Presenting the Maccabean revolt on “The Watchman” Show
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday that commemorates the successful Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Greeks in the 2nd Century BCE, whose pick was the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The rebellion began in the ancient city of Modi’idn when a Greek official arrived and demanded that the local Jewish priest, Mattathias, perform a sacrifice to the Greek gods. Mattathias refused and instead killed the official, sparking a rebellion against the Seleucid Empire.
Today, Modiin is home to a number of important historical and cultural sites related to the Maccabees and the Hanukkah story. These include the hill of Titura, the Tomb of the Maccabees, and the Maccabean Museum, which features exhibits on the history of the Maccabean Revolt and the Hanukkah holiday.
A tour of Modi’in and the site relating to the Maccabean revolt can be combined in a day tour of the Shephela.