Maccabean Revolt

Question 1

Describe “The Story of Chanukah”

Answer 1

• this period of time was known as being rife with injustice & persecution
• the empire of the Seleucids were highly significant; with their dominance spread throughout Syria & southward into Judea, the region surrounding Jerusalem
• popular Jewish customs, such as the teaching of Torah & the practice of circumcision had been made illegal
• as well as this, the key Jewish asset, Holy Temple in Jerusalem had been badly damaged alongside the surrender of pigs, an “unclean” animal
• the current Seleucid king, Antiochus Epiphanes, known for being a “distinct” god - had ordered that the Jews worship the Greek god, Zeus, rather than the God of Israel