The chronicles of the Hanukkah Lamp

Lighting the Hanukkah lamp constitutes the primary ritual of Hanukkah, highlighting the emphasis Talmudic rabbis put on the ‘miracle of the cruse of oil’ while neglecting the heroic deeds of the Maccabees. Over the centuries, the Hanukkah lamp became a primary artistic Judaic object with innovative and meaningful designs. Much less or little attention was given to the victories of the Maccabees, preferring to depict the sufferings and martyrology of their times.