Hanukkah – United States World Showcase Storytellers Epcot

Hanukkah is the annual Jewish festival celebrated on eight consecutive days beginning on the 25th day of Kislev, the third month in the Jewish calendar. It is also known as the festival of lights. Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem by Judah Maccabee in 165 BC after the Temple had been profaned by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, king of Syria and overload of Palestine.

After having recovered Jerusalem and the Temple, Judah ordered the Temple to be cleansed, a new altar to be built in place of the polluted one, and new holey vessels to be made. According to the Talmud, oil was needed to keep the menorah in the Temple burning. There was only enough oil to burn for one day, yet miraculously it burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil for the menorah.

The eight-day festival of Hanukkah was declared to commemorate this miracle.

Click on Photo for Larger Image