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Too many Jews today are missing the intended purpose of one of Judaism's most beloved holidays
Jewish World Review ^ | 12/22/'08 | Rabbi Boruch Leff

Posted on 12/22/2008 3:33:07 PM PST by Zionist Conspirator

The Jewish people not only defeated the Greeks on the battlefield, but we defeated them spiritually as well. In fact, the spiritual struggle was the true heart of the conflict. In Greek philosophy, the power and wisdom of man was preeminent. In the Greek worldview, there was no room and no need for G-d.

All that needed to be accomplished could be accomplished by man, on his own, with no assistance at all. This is why the Greeks so desperately wanted to crush Judaism. In the case of other conquered peoples, the Greeks were benevolent to their new citizens. They only wanted to display their new advances and enlightened ideas of the supremacy of man in all areas of intellect and achievement: philosophy, sports, theatre, architecture, and more.

(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...


TOPICS: Apologetics; Current Events; History; Judaism
KEYWORDS: chanukkah; hellenism; secularism; torah
Please read the entire article.

I post this here because it underscores one of the great ironies of our day: the secularism and denial of the spiritual that was originally the philosophy of `Amaleq and which was brought to its height by the ancient Greeks is now most associated with, of all people, the Jews, whose suffering at the hands of chr*stianity (along with their intellectuality and questioning) is often considered the bete noire of the religious spirit in today's world. And while it is tragic enough that non-Jews believe this, it is a chillul HaShem that many Jews see skepticism of religion and the spiritual and the fight against "theocracy" as their unique mission in the world.

In such a world it is only appropriate that Chanukkah, which celebrates the responsibility to obey the One True G-d rather than modern "religious freedom" and which commemorates a victory of fundamentalists over liberals, should have been perverted into a celebration of "multiculturalism" and the "separation of church and state."

1 posted on 12/22/2008 3:33:08 PM PST by Zionist Conspirator
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To: Alouette

Ping for your interest. Happy Chanukkah, old friend!


2 posted on 12/22/2008 3:34:02 PM PST by Zionist Conspirator ('Az 'egmor, beshir-mizmor, chanukkat-hamizbeach!)
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To: Zionist Conspirator

Chanukah isn’t quite celebrated the same way in Israel as it is here in the United States. Like Xmas here in the states, it’s been materialized to make kids think they deserve presents here. In Israel, most just go on vacation.


3 posted on 12/22/2008 3:41:01 PM PST by MAD-AS-HELL (How does one win over terrorists? KILL them with UNKINDNESS)
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To: Zionist Conspirator
....power and wisdom of man was preeminent. In the Greek worldview, there was no room and no need for G-d."

Factually untrue, false.

4 posted on 12/22/2008 3:51:40 PM PST by Leisler
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To: Zionist Conspirator

My FAVORITE Organization!

http://jewsforjesus.org/about


5 posted on 12/22/2008 4:14:58 PM PST by chicagolady (Mexican Elite say: EXPORT Poverty Let the American Taxpayer foot the bill !)
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To: chicagolady

I was trying to make the point that Judaism when actually lived is the antidote to modernism and irreligion. I’m sorry you don’t see it that way.


6 posted on 12/22/2008 4:23:56 PM PST by Zionist Conspirator ('Az 'egmor, beshir-mizmor, chanukkat-hamizbeach!)
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To: Zionist Conspirator
More are missing Shabbat than missing Hannukkah. A lot more!

ML/NJ

7 posted on 12/22/2008 4:36:59 PM PST by ml/nj
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To: ml/nj
More are missing Shabbat than missing Hannukkah. A lot more!

True, that. After all, Chanukkah gets turned into a celebration of the ACLU's interpretation of the Constitution (separation of church and state), so lots of non-religious Jews celebrate it. Shabbat, though, that's that redneck seventh day thing.

8 posted on 12/22/2008 4:43:53 PM PST by Zionist Conspirator ('Az 'egmor, beshir-mizmor, chanukkat-hamizbeach!)
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To: Zionist Conspirator

Chanukkah just replaced pagan celebrations. It’s not Biblical.

< /s >


9 posted on 12/22/2008 5:10:21 PM PST by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
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To: Leisler

There’s a lot of real estate under the heading of “the Greek worldview.”

I would say that, in the worldview of Antiochus, the gods were to be managed if anything. They might or might not exist, but the beliefs of hoi polloi had to be taken into account in any event.


10 posted on 12/22/2008 5:23:10 PM PST by Philo-Junius (One precedent creates another. They soon accumulate and constitute law.)
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To: Leisler

Please detail this One God of the Greeks.

Thank you.


11 posted on 12/23/2008 7:01:26 AM PST by onedoug
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To: onedoug

The Greeks never, ever had one God. So, to straw man them as abandoning, that which the never had, is either ignorant, or fallacious. Take your pick.

The Rabbi, is ignorant, lying.


12 posted on 12/23/2008 8:48:11 PM PST by Leisler
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To: onedoug

The Greeks never, ever had one God. So, to straw man them as abandoning, that which the never had, is either ignorant, or fallacious. Take your pick.

The Rabbi, is ignorant, lying.


13 posted on 12/23/2008 8:48:13 PM PST by Leisler
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To: Leisler
Lying...?

Hmm...

Merry Christmas to You and Yours anyway.

14 posted on 12/24/2008 8:38:21 AM PST by onedoug
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