Hanukkah celebrates the re-
dedication of the Temple
after the successful Jewish
revolt against the
Seleucid monarchy. The Jews
found only enough
ritually pure olive oil to light
the menorah for one
day, but the supply lasted eight
days until a new
supply could be obtained. In
celebration of this
happenstance, the Hanukkah
menorah has eight
branches for eight candles or
oil lamps.
