Copyright 2009
Naomi Stein Slivka December 2009
Here?s another perspective on the Chanukah story, from the annals of JTS: Retaining of course the themes of the miracle of light and optimism for the future.
On Chanukah from JTS:
?In our warm and fuzzy packaging of Chanukah in the 21st century, a minor holiday on the Jewish calendar has taken on added significance as our very own antidote to the pervasiveness of Christmas in America. We prefer to emphasize the miracle of the small cruse of oil in the Temple that miraculously lasted eight days, a symbol of hope, faith and the triumph of the few over the mighty.
But a reading of The Book of Maccabees reveals a bloody struggle, that of a small band of zealots, led by Matathias and his Maccabee sons, who decried the Hellenistic culture of the conquering Greeks and the prohibitions against Jewish religious practice. They waged war against the Greeks, and, some say, against their wayward brethren as well. The Maccabees, for instance, forced uncircumcised Jews to have a brit milah.
Centuries later, we look back at them as Jewish heroes for standing up for their religious and nationalistic convictions. But Jewish settlers, whom one could argue are the incarnation of the Maccabees, are seen in a far harsher light.
How future generations will judge the settlers depends on the outcome of theirs and their nation?s struggle for security and democracy in a hostile environment.
Meanwhile, we celebrate the eight days of Chanukah, marked by lighting our menorahs each night, singing a few appropriate songs, playing a little dreidel, and, most importantly, giving our children gifts so they won?t feel left out in a culture where the sights and sounds of Christmas are all-pervasive. (See this month?s Text/Context, inserted in this issue, for more on the impact of Christmas.)
The implicit, and sometimes explicit, message to our children is, ?Christmas is only one day but we have eight days to ply you with presents so you won?t resent your religious heritage.?
That heritage is a rich, long and complex one, embracing both the ?zealots? of centuries past, battling the Greeks on the streets of Jerusalem, and the ?zealots? of today?s headlines, staging clashes against the IDF in the hills surrounding the Holy City. It?s also a history that holds close the pragmatists who helped create, sustain and strengthen the Jewish state through diplomacy and dialogue, including statesmen who made peace with Egypt and Jordan.
There are no easy answers here. Heroes, like points of view, shift over time.Who will be the heroes of our generation? ?
Eric Stillerman December 2009
Channuka: A victory of the Maccabim over the Greek Syrians, of spirituality over the pursuit of pleasure or Hellenism, of light over darkness and the miracle of light outlasting itself for 8 days.