Page "Judaism" Paragraph 110

The holiday was called Hanukkah ( meaning " dedication ") because it marks the re-dedication of the Temple after its desecration by Antiochus IV Epiphanes.

Spiritually, Hanukkah commemorates the " Miracle of the Oil ".

According to the Talmud, at the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem following the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire, there was only enough consecrated oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day.

Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days-which was the length of time it took to press, prepare and consecrate new oil.