The holiday hijackers are at it again! First, Passover was transformed from an inspiring commemoration of the birth of the Jewish nation during the Exodus from Egypt into a catch-all festival that celebrates the rights of every afflicted minority and fashionable cause imaginable.
Now, it's Chanukah's turn.
This year, more groups are again seeking to use the old festival of lights to force feed whatever cultural or political theme appeals to them down the throats of the Jewish public.
Some who have jumped on the ecology bandwagon, now so pervasive in American culture, want to reinvent Chanukah as a "green" holiday, in which energy conservation and activism against global warming are foremost in our minds.
In fact, the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs want us all to switch to more efficient "compact fluorescent light bulbs" -- though perhaps what they really want is for us to stop displaying those electric Chanukah menorahs in our windows altogether.
Saving Oil -- Get it?
The notion of using the idea of the Chanukah miracle of the one day's supply of oil in the holy Temple that lasted for eight days as a metaphor for conservation may be a stretch, but it is clever.
Not content to merely ride the ecology hobbyhorse this December, the JCPA also wants to use the season as a prop in its campaign to raise awareness of poverty. It is backing a "Candle of Righteousness" initiative that seeks to teach about the needs of the less fortunate by encouraging families to donate their holiday gifts to groups that help the poor.
That's a nice idea, especially since it can assist American Jewish parents in weaning their kids away from the idea of Chanukah as a Jewish Christmas in which the toys flow for eight days instead of one.
For all too many American Jews, Chanukah is merely a blue-tinsel copy of Christmas
But the good intentions and causes highlighted by some of these faux Chanukah campaigns notwithstanding, this trend is not something we should regard as entirely benign.
By making Chanukah more "relevant" to a host of contemporary issues, the promoters of these themes cannot only advance the causes they favor but also can, albeit indirectly, reintroduce their audience to the powerful message of their own traditions.
The truth is, for all too many American Jews, Chanukah is merely a blue-tinsel copy of Christmas or an androgynous celebration that can blend with it as the "Chrismukkah" cards and TV shows try to tell us.
Though the tension between the parochial Jewish aspect of our faith and its more universalist tendencies is as old as Judaism itself, Chanukah is not an empty metaphor into which non-Jewish narratives can be poured at will. It is, in fact, probably the last holiday into which we should be trying to shoehorn unrelated themes.
Far from being a Jewish version of "goodwill toward men" or any other trendy contemporary cause, the original story of Chanukah is about something very different: the refusal of Jews to bow down to the idols of the popular culture of their day, and to remain resolutely separate and faithful to their own traditions.
Even more to the point -- and so often completely eliminated from the stories we tell our kids and even ourselves -- Chanukah is the story of a particularly bloody Jewish civil war.
Wicked King Antiochus and his Syrian Greeks and their plans to force Jews to abandon the Torah and embrace Hellenism are surely the bad guys of the tale. But there's little doubt that for the original Maccabees, the real villains were the many Jews who embraced assimilation into the pervasive and seductive culture of the Greek world. It was these collaborators that Mattathias and his sons really wanted to wipe out -- and eventually they did just that.
Even though the descendants of the victors of this war were themselves a feckless and assimilated lot, whose misrule led eventually to domination of the country by Rome, the outcome of the original revolt has stood ever since as a warning against the dangers of discarding our faith for previously owned versions of others' beliefs.
That has to be a frightening message for an American Jewry which struggles to hold its own against the blandishments of the non-Jewish world.
The Original Theme
The message of the Maccabees is still strikingly pertinent to our current situation.
Yet for all of the changes in the Jewish world that have taken place in the last 2,200 years, the message of the Maccabees is still strikingly pertinent to our current situation.
Diaspora Jewry faces enormous challenges that threaten its future via assimilation, and Israel continues to remain under siege. So, maybe what Americans should be doing is using Chanukah to highlight something that might actually resonate with its true meaning: as a centerpiece of a campaign to expand and raise the quality of Jewish education in this country.
