MACCABEAN HISTORY
The family that led the revolt.
Who were the Maccabees?
Chanukah means this.
What is “dedication”?
The miracle that explains eight days.
What is the oil lasting eight days?
The books telling the Chanukah story.
What are the Books of Maccabees?
The nine‑branched candelabrum.
What is the hanukkiah?
The priest who began the revolt.
Who was Mattathias?
The holiday celebrates the rededication of this sacred place.
What is the Second Temple?
This source contains the oil miracle story.
What is Talmud Shabbat 21b?
These texts are part of this non‑canonical collection.
What is the Apocrypha?
The candle used to light the others.
What is the shamash?
The Seleucid king whose decrees sparked the revolt.
Who was Antiochus IV Epiphanes?
The purification occurred on this calendar date.
What is the 25th of Kislev?
Early Chanukah focused mainly on this achievement.
What is the military victory?
The most historical of the Maccabean books.
What is 1 Maccabees?
This prayer paragraph recounts the Chanukah victory.
What is Al HaNissim?
This Seleucid general was defeated by Judas at Beth‑Horon.
Who was Seron?
This concept explains how the Temple could be polluted and restored.
What is ritual defilement and purification (tum’ah/taharah)?
The rabbis emphasized this principle when publicizing the miracle.
What is pirsumei nisa?
2 Maccabees is an abridgment of a work by this author.
Who was Jason of Cyrene?
The dispute over ascending vs. descending lights reflects these two schools.
Who are Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai?
His civil war with Demetrius II enabled Hasmonean autonomy.
Who was Alexander Balas?
1 & 2 Maccabees differ on who purified the Temple, centering on this leader.
Who was Judas Maccabeus?
Hanukkah’s length may echo the delayed observance of this pilgrimage festival.
What is Sukkot?
This philosophical text reframes the revolt as reason over passion.
What is 4 Maccabees?
Using Chanukah candles for this benefit is prohibited.
What is hana’ah (practical use of the light)?