The entire congregation of Israel decreed that the days of the dedication of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness on the anniversary every year. The nine year struggle for liberation of the Jewish people from the Greek overlords who had desecrated the temple ended with the capture of the Jerusalem in 164BC. After doing eight days of ritual of cleansing the temple was re-dedicated. To this day this event is commemorated on the festival of Hannukah. The miraculous reason for lighting eight candles during the festival is recorded in the Talmud: “For when the Greeks entered the Sanctuary, they defiled all the oils therein, and when the Hasmonean dynasty [that is, the Maccabees] prevailed against and defeated them, they made search and found only one cruse of oil which lay with the seal of the high priest, but which contained sufficient [oil] for one day’s lighting only; yet a miracle was wrought therein, and they lit [the lamp] therewith for eight days. The following year these [days] were appointed a Festival with [the recital of] Hallel and thanksgiving.”