Going green may be trendier, but surely it would be more relevant to take up the fight of the Maccabees against forces that are destroying our traditions of learning. We could do this by finally rallying our communities to support the idea that day-school Jewish education ought to be available to more than just the rich among us. Similarly, we could increase our efforts to improve the quality of the synagogue schools for the Jewish kids who are sent there.
And perhaps instead of merely changing a few light bulbs, Chanukah would also be an apt time to try to get more American Jews to actually visit Israel, rather than just talk about it, a measure that is vitally important to the future of Jewish kids who may just be able to hold onto some shred of their identity.
It's no small irony that, while so many of us are working overtime to superimpose other causes, no matter how worthy, onto our traditions, many in the Arab and Islamic world are seeking to erase Jewish history altogether as part of their war against modern Israel. Such efforts may seem absurd to us, but when set against the knee-jerk universalism of much of Diaspora Jewry, their effectiveness should not be underestimated.
It may be that many of us are so alienated from our Jewish roots that secular holiday themes have more meaning to us than the Jewish ones. Yet rather than surrendering to this true December dilemma, this time of year should be a reminder that it takes the extraordinary efforts, as well as the faith of ordinary people, to keep the flame of Jewish civilization burning bright in each generation.
Our tradition teaches us that the victory of the Maccabees was ensured by faith. In order for that to happen, courageous individuals had to step forward. The same is true today. If they do, then perhaps American Jewry's leaders and organizations, who seem so eager to downplay the specific character of our holidays, will someday follow.
(35) John Ross, December 11, 2007 6:57 PM
Survival of Faith
Chanukkah is no minor or silly holiday to replace some Jewsih need for Christmas. In essence it is emblematic of the survival of the very Jewish faith/religion itself. The actual fact of the Greco-Syrian revolt is only ancillary to the holiday. Chanukkah is in essence a celebration of the survival and restoration of the Holy Temple. It is a an expression of joy commemorating its re-dedication and re-consecration. The miraculous burning of the lamp was a sign from HaShem...a message: "I am still with you...I see...and I hear all that happens to my inheritence, Israel." It is no victory or war holiday...it is a symbol of survival!
Thanks for your wonderful article. No other culture or religion should take or reappropriate a singularly Jewsih event.
As for Jews who suffer Christmas envy? Perhaps you are a bit disconnected and a bit too assimilated.
Baruch Hashem! Happy Chanukkah!
(34) Anonymous, December 10, 2007 7:30 AM
Response to Rivkah
I agree that giving gifts on Chanukah is imitative of how non-Jews celebrate their holiday. It is a time-honored custom, however, to give "Chanukah gelt" - cash gifts. Perhaps you can offer your relatives a card with some "gelt" instead of a present, explaining that that is the Jewish custom, and thus avoid antagonising them or causing them to perceive you as ungenerous.
(33) Anonymous, December 9, 2007 4:58 AM
Fantastic article. Another Tobin masterpiece. My friend, Rabbi Laibel Blotner (Chabad of Mesa, Arizona) and I have often spoken of another phenomenon: Jews embracing causes all over the world (Read Darfur) while Jewish children in Israel go hungry. Even the various Federations around the country contribute large portions of their budgets (millions of $) to non-Jewish charities and causes. Don't misunderstand me, I find no fault with, nor do I question the motives of, any charitable organization. And, I wish them all the fate of disolution due to solving the problems for which they were created. But as Jew, I want my Jewish donations to go to educating Jews about their heritage; to eradicating hunger and poverty in Israel; to building synagogues destroyed by natural events or by arson; and to reaching out to those Jews who have been disenfranchised, left out, or left behind.
As for Chanukah, the beauty and mystery of this historical event need not take a back seat to any other celebration, or cause du jour. The diluting of the miracles of the lights and the military victory over seemingly insurmountable odds, with other totally unrelated secular persuits, is a tragedy.
