yj ihn Soi ° ‘A make-up kit. That’s all.” By CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Writer The eight days of Hanukkah are days of joy and celebration and are widely observed by both secular and religious Jews. This year, Jews around the world will begin the celebration of Hanukkah, also known as the “Festival of Lights,” with sun- down on December 26. Hanukkah is unique in that, until Israel Independence Day was acclaimed in this genera- tion, it was the only Jewish holiday without any Biblical basis. Despite this, Jews recite prayers of thanksgiving and, when lighting the Menorah, “Commanded us to light to Hanukkah light.” According to Mrs. Thomas Rosing of Dallas, the story of Hanukkah dates back to the fourth century BC with the con- quest of Asia and the Middle East by Alexander the Great. His conquest resulted in the fusion of Greek and Eastern traditions known as Hellenism. At the time, Jewish cultural life was swept into the Hellenis- tic society until Antiochus IV, a Syrian king, resolved to crush all opposition to the extreme Hellenistic culture. King Anti- ochus ordered the Jewish people to give up their religion to worship idols. It was he who established the detested pig as the sacrificial animal. Antiochus anticipated no resistance to his decree but many of the Jews were horrified by the sinfulness of the new culture. Led by Judah Macca- \ Yo, z ~~