The Jewish festival of Hanukkah is one of the most familiar to Americans—but also, possibly, one of the least understood. In the traditional Jewish calendar it is a minor festival: There is no fast, no cessation of work and its observance is primarily conducted in the home. Its popularity in part owes either to its proximity to Christmas or to the winter solstice, and its origins are largely secular/nationalistic in nature. However, it has its beginnings in a very specific historical era, and, of all the Jewish holidays, it is the best documented: We know when the events it describes occurred and how the religious practices associated with it evolved. Tracing that history and describing those practices in detail will be one of the principal objectives of this class. We will discuss passages from Maccabees I and II—plus the Book of Judith that describes a similar struggle for national and religious freedom. In addition, we will look at a passage from the Babylonian Talmud (Shabbat 21b) that discusses the meaning of Hanukkah and its ceremonies. Finally, we will consider the dreidel game and what it tells us about the festival.
Course Code
504032