Menorah of the Temple was to be lighted up by a special pure olive oil, which was required to burn throughout the night every night. But, the Maccabeans found only a little can of olive oil (פַּךְ שֶׁמֶן, pax shemen) that had only enough oil to burn for one day and not for eight. Miraculously, the one little oil can burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil for the Menorah. An eight-day festival was declared by the Jewish sages to commemorate this miracle (נֵס, nes). We continue celebrating this miracle every year for eight nights, starting on the 25th day of Kislev (November 12 this year). The festival is observed by lighting a nine-branched Menorah called Xanukiya (חֲנֻכִּיָּה).
Chanukah is the Festival of Light, of bringing light to the Temple and to the hearts of the people.
To Light!
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