This is a question that has been asked throughout the ages, and it has many answers.  Some Jews embrace the holiday as a celebration of religious freedom.  Others see it as a triumph of a pure form of Judaism over foreign influences.  And some see it as a simple commemoration of a military victory.  Due to its proximity with Christmas, this holiday has, for some, become simply a time to give presents.

The historical episode that Hanukkah commemorates centers on the military victory of the Maccabees, a small clan of Jewish warriors, who defeated the Syrian overlords of ancient Palestine in 167 BCE.

But over the millennia, many rabbis were deeply suspicious of militarism.  Instead, they sought to emphasize the spiritual aspect, and so they focused on a miracle: as the Maccabees restored the damaged temple, the small amount of oil used to light the perpetual flame lasted for 8 days even though there was only enough to last for one day.

To the question, "What is Hanukkah?" we in Not In My Name (NMN) answer that it is the time to remember the victory of a small army who fought a war of national liberation against an powerful occupying power.  The word "Hanukkah" means "dedication.”  So today, over 2000 years later, as Israelis are occupiers in Palestine and as Americans are occupiers in Iraq, we dedicate this holiday to all those who are struggling against occupation.

In our view, the modern struggle for Palestinian liberation is comparable to the ancient struggle for Jewish liberation.  Israel's Occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem is destroying both Israeli and Palestinian societies.  Therefore, we dedicate this Hanukkah especially to those who are actively opposing it.

For the freedom of all people! Happy Hanukkah!