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Apparently there is still a complete lack of understanding of what Chanukah is about, coupled with the grossest attempt at cultural appropriation regarding it. I am not surprised, as this combination has been going on for a long time.
I would like to attempt to provide a fairly high level view of the meaning of Chanukah. This will not make me many friends, and it may upset a few people, but the truth is the truth.
Chanukah is NOT a nationalist holiday, nor is it a holiday celebrating the freedom to do whatever you want to do. It is a holiday celebrating the victory over those who would tell us that our religious observance is no longer applicable, and even a bad thing.
The Jewish commonwealth at the time was under the rule of the Greeks for years. This was fine and acceptable until the Syrian Greeks, with help from the Hellenist Jews started forcing their "Science" and lack of religion on the Jews.
At first we were OK hiding in caves for religious study and gatherings, but eventually things reached a point where it was realized that you cannot sustain a religion by hiding in caves.
One of the big triggers was when the sister of Judah Maccabee was supposed to get married and the Greeks were attempting to enforce the sickening policy of Prima Nocta. She showed up to the wedding naked. 'if it's good enough for Antiochus, why does it bother you in public?'
Another trigger was when they tried to force Matisyahu (Matthias) to sacrifice a pig to the pagan gods.
The Jewish spirit was awakened. No longer would we allow Greeks and Jewish Hellenists to stifle our service of God.
The Jewish spirit was awakened. No longer would we allow Greeks and Jewish Hellenists to stifle our service of God.
The Hasmonean family decided on what they knew would be a suicidal mission. 'if we die, we die, but this is no life.' They took up arms against the mighty Greek army and fought against forced secularization.
Miraculously, their small guerilla force slowly beat the Greeks and Hellenists back far enough to retake the Temple. They got there and found that everything had been opened and touched by the pagans, rendering it all impure.
Even if technically acceptable, that's no way to rededicate the Temple to the service of God. They kept searching until they found a small jar of untouched oil. Enough for one night.
In case the war wasn't enough to prove that, unlike the Greek philosophy believed, God was in control of all of nature, God made the oil miraculously burn for 8 days, until more pure oil could be pressed.
It was at that time, still years before national autonomy that the holiday was instituted. The triumph of Purity over Paganism, the demonstration of God over Science and Philosophy was what prompted the eight day holiday.
The idea that Chanukah celebrates the freedom FROM religion is precisely the OPPOSITE of the holiday. That it is encouraging some vague concept of 'Tikkun Olam' without the second half of that verse, is frankly offensive.
Chanukah is about standing up for religious beliefs against those who would push secularism on us. It's about even taking up arms, if necessary, against those who would force us to publicly declare 'we have no share in the God of Israel'.
It's about risking your life to stand up for God. He will do what He needs to do, our job is to fight for it.
When those who hate religious Judaism wish me a happy Chanukah, it's worse than meaningless.
When those who hate religious Judaism wish me a happy Chanukah, it's worse than meaningless.
This, for example. https://twitter.com/RashidaTlaib/status/1337170986135924740?s=19
Just say nothing. It's better than this make believe sentiment
Just say nothing. It's better than this make believe sentiment