(32) Rivkah, December 8, 2007 3:49 PM
Resist assimilation
This article is right on! We decided not to give gifts for Chanukkah this year in an effort to resist the efforts of some to make Chaukkah more like Christmas and to demonstrate how Jews should resist assimilation into the popular culture. Unfortunately, some members of our family do not want to try to understand this, but are disgusted with us. But we are standing tall in our attepmt to preserve our Jewish culture, just like the Maccabees did. This is an awesome article. Thanks for writing it. Todah.
(31) Arwen Kuttner, December 7, 2007 6:12 AM
Judaism can allow more than one idea at a time
You're absolutely right to say that Jewish holidays are often hijacked for the wrong reasons. I'm particularly offended by interfaith "Christmikkah" celebrations that completely miss the point that Channukah is about resisting assimilation, not about encouraging intermarriage.
HOWEVER, Judaism is a deep and complex faith and every one of our holidays is an opportunity to explore every part of our mitzvot and of our relationship to Hashem.
The "green movement" is not just a bunch of wackies who care more about the environment than about G-d. On the contrary, there are a handful of frum Jews, like myself, who see the concepts of "not wasting" and of treating Hashem's creation with respect as being a fundamentally important and totally neglected obligation in the frum community.
Channukah is about many things, and one of those things is miracles. The history of Channukah could not take place without a partnership of Jews returning to Torah and Hashem stepping in to bring miracles. The same applies in our world today. If we, as Jews, completely neglect the world Hashem created, Hashem is not going to just step in and fix the damage we have caused and cause daily.
And if He does cause a miracle to slow down all the effects on our world, and we are not leaders in doing our part as well, we should be ashamed not to have participated more fully.
(30) Andy, December 6, 2007 1:51 PM
to Rabbi Eli Perlman re tikun olam/anti Jewish?
"The last I looked, a key to Judaism is Tikun Olam and Tzedaka.
What constitutes tikun olam at any particular time is an open question.
"the history of Chanukah, on its own, is the result of a civil war between Jews â€" something for which we should not be proud."
We should not be proud of the fact that there were a great many Jews who were willing to give up observing Torah commandments, but we can be proud that some resisted and prevailed against great odds at that time. It seems to me that the civil war was between those who were loyal to the Torah and those who felt cutural Judaism was enough.Seems to be revelent today.
At my local CVS I saw cards for sale that said Happy Chanukah and Merry Christmas on one card. It may serve as a feel good inclusive message designed for the many interfaith families, but it does seem inappropriate as part of a Chanukah celebration.
(29) Alina, December 6, 2007 11:30 AM
you rock
BS"D
I saw some commentators here expressing the impportance of issues like preserving our planet and tikun olam. Although these have a place in Judaism, I believe we could all take the discussion to a higher level if we learned more about Judaism-which comes right back to the author's point of raising the level of Jewish education of our kids-it's great to see that this aritcle has generated so much dialogue-if we do some some research into the topic at hand, our dialogue will become more productive.
(28) sharon, December 6, 2007 8:11 AM
if the environmentalists really want to do something...
If the environmentalists really want to do something, maybe they should start a campaign to not drive cars one day a week - say, on Shabbos.
(27) MY, December 5, 2007 2:53 PM
Anonymous: your point is lost
To the ignoramus who wanted to see examples of muslims who don't recognize Temple Mount there it is:
Adnan Husseini, aide to the Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud
Abbas, said Thursday that Palestinian demands for Israel to cede
eastern Jerusalem includes the Western Wall.
"This is part of Islamic heritage that cannot be given up, and it must
be under Muslim control," Husseini told Israel's NRG Web site and
Israel Radio, demanding that all of Jerusalem's Old City be part of a
future Palestinian state.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The Waqf has acted terribly, taking thousands of tons of artifacts
from the First Temple, the Second Temple, as well as Muslim artifacts,
and throwing them away," Dr Eilat Mazor, from the Hebrew University,
told Ynetnews.
