Chanukah is often called the Festival of Lights, but what does that really mean? Is Chanukah about lights, or about the Maccabean victory and saving the Jewish people and tradition from Antiochus' oppression? What did "Festival of Lights" mean to Jews--and others--throughout history?

Dr. Alan Gersch studied at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh and Yeshivat Har Etzion, and has taught Daf Yomi and other Bible and Talmud classes in our community. He received a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Maryland. Check out his Torah and Astronomy blog at AstroRav.com.