Judaism · Origins & people
Judah Maccabee rededicates the Temple
164 BCE
Judah Maccabee and his supporters rededicated Jerusalem’s temple during the revolt against Seleucid rule. The episode became the historical focus of Hanukkah. It belonged to a wider struggle over political power, religious practice, and the future of Jewish life under Hellenistic rulers.
Why it matters
The episode connects a living Jewish festival to ancient conflict and shows why political independence and religious practice cannot always be separated.
About the date
Rededication date; the surrounding revolt lasted several years.
Jerusalem
City of the temple rededication.
city orientation
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