"They want to turn the whole of the Temple Mount into a mosque for
Muslims only. They don't care about the artifacts or heritage on the
site."
She added that there was a link between routine denials of the
existence of the Jerusalem Temples by senior officials of the
Palestinian Authority, and the way the Waqf was treating artifacts on
the site.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Former mufti of Jerusalem: Jews have no claims to Western Wall
By: Stan Goodenough
Published: October 25, 2007
The former PLO-appointed mufti of Jerusalem, Ikrema Sabri, told the
Post no Israelite temple had ever stood on the Temple Mount.
"The wall is not part of the Jewish temple. It is just the western
wall of the mosque. There is not a single stone with any relation at
all to the history of the Hebrews.
"It was always only a mosque - all 144 dunams, the entire area," Sabri said.
"No Jews have the right to pray there. No Jewish prayer. If the Jews
want real peace, they must not do anything to try to pray on Al-Aqsa.
Everyone knows that," he added.
(26) PaattiiJenkins, December 5, 2007 2:24 PM
My parents always asked ,children should we celebrate
By celbrate thye were asking, Toys today or blessings tomorrow.We understood that PAPA believed that theblessings w2ere more important. and although we had a wonderful days of miracles we gave gifts from our hearts. My father died in1984. But his words live on. So my mother always gave from her heart also Father inheavennnnnn took her home on july 1997 I hope these days of miracles give you heartfelt joy and the sharing you give to ytour brothers and sisters bring you blessings from above as they do my family every year.Your sister in the miricle of internet shalom my family shalom. yours omein
(25) MY, December 5, 2007 9:18 AM
To Anonymous who wrote Your point is lost
You must be kidding! Do you ever read news from Israel? Aren't you ashamed to come out to the world and proclaim your lack of knowledge, when you have so little information? Arafat himself said not once, that there is nothing to connect the Jews to the Temple or Jerusalem. When the arabs built the Solomon Stables (you probably think they are stables for horses) they destroyed thousands of artifacts from the First Temple, they went last month with a buldozer destroying a wall from the First Temple,even the archeologists from US were enraged and asked the government to intervene. Their religious leaders come out every now and then with ideas like the one that the "Palestinians",(the ones who came from Arabia with the development of the land in the Turkish times by Jews), are the descendants of Jebussites, that there is no connection between Jews and the Temple. I myself saw on Israeli TV a muslim imam saying that all the connections of the Jews with the Temple are unsubstantiated stories so they can grab arab land. The first part of your comment is opinion, the second part is just cocky unenlightenment.
(24) sharona, December 5, 2007 12:15 AM
The problem with combining chanuka and christmas is that it means that the Jewish individual has assimilated, which is what the message of chanuka is against doing. The message of chanuka is about staying loyal to Torah, no matter what. When we learn Torah and do mitzvos like lighting the monarah on chanuka, we create a spiritual light and positive energy for the world. Helping the poor is very good and should be done. We should also though, observe the other mitzvos as well. Marry a fellow Jew, educate ourselves and our children about our tradition, experience the beauty of shabbos and so on.
I think what the Jewish federation and the community in general should do is find a way to help people with tution costs so more Jewish families can give their kids a Jewish education
(23) Rabbi Eli B. Perlman, December 4, 2007 3:44 PM
Your premise is actually anti-Jewish
The last I looked, a key to Judaism is Tikun Olam and Tzedaka. While the other religions borrowed things from Chanukah, pagans, and other beliefs over the years, I see nothing wrong with teaching Tikun Olam and Tzedaka every chance we get without being accused of making Judaism like other religions. To say otherwise boarders on the Chillul Hashem since we are created in the image of G-d to be partners in creation that is ongoing into the present.
That said, the history of Chanukah, on its own, is the result of a civil war between Jews – something for which we should not be proud. The more good we can derive from that sad time in our history, the more of a miracle Chanukah truly is. While saving the earth is our job as Jews, it is also our job as citizens of the world.
