It was on the fifteenth day of the month of Kislev,
that the messengers of King Antiochus
set up an idol on the altar of God,
and had incense burnt in its honor.
And they gave orders that the people of Judea
should forsake the Law and the covenant,
profane the sabbath
and pollute the sanctuary.
And many chose rather to die
than to forsake the holy covenant.^[1] I Maccabees 1:54-64, as paraphrased in The Union Prayerbook (1895), p. 42. 

And the king’s officers came to the city of Modin,
and said to Mattathias the son of John, the son of Simon the Hasmonean:
Thou art a great man,
and strengthened with sons and brethren in this city.
Come, then, and fulfill the king’s command
as all the heathens have done,
and the men of Judah
and they that remained in Jerusalem.
But Mattathias answered and spake with a loud voice:
Though all the nations that are under the king’s dominion obey him
and fall away each one from the religion of his fathers,
yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers.^[2] I Maccabees 2:1-22, as paraphrased in The Union Prayerbook (1895), p. 42. 

Then Judah called Maccabee, rose up,
and all his brethren aided him,
and they fought with gladness the battle of Israel.
Judah led them into battle
and the hosts of the enemy were discomfited before him.
And Israel had a great deliverance.^[3] I Maccabees 3:58-4:25, as paraphrased in The Union Prayerbook (1895), p. 43 

On the twenty-fifth day of Kislev,
the sanctuary of God was dedicated anew
with songs and music,
and the people praised the God of heaven
who had given them great victory,
and they celebrated the dedication of the altar
for eight days.^[4] I Maccabees 4:52-56, as paraphrased in The Union Prayerbook (1895), p. 44. 
(paraphrased from I Maccabees 1:54-4:56, as found in The Union Prayerbook (1895), pp. 42-44)

Rock of Ages, let our song praise Thy saving power;
Thou, amidst the raging foes, wast our shelt’ring tower.
Furious they assailed us, but Thine arm availed us.
And Thy word broke their sword when our own strength failed us.

Kindling new the holy lamps, priests approved in suffering,
Purified the nation’s shrine, brought to God their offering.
And his courts surrounding, hear, in joy abounding,
Happy throngs, singing songs, far and wide resounding.

Children of the martyr race, whether free or fettered,
Wake the echoes of the songs where ye may be scattered.
Yours the message cheering, that the time is nearing
Which shall see, all men free, tyrants disappearing.
(three stanzas from “Hanukkah-Hymn” by Gustav Gottheil)

The military victory of the Maccabees was not as important
as the cause for which they fought.
In such a cause even defeat would have been glorious.
In traditional Jewish literature,
the battles of the Hasmoneans were disregarded,
and only the story of the miraculous light,
which burnt through all the days of Hanukkah,
was preserved.
To the people of Israel,
groping through the gloom of the Dark Ages,
Hanukkah brought glad tidings of an inevitable dawn.
What of the night?
Though night envelop us,
there cometh also the morning.
The feast commemorated, not man’s victory,
but God’s.
It told of the vindication of justice by the God of justice.
To the people few in number and bowed with grief,
it reasserted the assurance of the Psalmist
that God delighteth not in men of might,
but in those who hope for His mercy.

To us the feast still brings a living word,
for we too live in darkness.
We still see wrong triumph over right, cruelty over mercy,
and hatred subdue the light in the souls of men.
We have lived through the shock of battle,
and have seen the victor suffer with the vanquished.

Surely not by might can man prevail,
but by the light of the Divine Spirit.
Violence breeds violence,
but peace grows from faith.
Prejudice and hatred will not endure.
Truth cannot be defeated for ever.
No just hope ever died.
If righteousness will not despair,
if sorrow will but be patient,
if truth will but be strong, the night will pass.
The Eternal God will send forth the light of His countenance,
and grant His children peace.

Lord of Hosts,
who is like unto Thee among the mighty?
Thou alone art our strength and our song,
an everpresent help in time of trouble.
Though evil encamp against us,
though hatred seek our downfall,
we will recall Thy victories of old,
and trust in Thy power.

On this day, glorified by ancient triumphs,
we confess our weakness before Thee.
We had believed in Thy word,
but disappointments have shaken our faith.
We sought Thy light,
but despair has darkened our way.
O be Thou our light and our salvation.
Strengthen our hearts,
for they are disquieted.
Uplift our souls,
for they are cast down.
Some have forgotten Thy word.
Some are tempted to forsake Thy worship.
O grant that we and our household,
stand firm in battle.
Teach us to rebuild the walls that are shattered.
Teach us to cleanse the altars of our hearts,
and to rededicate them this day to Thee,
to Thy service alone.
Amen.