Hitherto he (the Jewish friend) had permitted to pass by unobserved the holiday which the wonderful apparition of the Maccabees had illuminated  for thousands of years with the glow of miniature lights. Now, however, he made this holiday an opportunity to prepare something beautiful which should be forever commemorated in the minds of his children. In their young souls should be implanted early a steadfast devotion to their ancient people. He bought a Menorah, and when he held this nine-branched candlestick in his hands for the first time a strange mood came over him. In his father’s house also the lights had once burned in his youth, now far away, and the recollection gave him a sad and tender feeling for home.
 

On the Maccabees by Menahem Ussishkin
(From a speech before the "Maccabee" organization,
Odessa, 1917)

You have fully understood this truth. You have named yourselves after --- not Samson, who is the symbol of physical strength alone, but the Maccabee, the hero of the spirit. The Maccabees were not extraordinary in their physical strength, in their tactical and strategical strength; there are many examples of such heroism in human history, in the annals of the Hebrews, too. The Maccabees were uniquely outstanding and glorious in their mighty spirit.