WND: What you need to know about Hanukkah.

Antiochus banned the Jewish religion, forbade circumcision, Shabbat observance and possession of the Torah, disarmed and slaughtered Jews (and their children) as a warning to others, and converted their ancient temple for pagan worship. But in a bloody revolt at around 160 B.C. led by Judah Maccabee ("The Hammer") and his brothers and father, a few remaining unassimilated Jews successfully – some say miraculously – drove Antiochus' forces from Jerusalem and rescued the temple.