Naturally, I am not speaking about making Chanukah into a Jewish Christmas, but rather making Chanukah more about what our Jewish tradition teaches – Tikun Olam and Tzedaka.
(22) Anonymous, December 4, 2007 12:13 PM
your point is lost
Yes, it's ironic and sad that Hanukkah, of all holidays, has fallen prey to assimilationists. But this point, which you make, is completely lost because you've deemed having a right-wing soap box more important than a frank discussion about Hanukkah.
Ecology as a Maccabee stand-in may be a stretch. Though I wouldn't know from reading this, because Mr. Tobin doesn't tell us much about how this assertion is framed--just that he thinks it's wrong. It's worth noting that the world is G-d's creation. We should be using it respectfully, not abusing it for selfish gain. Teaching humans to love and be in awe of G-d's creation is not a "bandwagon" or "hobbyhorse"--it's part of the Jewish concern. Even my cursory knowledge of the traditional sources corroborates that.
Furthermore, you say that helping the poor is "not entirely benign." Does this mean that it's partially malicious? If so, are you serious? I'm absolutely floored that someone could classify tzedakah as a "non-Jewish narrative." Are you reading a different Torah from the rest of us? What's behind this is that our Jewish brothers and sisters are trying to be a light unto our own nation, something that's desperately needed. Their method may be a little different from yours, but their cause is the same. Your decision to turn an ally into an enemy only hurts Khal Yisroel.
The ones who are behind all this assimilationism in America are the Christians (and the Jews who are their willing accomplices). This is very pertinent to the Hanukkah story. Your false, unsubstantiated claim that Muslims "are seeking to erase Jewish history altogether" is not. Name one Muslim (or Arab Christian, too, I guess) who claims that the Maccabees did not recapture the Temple from the Hellenists.
(21) Matan Barnea, December 4, 2007 11:56 AM
progressive causes are on message
You write that "Far from being a Jewish version of "goodwill toward men" or any other trendy contemporary cause, the original story of Chanukah is about something very different: the refusal of Jews to bow down to the idols of the popular culture of their day, and to remain resolutely separate and faithful to their own traditions."
Aren't SUVS and Hummers just idols of our current popular culture, so "going green" is in fact a return to the Jewish tradition of seeing the Earth as belonging to God first and foremost? COEJL does great work, even if they not ultra-Orthodox. Please avoid lashon hora about groups you seem to know very little about!
(20) Aisling LaBauve, December 4, 2007 11:05 AM
Having Trouble This Hanukkah..
I read this peice and immediately thought of my own situation. I'm Jewish, my husband is Catholic, and although we're raising our daughter Jewish, suddenly he thinks we should incorporate both traditions into her upbringing. I tell him that this is confusing, but he doesn't believe me. He sings Christmas songs to her and wants us to go to a Christmas pageant tomorrow night (on the second night of Hanukkah!!!). I'm upset about it, but I'm trying to be sensitive to his faith and I'm not sure how to handle this.
(19) David Yossi Snellen, December 4, 2007 7:49 AM
Dedication
Channukah is about the re dedication of the Mikdash. I believe we should focus on our lives being truly dedicated to HaShem and mitzvot. As to it blending with xmas, well, please get R'Tovia Singer's tapes on christianity. It has NOTHING to do with us as Jews. I am sorry that some of our family have followed any other religion than Judaism. Please G-d, they will come back to the truth and we will all be dedicated to HaShem.
(18) BS, December 4, 2007 2:46 AM
To Tammy H and everyone else...
I recommend you listen to Rabbi Lawrence Kelemen's class on the real story of xmas. Judaism is more that warm fuzzy feelings, and more than just remembering something that happened thousands of years ago. The lessons are not history lessons, the are life lessons, relevant to us today.
(17) Shaindl Rivkah, December 3, 2007 6:40 PM
Chrismikkah
wow! thats all i can say. seriously, "chrismikkah?" ridiculous. must stop now!
