Chanukkah: An Internal Struggle

Dec 11th 2009, 00:00

There is nothing better than a good irony or paradox. Most of us were taught that Chanukkah is a celebration of Judah and the Maccabees, a small band of Jews with primitive weapons, who fought off the mighty, well-equipped Syrian-Greek army. After recapturing, cleansing, and rededicating the Temple, they found a small flask of oil to relight the Eternal Light. There was only enough oil to last for one day, but a great miracle came down from on high, and the oil lasted for eight crazy nights. As others have said, that’s the story and I’m sticking to it! That may be the story, but it’s not the entire story. The real struggle was not with the mighty army of the Syrian-Greeks per se. The real struggle was an internal battle with assimilation. True, Antiochus wanted everyone to shed their particularistic beliefs and practices, and so there was outside pressure to do so. But the struggle amongst the Jews was much more internal. That struggle remains today as it has throughout the centuries. Jews have always struggled with balancing their Jewishness with the culture in which they lived. For many centuries, we lived in the ghetto where we were shielded from outside forces. But with modernity came more acceptance and more assimilation. So, what’s the irony and paradox? As we all know, Chanukkah is the most celebrated Jewish holiday despite the fact that it is not mentioned in the Torah or Jewish bible. Chanukkah is celebrated primarily in the home and many outside rituals and practices have been folded into its observance. You don’t need a rabbi or synagogue, only a box of candles and a few ingredients to make some delicious latkes. Today, Chanukkah is a source of great pride for Jews of all stripes and its message has expanded to one of religious freedom for all. The irony and paradox is that a holiday whose essential message is against assimilation is celebrated by even the most assimilated Jew. Chanukkah means rededication and is so named because of the Maccabees who recaptured and rededicated the Temple. Today, we need nothing more that Jews who recapture their Jewish soul and the Jewish spirit and rededicate themselves to the Jewish community. Far too many use assimilation as an excuse to either deny or play down their religious heritage. The Chanukkah candles light the path for a way back, a way home. Laura and my family join me in wishing you and yours a very warm, happy, and healthy Festival of Chanukkah. Tonight at Temple will be our Chanukkah Family Service at 7:30 PM with our Jr. Choir singing. Tomorrow, Torah Study and Religious School and our Shabbat Morning Service at which time Emilie Liron, daughter of Mindy and Guillaume Liron and granddaughter of Sheila and Mike Donenfeld, will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah. Mazal tov to Emilie and her entire family. Both services will be broadcast on our website (www.templebethtikvah.com). Click on Live Services.