History and Message of Chanukkah

Keeping Connected   December  2024

Dear Friends,

As Rob mentioned in his newsletter article, Chanukkah is a time when we recall the dedication of our ancestors who fought against forces of hate and prejudice in order to live, believe and worship freely. The dedication required a commitment to stand up against idolatry, discriminating laws and forces of assimilation. At the same time it required the will to standup to those in their own community who were willing to conform by sacrificing the ethics, rituals and traditions that were central to Judaism.

There has never been a time in my life when I have not been able to find a relevancy in the themes of our holidays, but this year, I feel a particular resonance with the history and message of Chanukkah. Perhaps it is because I feel the Jewish community is especially vulnerable right now to discrimination and prejudice. Perhaps it is because I know that many Jews feel this fear so acutely that they are even afraid to wear identifying clothing or jewelry in public. Perhaps it is because as a community we need to remain viligent to maintain safety and security. Perhaps it is because I see the rapid erosion of the separation of church and state in America, as indicated by such things as the  posting of Christian interpretations of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms in states like Oklahoma as well as the approval of a bible-based curriculum in Texas for grades K-5. Almost all of the stories and translations are from the Christian tradition. It is true that school districts are not “required” to integrate this curriculum, but if they don’t they will probably lose state educational funding. Perhaps it is because white nationalist hate groups have started to feel more emboldened.

In light of these trends, what can we do to rededicate ourselves to Jewish life in a meaningful way? I do not have one answer, because there are so many ways for us to express our Judaism; culturally, spiritually, ethically and more.  I do believe, however, that it is essential for us to support and preserve the Jewish institutions in our lives, whether they be the synagogue, the Federation, Jewish schools, Jewish social service agencies, Jewish human rights organizations, and more. In the time of the Maccabees, King Antiochus realized that in order to assimilate the Israelite population, he had to undermine the institutions of Jewish life; the Temple, the schools, the rabbinic centers, Jewish charities of that time period. So too with us, without these communities and organizations, we lose the supports and community we need to insure a vibrant, secure Jewish life for all of us.

This year, as we all think about how we might give tzedakah before the end of the year, I urge you to consider including some of the institutions of Jewish life.

Wishing you and your loved ones light in the winter darkness and may you always remember that you have the power to bring light into the world.

Chag Chanukkah Sameach,

Rabbi Shoshana M. Perry