(16) Tammy H, December 3, 2007 5:32 PM
Don't see the big deal.
As a Jew who was raised in Christianity I seem to have the best of both worlds and refuse to renounce either but embrace both holidays with fervor. I rarely display a tree but my Chaunakah candles and electric menorah. Outside are thousands of white lights around my home framing in the blue lighted electric menorah. However you will find manger scenes in my home also. Say what you will but I reverence and respect both. I am not in agreement with the commercialism of either holiday. All meaning of each has been lost. How many homes focus more on the story of the Holy Temple and the oil? Or the story of the birth of Christ in the Christian home? Few. I think both are guilty of not providing adequate education to the next generation. It's the next generation that will carry on the richness of Jewish culture. WHen education and tradition dies so does our faith.
(15) aseret, December 3, 2007 3:30 PM
Maccabees= great real JEWS
...
(14) fred, December 3, 2007 2:08 PM
" The author lost me in the first paragraph. Passover transformed into "a catch-all festival that celebrates the rights of every afflicted minority and fashionable cause imaginable". Huh?? Not anywhere that I've been."
You've never been to Berkeley :)
Seriously, you've never seen the Femininist Haggadah, the Refusenik Haggadah, even the "Palestinian Haggadah"? There is probably one for every cause, and the irony is that the original unchanged Haggadah supports all worthy causes universally.
(13) Janna, December 3, 2007 12:53 AM
It's not a "December Dilemma" - it's a "December Divergence"
Most assimilated Jews do not realize that Chanukah is the antithesis of Christmas. Christians are celebrating the birth of their faith - a faith that broke away from Judaism, a faith that many Christians believe Jews ought to accept. Chanukah is all about NOT assimilating, about holding on to our faith as we would life itself. If we take that stand NOT to assimilate, then there really is no discussion about a "Chanukah bush" or "Chrismukkah." They are two entirely separate holidays that happen to come out in the same month on our shared secular calendar.
Also, no holiday should be co-sponsored by a nouveau-chic politically correct cause, no matter how worthy. When the holiday itself is no longer the message, we allow the secular realm to dilute faith, and once that happens, faith is in big trouble. As it is, many "humorous" greeting cards portray the essence of our holidays as, "They tried to kill us, we won, let's eat" - as if the reason didn't matter and the outcome was shrugged off as nothing special. That's not humorous, that's tragic. Must we reduce everything to a pithy little sound bite for the jaded and cynical among us, catering to short attention spans?
The word "Chanukah" means "dedication" and refers to the temple we won back. How about our own dedication to taking back Chanukah through education and outreach?
(12) fred, December 2, 2007 9:24 PM
Anti-inclusionary
I used to tell people at work that hanuka was the commoration of the Jew's refusal to join in a "holiday party", such as they were always attempting to organize.
(11) Puregoldj, December 2, 2007 6:22 PM
You've got the wrong hijackers...
The author lost me in the first paragraph. Passover transformed into "a catch-all festival that celebrates the rights of every afflicted minority and fashionable cause imaginable". Huh?? Not anywhere that I've been.
I really don't have a problem if someone sees a connection between a current issue and a Jewish holiday. At least we are talking about making positive use of the holiday, and usually are touching on at least some of the real meaning.
What is a much worse problem is the crass commercialism hijacking holidays (and not only Jewish ones!). This commercialism tries to make the central message of both Christmas and Hannukah that you have to buy lots of expensive gifts. This more than anything is what results in taking out the spiritual meaning of holidays and giving us supremely tacky nonsense like "Chrismukkah". Most people don't even realize that gifts on Hannukkah is really more of an American tradition than a Jewish tradition (in part so American Jewish children would not be jealous of their Christian neighbors in December).
