Chanuka's Biblical Roots

Is it simply by chance that Chanuka falls out on the 25th of Kislev? Most students would answer a definite "Yes." After all, isn't the reason for the date of Chanuka based on the popular acronym - chanu b'chaf heh - they rested [from battle] on the 25th (of Kislev)? Hence, had the battle ended (and/or had the miracle of the Menorah taken place) on a different day, Chanuka would have been celebrated on that day instead. Correct?

Not really! A closer examination of various traditional sources relating to Chanuka indicates quite the opposite:

So why do we celebrate Chanuka on "Chanuka?" In the following shiur, we attempt to explain why.


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