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The True Meaning of Hanukkah
(New York Times) Hilary Leila Krieger - The story of Hanukkah is about foreign conquerors who were not letting Jews in ancient Israel worship freely, even defiling their temple, until a scrappy group led by the Maccabee family overthrew one of the most powerful armies in the world and won their liberty. However, many think the miracle of an oil lamp that burned for eight days without replenishing is the root of Hanukkah's commemoration. But the original miracle of Hanukkah was that a committed band of people led a successful uprising against a much larger force, paving the way for Jewish independence and perhaps keeping Judaism itself from disappearing. It's an amazing story, resonant with America's own founding, that offers powerful lessons about standing up for one's convictions and challenging those in power.