With this year’s Hanukkah celebrations upon us, here are a couple of links to stories published in recent months – and even weeks – about archaeological inroads into the life and death of the Maccabees.

Maccabean tombs discovered?
http://www.timesofisrael.com/the-lost-tombs-of-the-maccabees-is-an-archaeological-mystery-close-to-solution/

Great. Our house was built atop the Maccabee mansion!
http://www.israel21c.org/the-magnificent-maccabee-mansion-found-under-a-home/

Candle-lighting benedictions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrVTDpG1bdg

Handel’s other midwinter holiday oratorio:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2K3Up1bWbQ

Happy Hanukkah, everyone!

PHOTO: See, the conqu’ring hero comes!