A participant of the Tehilim Hotline submitted to us this summary of the famous Chanukah story of Chanah and her sons. We are reproducing it here with some minor modification, based on additional traditional sources*.

CHANAH AND HER SEVEN SONS

King Antiochus of Syria wanted to demonstrate his mastery over his Jewish subjects. He wanted to prove that he could overcome their stubbornness and force them to worship idols and eat the meat of pigs.
Chanah, a Jewish mother and her seven sons were arrested and brought before mad Antiochus. The oldest son was brought forward. Antiochus conversed with him at length and promised them riches and power to entice them to break G-d's covenant and to abandon the Torah of his nation. He thought he could win him over through flattery and bribes.
The youth responded, 'Why do you trouble yourself with long conversations, to speak of and to teach us the religions of your abominations? Our forefathers have already taught us God's Torah. We stand ready to ascend to God, for we welcome death for the sake of God and his Torah. So we have promised our Forefathers! Why need you speak more? Dispatch us speedily to HASHEM our God - kill us! 'The king ordered that he be whipped and beaten until he ate the unclean meat. He defiantly responded, "Are you trying to test us? We are ready to die for the G-d of our ancestors!"
Antiochus was enraged. He ordered that the boy be burned and dismembered, tortured with unspeakable barbarism until he died. Mother and brothers looked on in horror and encouraged one another to remain brave and firm. One after another, Antiochus brought the boys before him and ordered them to eat. And one after another they defied him and proclaimed their loyalty to the Living G-d. Proudly answering the vicious king: 'Hurry with your fire and sword and do your will with me - do not omit anything that you inflicted upon my brother! I am not inferior to him in devotion, pureness of soul, and fear of God.'

"You can take from us only mortal life, but G-d will return to resurrect us and we shall arise before Him. But for you there will be no resurrection or life. Your soul will be consigned to everlasting abhorrence!"

Finally, all were dead except for the youngest, barely more than an infant. Even the sadistic Antiochus felt a twinge of pity for the child and he spoke to him softly, warmly, eat the meat and I swear to you that you will be wealthy and comfortable for the rest of your life. The child refused and Antiochus saw that he was being defeated. Antiochus ruler of half the civilized world couldn't allow the little boy to defy him and so Antiochus called Chanah, his mother to him.

"You saw six of your sons die in terrible pain. He is your last and it is up to you to save him. Persuade him to eat the meat and both of you will be rewarded, I swear it. Chanah went to her last little boy. "Look at the sky and the earth, my son, and remember Who made them from nothing. Do not fear this murderer. Be worthy of your martyred brothers."
The child looked at Antiochus and refused to eat and so the little boy was tortured more severely than any of the others.
According to the version of this story in the Talmud (Gittin 57a), Antiochus offered the youngest child a chance to save himself, 'I will throw my signet ring in front of you so that you can bend down to pick it up. Then people, thinking you bowed to me, will say that you have accepted my authority.'
But the little boy mocked the monarch, 'Woe to you, 0 King, woe to you, 0 King! If your own self-respect is so important to you, how much more so the respect due the Holy One, Blessed is He!'
As they removed him to be killed his mother pleaded, 'Give him to me so that I can kiss him briefly!'
She said to him, as if she were speaking to all her seven sons, 'My children, go and tell your ancestor Abraham, "You bound only one [son upon an] altar, but I bound [seven sons upon] altars." The child was brutally murdered

With her youngest son’s martyrdom, Chanah’s soul returned to its Maker. A Heavenly voice was then heard saying, ‘The mother of the children is Joyous’ (Tehilim, Psalms 113:9).

The story of the bravery of Chanah and her seven sons inspired Jews throughout the country. The rebellion came not long after.
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* The original submission can be found on AOL by Yaffa.
A full account of the story of Chanah and Her Seven Sons can be found in the Artscroll Series: CHANUKAH/ Its History, Observance and Significance. Mesorah Publications, Brooklyn, New York.
Parts of this presentation are taken from the Artscroll Chanukah Book.

 


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