Hanukkah: The OG Resistance Movement
- Dr. Danielle Niaz, PhD – Founder & Lead Instructor
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Eight Nights, One Fight
Forget the plastic dreidels and gift bags for a second.Hanukkah isn’t a cozy commercial holiday — it’s a story of resistance, survival, and lighting things on fire (in the holiest way possible).
At its core, Hanukkah is the celebration of a miracle that came after a revolution. One where an oppressed community rose up, took back their sacred space, and reclaimed their light.
Sound familiar?
The Maccabee Rebellion: Ancient Guerrilla Warfare
Let’s rewind to 168 BCE.The Seleucid Empire had taken over Judea, banned Jewish practices, and desecrated the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
Cue Judah Maccabee and his ragtag group of fighters — a tiny resistance movement that refused to bow down. Armed with grit and guerilla tactics, they took back the Temple against all odds.
And when they rededicated it, they only had one day’s worth of oil to light the sacred menorah. But it lasted eight.
Not Just a “Jewish Christmas”
Hanukkah isn't about getting gifts. That came much later — influenced by proximity to Christmas in the Western world.
The real story?
Spiritual perseverance
Cultural reclamation
The refusal to let the light go out
And that’s a universal lesson.
You Can Be the Light
Hanukkah reminds us that you don’t need perfect conditions to begin. You just need one spark.One drop of oil.One quiet refusal to give up.
If your 2025 felt like a fight — if you’re tired, grieving, angry, or healing — let this be your sign:
Keep the light lit anyway.Even if it flickers. Even if it’s just for you.
Your Winter Gift Is Almost Here…
To celebrate 100 blogs, I’m giving you something from the heart:
A 3-minute grounding meditation
100 healing affirmations
A ritual reflection worksheet
A printable holiday-themed coloring book (yes, Hanukkah is in it 🕎)
👉 It drops when the 6th blog goes live. Want it? Subscribe here to unlock the “Blooming Through Winter” bundle.
Next up: We’re going full pagan. Yule is wilder (and cozier) than you think.
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