Why Hanukkah is the perfect festival for religious freedom

Washington Post ^ | 12/6/15 | Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

[Phinneous]

Hanukkah is the festival when Jews celebrate their victory in the fight for religious freedom more than 2,000 years ago. Tragically, that fight is no less important today, and not only for Jews, but for people of all faiths.

The Jewish story is simple enough. In about 165 B.C., Antiochus IV, ruler of the Syrian branch of the Alexandrian empire, began to impose Greek culture on the Jews of the land of Israel. Funds were diverted from the Temple to public games and drama competitions. A statue of Zeus was erected in Jerusalem. Jewish religious rituals such as circumcision and the observance of the Sabbath were banned. Those who kept them were persecuted. It was one of the great crises in Jewish history. There was a real possibility that Judaism, the world’s first monotheistic faith, would be eclipsed...

[Phinneous]

Rabbi Sacks uses the rabbi mind trick to get the Post to publish this, obviously...

[SunkenCiv]

[KC_for_Freedom]

These are not the droids you are looking for

Very good.

[Monkey Face]

That is interesting! Thanks!

:o])

[SkyDancer]

[Talisker]

Great article, worth the whole read.

[left that other site]

A Blessed Chanukah to you. I love that holiday!

[Zionist Conspirator]

Phinneous, I know you mean well, but I disagree.

No one has the "right" to worship any "gxd" other than HaShem, or to create or practice false religions, or to create new holidays, or to violate the objective laws G-d has given us to live by.

The Chashmonaim were not fighting for eighteenth century "enlightenment" style "religious freedom" as we think of it today, but in order to observe the commandments of G-d.

The rebellion began when Mattityahu, seeing a Hellenistic Jew sacrificing a pig, killed him. Jews did not have the "freedom" to sacrifice pigs.

Of course, even Catholics now thump "religious freedom," so I know what you meant by posting this article. But really . . . the "official American Jewish leadership" has twisted Chanukkah into a celebration of Voltaire. Aren't we finally beyond that?

[ChocChipCookie]

In honor of my great-grandparents who immigrated here from Russia in 1900, we observe Hanukkah. Tonight the menorah is up, we’ve done some decorating, and have the gelt and dreidels at the ready. :)

[left that other site]

A Very happy Hanukkah to you and your family!

[Phinneous]

Noted. Concur. It’s a soft feel-goody article, not a fiery sermon.

We, you and me are beyond that. We want everyone to know that there is one G-d and that every created being has a duty to worship only Him. Giddyup.

For some advanced pondering of the lights of Chanukah, here is a class on the many, many answers to the question, “Just what was the miracle of the oil??”

Glossary: Yidden = Jews; Aibishter = G-d; all else he translates:

http://theyeshiva.net/item/384

[af_vet_1981]

In honor of my great-grandparents who immigrated here from Russia in 1900, we observe Hanukkah. Tonight the menorah is up,

Well done; may their memories be for a blessing.

[Zionist Conspirator]

Noted. Concur. It’s a soft feel-goody article, not a fiery sermon.

We, you and me are beyond that. We want everyone to know that there is one G-d and that every created being has a duty to worship only Him. Giddyup.

Chag Chanukkah sameach to you, yours, and kol keneset Yisra'el, Phinneous!

[Jeremiah Jr]

Happy Hanukkah!

25 Kislev 5776
Hanukkah 1

Moon occult's Venus

http://earthsky.org/todays-image/see-it-best-photos-moon-and-venus-dec-7-2015

2 Tevet 5776
Hanukkah 8

Viewing Guide to the 2015 Geminid Meteor Shower

http://www.universetoday.com/123582/viewing-guide-to-the-2015-geminid-meteor-shower/

Whee!

Yeshayah 34, 4 All the stars in the sky will be dissolved and the heavens rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree.

[af_vet_1981]

Austrian Envoy Reaches Out to U.S. Jews
Special to the Diplomatic Pouch by Larry Luxner
Who would have imagined, 70 years ago, that a high-ranking diplomat from Austria — birthplace of Adolf Hitler — would someday invite leading Jewish officials to the Austrian Embassy in Washington to light a menorah and recite blessings in Hebrew?

Some might see irony in such a ceremony, but Hans Peter Manz — who’s been Austria’s ambassador to the United States for only a few weeks — says Monday night’s Hanukkah celebration is part of his government’s efforts to reach out to Jews both here and at home.

“I’ve already decided to make this an annual tradition,” Manz told about 75 guests at the ceremony, which was co-sponsored by the American Jewish Committee (AJC). “My relationship with the Jewish community is not new; this has been a large part of my job for many years.”