The bottom line: if children see people making a connection between the message of Hannukkah and, say, ecology, at least there is some connection to the meaning of the holiday. It might even raise their curiousity to learn more about the holiday. If all they see is that you're supposed to get lots of expensive gifts, they are much more likely to end up getting into "Chrismukkah" or other silly ways to 'unite' holidays of different faiths under the banner of spending lots of money.
(10) Dvirah, December 2, 2007 3:39 PM
Places for Each Trend
While telling our trendists to "cool it" on Hanukah, we can also tell them they need not despair: there are plenty of Jewish holidays already commemorating their pet themes. Ecology, for example, is a fitting theme for Tu B'Shvat, right around the corner from Hanukah; and gifts to the poor is a positive Mitvah on Purim. It's just a matter of getting their dates right.
(9) Ruth Housman, December 2, 2007 3:16 PM
our festival of lights
Hi, this seems like a polemic that is misplaced and I do understand the concept of needing to understand and teach the history and historical roots of our holiday, Chanukah, a holiday with meaning that gave birth to this tradition and celebration. On the other hand, I would have to say that ANYTHING that makes my children and my children's children aware of the desecration of the environment and more sensitive to the needs of taking care of this planet, supercedes this argument which I find too facile, too easy, and sadly, not in the spirit of Hillel and our other sages, for whom the basis of Torah is how we treat each other. So I am saying GO TO IT: if you can find a way to incorporate ecological sensitivity and caring into this holiday, this is a new kind of holiness and worth having. We can do both and as time goes by, holidays do take non new meanings and new shadings but this never takes away from the root historical reverence for the tradition.
(8) Beverly Kurtin, December 2, 2007 3:03 PM
Why I'm bald
As a Jew, this is the time of the year when I want to pull each and every hair off my head when "well-meaning" people ask, "Oh, Chanukah? That's the Jewish Christmas, right?"
Although I want to scream in 144 point type NO, I give them a short history of the holiday and then go one step further.
Chanukah has nothing to do with Christmas; in fact it is totally the opposite. Chanukah celebrates the incredible miracle of the Jews winning a war over a majority of Greeks who wanted to destroy Judaism by making them worship idols, eat non-Kosher foods, and, in essence, stop being Jews.
Then along came a Jewish preacher who was trying to bring Jews back to Judaism. His followers somehow managed to twist his message and an apostate named Paul took his twisted notions to the Gentiles and since observing the laws of Judaism were too much trouble for them to convert Judaism, he said that just believing that the "sacrifice" of the preacher was sufficient and tossed out all of the laws of Judaism.
For awhile, the Jewish followers of the preacher continued to follow Judaism, but eventually they were absorbed into the Gentile movement, returned to Judaism, or simply disappeared into history.
At the bottom of all of this is the fact that once more Judaism was attacked, albeit without war. But the results would have been the same: the destruction of Judaism.
Whether or not oil meant for a single day's lighting of the lamps is true, what shines brightly and more brilliantly than any "star" is the fact that the mighty Greek army could not destroy the people God chose for himself: the Jews. And THAT is what Chanukah means, adding to the amusing triplet of they tried to kill us, we won, let eat!
I urge all Jews to understand the real meaning of Chanukah and to eschew saying "yes" to the question, "is Chanukah the Jewish Christmas?" Stand up to that question. Answer with a clear and unwavering voice:
NO…it commemorates the time when a relative handful of Jews defeated the Syrian King who wanted to outlaw the practice of Judaism and desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem. It took two years for them to defeat the king and his armies. When Jews entered the Temple they cleaned it out and dedicated the Temple back to God; the word Hebrew word for dedicated is Chanukah. It's celebrated for eight days because supposedly they found only one vial of oil to light the lamp in the Temple and it lasted for eight days. But the real miracle is that we won over overwhelming odds.
Just as we have done a lousy job of public relations in regards to Israel, we Jews have done a lousy job of explaining to the Gentile world what we are, what we stand for, and why we do what we do. But there is a good reason for it: Jews seem to raise their children to be b'nai mitzvah and then leave Judaism. No wonder our kids intermarry.
