The non-biblical Hanukkah story.

In the Talmud, living for God is even greater than dying for Him.

The holiday’s uncomfortable lesson.

An unusual kind of excavation.

The caves of the Judean Desert were a refuge for more than one set of Jewish rebels.

“Victory for Heracles and Hauron.”

The unique history of Jews and pigs.

Where a Libyan Jew from the 2nd century BCE saw the hand of God, his counterparts in Judea saw human courage.

Nicanor, commander of the elephant cavalry.

A Seleucid sling stone.

A rabbi’s provocative thesis.

From the books of Maccabees to the Jewish sections of the Soviet Communist party.

And American Jews needn’t be hypocrites.

Two competing responses to blood in the sanctuary.