ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Hasmonean dynasty

Okay kiddo, let's learn about the Hasmonean Dynasty!

A long time ago in the land of Israel, there were some people who were called Jews. They believed in one God and followed a set of rules called the Torah. However, some other people came to the land and tried to tell the Jews to worship their gods instead.

But there was a family called the Hasmoneans who stood up to these people and fought for the Jews' freedom to worship their own God. The leader of the Hasmoneans was named Judah Maccabee. He and his brothers fought many battles against the people who wanted the Jews to worship other gods.

Finally, Judah Maccabee was able to defeat the other people and become the leader of the Jews. He and his family ruled the land for a long time after that. This period of Jewish history is called the Hasmonean Dynasty.

Under the rule of the Hasmoneans, the Jewish people were able to practice their own religion without fear of persecution. They built a strong and prosperous kingdom and even expanded their territory.

However, over time, the Hasmonean Dynasty began to weaken and eventually fell apart. But the Jewish people never forgot the brave leadership of the Hasmonean family and still celebrate their victory every year during the holiday of Hanukkah.

So that's the story of the Hasmonean Dynasty, a family of heroes who fought for the freedom of the Jewish people.