The menorah, a seven-branched candelabrum, is the oldest symbol of the Jewish religion and modern symbol of the State of Israel. A nine-branch variation is used for the observance of Chanukah - the Festival of Lights.

The true miracle of the war was simply the way it began. Good intelligence, foresight and planning allowed for the Israeli army to carry out a pre-emptive strike on the enormous enemy forces. The timing had to be right.

Was the Chanukah miracle a seven-day or an eight-day occurrence? Why is the holiday celebrated for eight days rather than seven? There's a wealth of discussion on this topic.