Chanukah is an 8-day holiday, celebrating our freedom. This year, it starts the evening of December 18, and continues through sunset of December 26.

The Talmud, Judaism’s collection of law, ritual and tradition, asks, “Mai Chanukah,” What is Chanukah? How could Jewish scholars not know?

Historically, after the death of Alexander of Great, his empire split, and the Seleucid Greeks gained control of Israel. For an unknown reason, in 167 BCE, Antiochus Epiphanes tried to Hellenize all of the people under his rule. He outlawed the celebration of Jewish prayer, ritual and tradition.

This led to a guerilla war for the sake of Jewish freedom. The holiday commemorates the unlikely victory of the Maccabees, a band of Jewish guerilla fighters, who reclaimed control of the Temple in Jerusalem and religious autonomy from the Syrian Greek Empire.

“Chanukah” means “dedication,” referring to the “re-dedication” of the Temple, which the Syrian Greeks had defiled.

The holiday lasts 8 days in tribute to the miracle of the olive oil that was only enough to last one day in the Temple. Instead, it burned for eight days, giving the Jewish people additional time to clean up the Temple.

How Chanukah is celebrated has changed through the centuries.

In the Middle Ages, the focus was on the miracle of the oil. There was also a tradition to read “Megillat Antiochus,” which tells the tale. Tragically, there was a lot of emphasis on religious martyrdom as a means to preserve Judaism.

In the United States, the celebration of Chanukah has been influenced by Christmas, with an emphasis on the exchanging of gifts. Within the home, families celebrate by lighting the Chanukah menorah. They also eat foods fried in oil: potato pancakes, called “latkes”; and jelly doughnuts, called “sufganiyot.” Children play dreidel, a spinning top game, using chocolate coins (Chanukah gelt).

Sephardic traditions add to the richness of Chanukah celebrations. A custom exists for Yemenite Jewish women to wear clothing decorated with bells and to hold bells in their hands. After the lighting of the Chanukah menorah, they dance in the streets, playing music with the bells to celebrate the miracle of Chanukah.

In Turkey, the community eats dairy products in memory of Judith’s heroism, described in the apocryphal “Book of Judith.” A tradition teaches that this book was written after the Maccabean revolt and describes Judith as the counterpart of Judah Maccabee, the hero of the rebellion. The Book of Judith describes how Nebuchadzezzar, king of Assyria, sent his general Holofernes to conquer the Jews. Judith arranged a meeting with Holofernes and predicted his victory. However, when he passed out after eating wine and cheese, Judith took his life. The Jews were victorious over the leaderless Assyrian forces.

In Libya mothers sent their married daughters spanj (Libyan Doughnuts) and families bring spanj to the elders of the synagogue and the children in Jewish schools.

Lastly, in Tunisia, Jewish families would hang a Chanukah menorah at the entrance of the home from the time of Chanukah until Purim.

In general, the lighting of the menorah is a means of “pirsum na’nes,” making known the miracle. Each night, an additional candle is lit, loading them from right to left. If possible, the menorah is placed on a windowsill or near a window.

In the context of recent increased antisemitic acts, an open question is to what degree the Jewish community will openly celebrate Chanukah and “make known the miracle.”

In our comfort zones, let us all make the most of the holiday and celebrate our holiday of freedom and independence