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The Origins of the Festival of Hanukkah
Paperback
ISBN13: 9781025886046
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 314
Weight: 0.97
Height: 0.66 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
The Origins of the Festival of Hanukkah is a scholarly investigation into the historical, cultural, and religious roots of one of Judaism's most significant celebrations. Author Oliver Shaw Rankin provides a comprehensive analysis of the factors that led to the establishment of the Festival of Lights, moving beyond simple tradition to examine the complex political and social landscape of the second century BCE.
The work meticulously explores the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire and the subsequent rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Rankin draws upon a wide array of primary sources, including the Books of the Maccabees and the historical accounts of Josephus, to trace how a military victory evolved into a lasting religious observance. By placing Hanukkah within the context of Hellenistic influence and Ancient Near Eastern traditions, the text illuminates the development of the holiday's unique rituals and its spiritual symbolism. This study serves as an essential resource for those interested in Jewish history, biblical studies, and the evolution of liturgical traditions, offering a profound look at the resilience and renewal of the Jewish faith through the centuries.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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