further recorded that Alexander asked Rabbi Shimon why he had brought such a large body of great men to greet him. Rabbi Shimon replied, "Can it be that idolaters will convince you to destroy the Holy Temple where we pray that you and your empire not be destroyed?"

Alexander was enraged and asked who would dare to conspire to destroy the Holy Temple. Shimon pointed to the Emperor's Cuthean advisors (the Cutheans being sworn enemies of the Jews). That remark ended the long harassment of the Jews by these enemies.

This happy state of affairs ended abruptly with Alexander's sudden death at the age of 33 in the year 313 b.c.e. His vast empire was divided amongst his generals, with Israel falling from one tyrant to another and the Jews living under repressive conditions, with few periods of respite. Attempts to spread the prevalent Greek culture continued, as it was advantageous to rule a homogeneous empire. Thus began the battle to eradicate the Jewish religion. Tragically, the most dangerous foes came from within. The powerful Hellenized Jews, who strove to be more Greek than the Greeks, brought disaster to their own brethren.

The Sages of the time instituted various laws designed to preserve the integrity of the Jewish people. But the problem was not to be solved easily. Treachery arose from the segment of the Jewish people who curried favor with the foreign conquerors, and they successfully purchased the rights to collect taxes and even purchased the High Priesthood itself.

In the year 3586 (175 b.c.e.) Antiochus IV became the ruler of a portion of Alexander's kingdom which included Israel. Although his coinage read "Antiochus Theos Epiphanes" [G-d Made Manifest], the people referred to him as "Epimanes," the Mad One, which more aptly described his erratic behavior.

In the name of unifying his realm, Antiochus issued an edict forbidding the practice of all national religions. To the Jews the edict was specific: the Temple sacrificial services must be halted and sacrifices to the pagan deities were to be initiated. Observance of the Sabbath, circumcision, mikva and even the use of G-d's name were all prohibited on pain of death. Anyone in possession of a Torah would be put to death. Any woman who circumcised her child was executed, together with her entire family and the mohel who performed the brit.

Antiochus became increasingly more determined to break the Jewish people. Elazar, an elderly, respected Sage was given a choice: bow down to an image of the king and to partake of a pig, or die. When he refused, he was given the option of pretending to eat pig, although he would be permitted to substitute kosher meat. Again, the sage refused, saying "Many of the young people would suppose that Elazar, at the age of 90, had gone over to the religion of the heathen... To the young people I will leave an example of strength to die willingly with courage for the perfect and holy Torah." Elazar was executed.

The persecutions continued taking a toll in martyrs. It was at this time that Mattithias, the son of the High Priest Yohanan, moved to the small village of Modi'in. Before long the king's enforcers entered the village and demanded that the people offer a sacrifice to the pagan deities. Mattithias was singled out and promised the special designation "friend of the king" if he would obey. He proudly refused. At that point, a Jew who was a well-known Hellenist came forward who desired to ingratiate himself with the authorities by sacrificing a pig. Mattithias grabbed a sword and killed the man and Antiochus' emissaries.

Uttering the words, "Whoever is for G-d, follow me!" Mattithias led his sons and other Jews to the Judean hills where they lived in caves and plotted the destruction of their enemies. Eventually, they massed a force of 6,000 who struck at the enemy in nocturnal raids, inflicting grievous losses and demolishing their pagan altars. The revolt had begun. Mattityahu did not live to see the successful completion of the struggle, but before he died his five sons gathered at his bedside and he entreated them to continue the fight against the Syrians.

There were years of struggle before the enemy was routed from the Holy Temple, and decades before Jewish sovereignty was established in the land.