In a special session, the Men of the Great Assembly unanimously declared that the 8 days starting with 25 Kislev are to be celebrated by the Jewish people as an annual holiday, thanking G-d for the miracles He performed.
The new holiday, dubbed Chanukah, will be observed by singing songs of praise to G-d and kindling lamps each night. This is the first national holiday declared since Purim was established more than 200 years ago, honoring the survival of the Jewish exiles, then ruled by Achashverosh of Persia.
Every night of the holiday, Jewish families have been observed sitting outside their homes, next to their holiday lights, retelling the miraculous events of the recent past, and expressing their confidence that more miracles will follow.
