BOB ABERNETHY: On our calendar this week, the 8-day Jewish festival of Hanukkah, beginning Sunday night. It is a holiday of freedom, recalling the successful Jewish revolt, around 165 B.C., against the Syrians, who had conquered and occupied Jerusalem. The revolt was led by a Jewish family called the Maccabees. Hanukkah is celebrated with a 9-candle menorah -- one to light the eight others, which stand for the Hanukkah miracle, when one cruse, or pitcher, of oil burned for 8 days. We heard the story at the home of Rabbi Bentzion Geisinsky, in Potomac, Maryland.

RABBI BENTZION GEISINSKY: We accept this to be the first battle of freedom of religion.

Where there were a very few who went up against a great majority. And that essentially is the story of the Macabees.

And they conquered Jerusalem and were able to retake the temple.

When they came into the temple, they found that it had been vandalized and violated.

And they made a decision that they would not light the menorah with defiled oil.