In Medrash chazal, (including medrash raba, tanchuma, toras kohanim etc…) there is no mention of the Yom Tov of channukah. This took place 100-200 years before Medrash was written. Although it is hinted at (for example by Haman’s Gezeira he did not choose kislev because of chanukkah) Yet there is not clear story or halachic Medrash that discusses this. Did I miss something? If not why not? The first real mention is in Megilas Taanis and the Gemora. Thank you!
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The various midrashim were redacted in different centuries. Check out the infobox on this Wikipedia page: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midrash_Rabba– Kazi bácsiNov 15, 2022 at 8:06
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Thank you Kazi, but this would only answer Midrash Raba, if we look at a whole at all the Midrsahi chazal as a whole we should find some mention of חנוכה– fulltimekollelguyNov 15, 2022 at 8:25
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For some weird reason you assume that midrashim are earlier than the Talmud. By the way, hanukkah is already mentioned in the Mishnah, tough not in detail.– Kazi bácsiNov 15, 2022 at 9:29
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It is mentioned several times in the midrashim? Or are you after specifically just the story?– DovNov 15, 2022 at 9:42
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There are Medrashim written after the Gemora, Midrashi chazal is reffering to Sefri, sefra, toras kohanim, medrsah raba etc... these were written around the time of the mishna– fulltimekollelguyNov 15, 2022 at 9:51
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1 Answer
Welcome to Mi Yodeya! The truth is there is also very little about Chanukah in Mishnayos and Talmud. Some suggest that this is because Chanukah is specifically connected to Torah Shebaal Peh, so even though nowadays we are allowed to write it down, Chazal still decided to make Chanukah be written down as little as possible.
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Thank you @N.T. if you have a reference point for this it would really help! Nov 15, 2022 at 10:27
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I heard it in a shiur from Rav Moshe Einstadter shlit"a but I also recall seeing it elsewhere.– N.T.Nov 16, 2022 at 2:59