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by Rabbi Michael Paley
The most famous part of the Chanukah story is the miracle of a small cruse of oil, needed to kindle the eternal light in the Temple in Jerusalem, lasting for eight days.
The real story though focuses on the conflict in 165 BCE between how Jewish to remain or how amenable to become to the ruling Greek culture. Judah Maccabee and his small group of followers felt they had been pushed too far and fought back. Chanukah is ultimately about a military battle and cultural assimilation.
It’s a struggle that can be seen in our current situation, both in the Middle East and the world — the struggle between religious passion and secular, progressive beliefs and accomplishments. In the middle is a vast community searching for ideological structures that both make life better and give meaning to existence.
Jews today stand between separatism and assimilation. The miracle of Chanukah, besides God’s intervention, is that Jews can be part of the world and still be good Jews. ♦
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