Hanukiah in Loughton

Hanukah or Chanukah is the Jewish Festival of Lights.  It dates back to two centuries before the beginning of Christianity.  

The word Hanukah means rededication and celebrates one of the greatest miracles in Jewish history.

The festival reminds Jews of a time over 2500 years ago when Antiochus tried to make the Jewish people worship Greek gods. A statue of Antiochus was erected in the Jewish temple and the Jews were ordered to bow down before him. The Ten Commandments forbid Jews to worship statues or idols and so they refused.

A small group of Jews called Maccabees rebelled, and after a three year war they recaptured Jerusalem. But the temple was all but destroyed.

The Jews had to clean and repair the Temple, and when they were finished they rededicated it to God. They did this by lighting the lamp (Menorah) - which was a symbol of God's presence. Only one small jar of oil was found, enough for one day, but miraculously the lamp stayed alight for eight days.

Hanukah is celebrated by lighting one additional candle on the Hanukiah (an eight-stemmed candelabrum) each day.