Chanukah: In the Footsteps of the Maccabees

Modi’in: where the revolt began

Begin in the hills around Modi’in, homeland of Mattathias and his sons, where a local uprising grew into the Maccabean Revolt.

Explore Hasmonean-era remains and an ancient synagogue, visit the traditional site of the Tombs of the Maccabees, and uncover the more complicated story behind the holiday: who were the Maccabees? Who were they fighting? And was this only a revolt against the Greeks, or also a Jewish civil war?

Jerusalem: the battle for the Temple

Follow the Maccabees to Jerusalem and explore the Old City through the story of the revolt, comparing it to the modern Maccabees of the IDF in 1948 and 1967. Overlooking the Temple Mount, discover what happened when the Maccabees captured Jerusalem and rededicated the Temple: the event at the heart of Chanukah.

As darkness falls, walk through the Jewish Quarter as menorahs appear in windows and doorways, connecting a 2,000-year-old story with Chanukah in Jerusalem today.

Practical notes

A full day, roughly eight hours, driving between the sites with walking at each.

This is a seasonal day — it is built for Chanukah and is at its best during the festival itself.

Winter in the Judean hills is cool and can be wet. Bring a layer and a waterproof.

The sites involve uneven ground and some steps.