Chanukah is not specifically mentioned, since the story happened after the Torah was written. Nevertheless, G‑d, who is above the limitations of time, included in the Torah allusions to Chanukah.
I thought the division of the Torah into chapters was invented by non-Jews, that the chapters were only applied to Jewish texts a few centuries ago, and that the chapters are not given any significance and are only there for convenience. Is that correct? If so, then how can allusions #3 and #4 make any sense, since they rely on the non-Jewish chapter devisions?
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What you write about the chapters in the Torah is correct. Allusions #3 and #4 are not connected to the chapter numbers. The allusions to Chanukah come from the proximity of the two related topics: Jewish holidays and the lighting of the Menorah, in #3, and the dedication of the Tabernacle and the lighting of the Menorah, in #4. I included the chapter numbers, as you put it, for convenience, to help the reader look up the references.
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During a famous meeting between Jacob and Esau, Jacob asks G-d to "save him from Esau, from his brother". The rabbis are wondering about this duplicity since Jacob had only one brother - Esau. The conclusion is that "from Esau" alludes to Purim (physical threat) and "from my brother" means Chanukah (spiritual threat).
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thanks for explaining evrything
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Greek culture emphasized reason and a pursuit into the nature of things. Yet it also embraced paganism, idolatry and man as the center of all things. The latter was something religious Jews could never accept. That led to the war of independence against the Seleucids and to the celebration of Hanukkah. Reason and philosophy have their place in life but man must never put himself before G-d. Only G-d alone must he worship and serve.
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When was Chanukah first observed?
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Chanukah commemorates the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks and the miracle of the oil that took place in 138 BCE. The Sages established Chanukah as a holiday then, and it was celebrated from the on.
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