Rabbi Riddle: Here's a Bright Idea!

This year, we begin lighting Chanukah candles on Thursday evening Dec. 21st and continue through Friday evening Dec. 29th. Chanukah celebrates the victory of the Jews over their Syrian-Greek conquerors in 168-165 BCE.

The Greeks were not just military enemies. They wanted the Jews to forget that the Torah is holy. So they outlawed many of the Torah's signs of holiness, including Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh (first day of the New Month), and Bris Milah (circumcision). Chanukah symbolizes this holiness, because it always includes Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh, and it lasts eight days, like the eight days before a Bris!
The Jews were few, and the Greeks were many. But in the end, the Jews defeated the Greek armies. When the Jewish soldiers recaptured the Temple, they only found enough pure oil to light the Menorah for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted eight days until new oil was brought. Today, we light the Chanukah Menorah to recall the miracles that G-d performed.
We will continue to celebrate Chanukah even when Moshiach comes, and we have the Holy Temple again -- speedily in our days!

Rabbi Riddle's Kwazy Kwestions:
Why do we spin the Dreidle on Chanukah?
Because it won't spin by itself!