## Ceremony and Celebration Family Edition, The Hagim, Hanukka, The First Night, It Once Happened

###### Ceremony and Celebration Family Edition, The Hagim, Hanukka, The First Night, It Once Happened 1
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**Ceremony & Celebration Family Edition, Maggid Books, 2023:**
*The Ḥanukka story as told in the Al HaNissim prayer in the siddur:*


###### Ceremony and Celebration Family Edition, The Hagim, Hanukka, The First Night, It Once Happened 2
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**Ceremony & Celebration Family Edition, Maggid Books, 2023:**
In the days of Mattityahu, son of Yoḥanan, the high priest, the Hasmonean, and his sons, the wicked Greek kingdom rose up against Your people Israel to make them forget Your Torah and to force them to transgress the laws of Your will. It was then that You in Your great compassion stood by them in the time of their distress. You championed their cause, judged their claim, and avenged their wrong. You delivered the strong into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few, the impure into the hands of the pure, the wicked into the hands of the righteous, and the arrogant into the hands of those who were engaged in the study of Your Torah. You made for Yourself a great and holy reputation in Your world, and for Your people Israel You performed a great salvation and redemption as of this very day. Your children then entered the holiest part of Your House, cleansed Your Temple, purified Your Sanctuary, kindled lights in Your holy courts, and designated these eight days of Ḥanukka for giving thanks and praise to Your great name.


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**Ceremony & Celebration Family Edition, Maggid Books, 2023:**
*The Ḥanukka story continued, as told in the Talmud (Shabbat 21b):*


###### Ceremony and Celebration Family Edition, The Hagim, Hanukka, The First Night, It Once Happened 4
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**Ceremony & Celebration Family Edition, Maggid Books, 2023:**
When the Greeks entered the Sanctuary they ruined all the cruses of oil that were in the Sanctuary by touching them, which made them unfit. When the Hasmoneans overcame them and emerged victorious over them, they searched everywhere for oil to relight the Menora in the Temple, but could only find one cruse of oil that had the seal of the high priest unbroken, untouched by the Greeks. This cruse of oil was only enough to light the Menora for one day. A miracle occurred and the Menora was lit by this oil for eight days. The next year, the Sages instituted a festival to remember and celebrate those days, by singing Hallel and saying special prayers of thanksgiving.


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**Ceremony & Celebration Family Edition, Maggid Books, 2023:**
**Point to Ponder**
*Which do you think is more impressive, the military victory or the miracle of the oil?*