Musing on Chanukah

A short unnumbered musing, possibly to be expanded later....

Musing on Chanukah

Americans think of the Civil Rights struggle of the second half of the twentieth century as something unique, but it’s small potatoes compared to what became “The Chanukah Story.”

Thousands of years ago the Greeks invaded and conquered the Jewish State in Holy Land. It wasn’t enough for them to take over the basic administration and security of the country. They also wanted to take over the minds and hearts the native people, the Jews.

The Greeks destroyed the Jews’ Holy Temple and established laws making it illegal to follow the Jewish Religion. Everyone was commanded to live by the Greek religion, if not they would be killed. Some Jews didn’t mind and enthusiasticly assimilated into the Greek culture; they were “the Hellenists.” Other Jews demanded their civil rights to live as Jews.

A group of small dedicated Jews, led by Matityahu and his sons, fought the “superior forces” of Greek soldiers. Matityahu and his followers were seen as “unrealistic” fanatics.

Some of the battles took place in the hills near my home in Shiloh. We used to have the second grade of our local school go to one of the mountains to stage a “mock battle.” I was once one of the teachers who accompanied them. On some of those same hills today live young Jewish families.

As we all know, the small minority of Jews defeated the well-equiped Greek forces. And what was the first thing that Matityahu and his surviving son Yehuda Hamakabi do? They rushed to the ruins of the Holy Temple to thank G-d. They needed pure oil and only found one small vial, enough for one day at the most. It would take eight to produce more. In spite of the rational statistical and scientific evidence that the oil would burn out before more could be produced, they believed that they must light it. Miraculously the oil burned for eight days, long enough for more oil to be produced.

Again, we’re battling for our survival as a people and nation. And again, G-d willing, we will be victorious. We must have faith and do what G-d commands.

Chag Urim Sameach,
Batya Medad, Shiloh