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 There is much that we can learn from this act. In many countries throughout time the Scriptures have been outlawed. When this happens we must find our own "dreidel" to use, something that will allow us to continue to read and study the Holy Scriptures, for they are given by G-d and if we must, they are important enough to die for.

This persecution continued for a very long period of time. Antiochus demanded the peoples loyalty, and to prove it he ordered that everyone must sacrifice a pig and eat its fat.

 One day the army of Antiochus, led by a general named Apelles, came to the town of Modin where there lived a very pious priest named Mattathias who had five sons, the eldest was named Judas.

The leader of the army compelled Mattathias the priest to be the first to offer a sacrifice, knowing that the others would follow his example. Mattathias refused and said no matter if the other nations follow the decrees of Antiochus or not, he and his sons will not depart from the religious worship of their country.

He had no sooner finished speaking when a Jew in the crowd came and sacrificed as Antiochus had commanded. Mattathias was so furious that he and his sons rushed up to him with swords in hand and killed the Jew offering the sacrifice and the general Apelles with a number of his solders. He overturned the idol alter and said, "If anyone is zealous for the laws of his country, and for the worship of G-d, let him follow me."

After saying this he fled into the wilderness with his sons. Many others also fled into the desert and lived in the caves. They appealed to them to return but they would not. It was the Sabbath-Day and the Jews would not even lift a hand to fight back because of their regard for the Sabbath.

About a thousand Jews died that day without a fight, the many that escaped joined with Mattathias, the priest and appointed him their leader. His first act was to tell them that they were to fight, even on Sabbath. He ruled for a year and then died of distemper.

His oldest son, Judas, took his place. Judas was named "Macabee" which means "the hammer." Judas took a handful of men who were not warriors and taught them how to fight. He also taught them the Scriptures, and to return to G-d and trust in him. These men, often with less men and weapons, conquered the army of Antiochus at every turn.

Judas told his men that with the victories that G-d has given them they should go up to Y'rushalayim and purify the Temple of G-d, and offer the appointed sacrifices. However, when they had come to Y'rushalayim they found the Temple deserted and its gates burned down.

He told his solders that they should fight against the guards in the citadel until he could purify the Temple. He carefully cleaned the Temple and brought in new vessels; the candlestick, the table of show-bread and the alter of incense. He also hung up the veils and added doors and built a new alter of burnt offering out of stones.

 However, when they were ready to fill the lamp stand with oil they found only one vile that Antiochus had not defiled. One vile would only be enough oil for one day. The oil had a seal placed on it by the High Priest stating that it was in a pure state, if it did not have this seal or the seal was broken, then the oil could no longer be used.

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