The Chanukah story begins with the Syrian-Greek occupation of the Holy Land. At the start, Greek rule was fairly benign...

The troubles began in earnest when Antiochus "The Madman" ascended to the throne over the Syrian-Greek empire...

Antiochus enacted a series of harsh decrees. Jewish worship was forbidden; the scrolls of the Law were confiscated and burned. Sabbath rest, circumcision and the dietary laws were prohibited...

A Hellenistic Jew approached the altar to offer a sacrifice. Mattityahu grabbed his sword and killed him, and his sons and friends fell upon the Syrian officers and men...

When Judah and his brothers heard of the approaching armies, they exclaimed: "Let us fight unto death in defense of our souls and our Temple!"

Wanting to light the Menorah, they found only a small cruse of pure olive oil bearing the seal of the High Priest. It was sufficient to light only for one day...

The holy fires on the altar burnt again in the Holy Temple. Order and peace seemed established. One man, though, realized that the time for a return to normal living had not yet come...