Posted on 12/06/2015 11:41:17 AM PST by 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 worldâs first monotheistic faith, would be eclipsed...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
These are not the droids you are looking for
Very good.
That is interesting! Thanks!
:o])
Great article, worth the whole read.
A Blessed Chanukah to you. I love that holiday!
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?
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. :)
A Very happy Hanukkah to you and your family!
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
Well done; may their memories be for a blessing.
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!
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.
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