More than twenty- one centuries ago, the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks), who sought to forcefully Hellenize the people of Israel. Against all odds, a small band of faithful Jews defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land and reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

When they sought to light the Temple's menorah (the seven branched candelabrum), they found only a single cruse ofolive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greek. Miraculusly, the one-day supply burned for eight days.

To commemorate and these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Hanukkah. At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah lighting, a single flame on the first night, two on the second evening, and so on till the eighth night of Hanukkah (Chanukah), when all eight lights are kindled.