I head a joke once that illustrates this better than anything else could. A Catholic church was overrun by rodents. No matter what they did, the rodents survived. A synagogue on the other corner of the same intersection had none. When the priest asked the rabbi why, the rabbi shrugged, smiled, and said, we Bar Mitzvah them and they leave.
Not too funny, is it?
(7) Hilary Lee Fergenson, December 2, 2007 3:03 PM
Chrismukkah
All my life, I grew up having a double celebration of "Chrismukkah" (Christmas/Chanukah) and getting heaps of presents for both holidays. I always thought that it was really cool to have an electric menorah right next to a Christmas tree in my home because this was a popular trend in many public places all over America. It was not until I was 7 or 8 that I realized the difference between the two holidays, but to this day, I still enjoy the universal tradition of bringing people from all walks of life together by celebrating the secular aspects of both holidays. As much as Chanukah should be acknowledged for its unique history in children's Hebrew school classes, people still have rights to have multiple December holiday celebrations while honoring the overall winter solstace. Lastly, I think that Rosen's comment about confusing a menorah with a birthday cake is very funny because I remember experiencing an incident like that when I was about 5 years old and was laughing out loud. My grandmother from my mom's part of the family (the one who celebrated Chanukah and Passover) was with us in Florida at the time and told me in a kind and gentle way not to giggle during this candle lighting ceremony, but I still look back with laughter every time I reminisce about this childhood moment.
(6) Anonymous, December 2, 2007 2:22 PM
Chanuka is not Jewish Christmas
Our kids get one or two presents--usually with Jewish significance, and a firm message: Chanuka is NOT about 'peace on earth'; Chanuka is about staying Jewish no matter what. Even if Christmas is more popular and looks like more fun--staying Jewish no matter what.
(5) Simcha, December 2, 2007 2:15 PM
actually...
It's meant to publicize the miracle and to recall and renew both the privilege and the obligation of being a holy and separate people.
And if I'm not mistaken, the "candles" are meant not to be wax, but olive oil.
(4) Christina, December 2, 2007 12:51 PM
Green Chanukkah
With all due respect sir,
I enjoyed your article greatly, and believe me the whole world should be blessed with Jewish education. However, I am unable to accept your thesis that the green movement is another trend. It is on the political landscape today, yes, but it is not new. Furthermore, without improving our efforts to curb carbon emissions, reduce pollution, and keep our food supply free of genetically modified organisms, there won't be anyone left to educate. Thank you.
(3) Moriah, December 2, 2007 10:38 AM
The confusion of moral equivelancy
In my city we have a large wealthy assimilated Jewish community. They put out a newsletter chalk full of just what you talk about. There was an article two months ago crowing about a LGT Shabbaton. And it pridefully mentioned its sponsorship of a gay parade downtown. On that same page was an article with the headline: 'Is G-d Punishing Us for Global Warming?" We don't need to worry about GWB, Hezbullah or a nuclear Iran when we have such deluded Jews with lots of money and a forum. May G-d help us and bring us strengh to have the wherewithal to stand up and fight the enemies of G-d and Israel. Amen.
(2) Barry E Lerner, December 2, 2007 10:28 AM
well said
Excellent commentary. It suggests, correctly, that we jettison the superficial, and respond to the profound. Not a bad idea in any area of endeavor.
(1) Rosen, December 2, 2007 6:26 AM
understanding Chanukah
Chanukah is simply meant for lighting candles, 8 nights in a row, and spending quality time with loved ones.
Unfortunately, those who do not fully get the concept of Chanukah, generally in intermarried Jewish/Christian families, that's when there is likely going to be light bulbs on a menorah, or a clap-on menorah, or even if there are actual candles, some may mistaken it like a birthday cake, where the youngest child blows out all 8 candles, and then the presents come.
I do understand the basic principles of Chanukah, and I have NEVER had a Christmas tree in my house growing up.