conquered them, they sought and found still one jar of oil stamped with the seal of the High Priest, and therefore undefiled.  Though the oil it contained would only have sufficed for one day, a miracle was performed, so that the oil lasted to the end of the week (during which time more oil was provided and consecrated for the future service of the Temple).  On the anniversary of this occasion the Feast of Dedication was instituted.

Shabbath, fol. 21, col. 2.

The Feast of Dedication is annually celebrated by all Jews everywhere, to commemorate the purifying of the Temple and the restoration of its worship after its desecration by Antiochus Epiphanes, of which an account may be found in 1 Maccabees iv. 52-59.  It is very probable that some of our Christmas festivities are only adaptations of the observances of this Jewish feast in symbolism of Christian ideas.  During the eight days of the festival they light up wax candles or oil lamps, according to the rubric of the school of Hillel.  Previous to the lighting, the following benedictions are pronounced:—­

    “Blessed art Thou, O Lord, our God!  King of the universe, who
    hath sanctified us with Thy commandment, and commanded us to
    light the light of Dedication.”

    “Blessed art Thou, O Lord, our God!  King of the universe, who
    wrought miracles for our fathers in those days and in this
    season.”

    “Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Our God!  King of the universe, who
    hath preserved us alive, sustained us, and brought us to enjoy
    this season.”

After the lighting, the following form is repeated:—­“These lights we light to praise Thee for the miracles, wonders, salvation, and victories which Thou didst perform for our fathers in those days and in this season by the hands of Thy holy priests.  Wherefore by command these lights are holy all the eight days of the Dedication, neither are we permitted to make any other use of them, but to view them, that we may return thanks to Thy name for Thy miracles, wonderful works, and salvation.”

    Another commemorative formula is repeated six or seven times a
    day during this festival; viz, during morning and evening
    prayers and after each meal.

Rabbi Yoshua ben Levi has said a man should never utter an indecent word, for the Scripture (Gen. vii. 6) uses eight letters more rather than make use of a word which, without them, would be indecent.

P’sachim, fol. 3, col. i.

    In the passage referred to, the words “that are not clean” are
    used instead of “unclean”; but see verse 2; there another word
    for not is used, which brings down the excess to five letters.

When the doors of the Temple were opened the creaking of the hinges was heard at the distance of eight Sabbath days’ journeys.

Yoma, fol. 39, col. 2.