4 —THE BULLETIN — Thursday, December 14, 1978
3
Rabbi Howard Siege! is assistant rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel, Vancouver.
By HENRY LEONARD
When ih Um'Ai OsM
WHEN JUDAH MACCABEE instituted the festival of Ghanuka, he performed an act of far-reaching significance. All previous holidays were prescribed by Torah; this holiday was prescribed by man. It seems only right, then, to assume that such a unique festival must also be accompanied by an equally unique history. So be it! The history pf Chanuka is unique in its misinterpretation. For years we have been taught that Chanuka is a celebration of the Maccabean victory over King Antiochus and the Syrians: a victory which resulted in recapturing and re-dedicating the Temple."
True, the-Maccabees did encounter the Syrians in battle^ and did recapture the Temple; but the Temple was not rescued.froni Syrian hands nor were the significant, military victories of the Maccabean campaign scored against Syrian opposition. Judah Maccabee and his followers were hot involved in a revolt against Syria, but in a civil war against fellow Jew$! The real story of Chanuka ...
With the Greek conquest of the Middle East m 330 B.CiE., Judaism met its greatest challenge. It was not a physical threat that the Jewish people had to withstand, but a spiritual threat posed by the introduction of "Hellenism'* into the mainstream of Jewish life.
Jewish historian Elias Bickerman points out: "For Judaism the question of its historical existence or disappearance depended upon its ability to accommodate itself to Western culture.^
It was the direction of Jewish **accommodati6|i'' which gave rise to the Maccabean revolt.
THE TEMPLE HIGH PRIESTS during the years 175-164 B,C.E. were named Jason and Menelaus. Both had come to the High Priesthood by means of bribery, and both were heavily influenced^ by the Greek culture (Jason and Menelaus are not exactly Jewish ^names!)
Menelaus, who succeeded Jason as High Priest, was so concerned witti accommodating Judaism to the times^fhat he ordered: that GkI's name be referred to hereafter as Zeus; that pigs be brought into the Temple for sacrifice; and that the festivals of Dionysus be celebrated in Jerusalem.
Menelaus * also' went one step further and procured a decree from the Syrian King Antiochus prohibiting the observance of Mosaic Law. These decrees became known as the "persecutions of King Antiochus**!'
Most of the Jews who were sympathetic to the assimilatory efforts of Menelaus lived in Jerusalem. There were, however, small bands of rural Jews who would not tolerate the desecration of
their religion by their own people. These were the rebels known as the "Maccabees." The Maccabees, under leadership of Judah, waged avjgueriUa war for two years against those Jews who would make a mockery of their religion.'
Menelaus and his cohorts paid no attention to these guerilla disruptions uhtil they posed a threat to the security of Jerusalem. Then Menelaus appealed td King Antiochus to intercede against .these "rebels.**
At this time, the Syrian Empire stretched from Egypt to the Pei-sian Gulf. Therefore, this Maccabean uprising was treated hy King Antiochus as just another minor disruption within a large empire. The King dispatched "less-than-pro-fessional** Syrian army forces to deal with.the problem. These forces were soundly defeated by the Maccabean rebels.
IN THE fall of 165 B.C.E., the Syrian government.at last became concerned with the disruption caused by the continuation of this revolt. They decided to put an end to it/Antio-chus, who was involved in a serious war in the East, could ill-afford another war in Palestine. . Thus he made peace with the Jewish rebels by. rescinding his prohibitions against the practice of Mosaic Law.
But, although freedom of-worship was restored to the Jews, Menelaus Lwas still allowed to continue as High Priest in the Temple. This enraged Judah Maccabee, who, at the end of 164 B.C.E., waged a "surprise attack" against Menelaus and his followers. As a result of this attack, JudaK took possession of Jerusalem. His first act jas ."conqueror'^ was to purify anld re-dedicate the Temple and it is. this re-dedication which is the source of our festivalof Chanuka.
''This year, gentlemen, all teachers have been instructed to place the emphasis mainly on Chanukah.
REFUSENIK'S WIFE
(Continued from page 3) arniy.
Should he be redrafted, Igor would have to spend three years in the service followed by a five-year period during which he would be. in^ eligible for a visa.
Their'baby Js^due in January. If Igor has not been granted a visa by that time, Yaneila has declared that
With a foothold in Jerusalem, Judah continued his campaign to re-unite the Jewish people under the flag of Judaism.
The story of Chanuka should be understood as a civil war matching Jew against Jew. King Antiochus and the Syrians were not blameless in these events^ but neither were they the fdcus of this historical epoch.
This restatement of the history of Chanuka does not diminish its importance nor alter its meaning. Chanuka is clearly the celebration of the military victory of a band of Jews against the forces of assimilation.
Today we are less militant in our efforts, but we eonfi'Qint the same forces; Chanuka should serve as inspiration in our every-day efforts to combat assimilation among our people, while we enrich pur Jewish heritage. ^
warns
aaainst
Remember the Sabbath
Sabbath begins, light candles
Friday, December 15,3:54 p.m, Sedra Vayishlach, Genesis Shabbat ends, Havdallah December 16,4:54 p.m.
Friday, December 22,3:57 p.m. Sedra Vayeshev, Genesis Shabbat ends, Havdallah December 23,4:57 p.m.
JEWISH CALENDAR LUACH 57i9 - 1978-79
Chanuka Dec. 25-Jan. 1
Rosh Chodesh Tevet Dec. 30-31 Asarah BTevet Rosh Chodesh Shevat Tu B*Shevat Shabbat Shekalim Rosh Chodesh Adar Fast of Esther
NEW YORK — Jewish parents who permit celebration of Christmas in their homes are distorting reality for their children^ according to a leading psychoanalyst^ Dr. Alice Gi-nott.
Dr. Ginottj in an article in the December isSue of Ladies Home Journal^ asserted that children from homes firmly rooted in Jewish tradition will not ask to celebrate Christmas but if they do, parents should refuse to allow it.
In some Jewish, homes, she said, the problem was real, commenting that "in one heme a Christmas tree can be foundjstanding next to a Chanuka menorah*^ and **anpther may have'a tree but no menorah.**
Dr. Ginott compared the situation with that of a child feeling deprived duringa sibling's birthday party. She declared it would not occur to a parent to say to that child, ^Well
She asserted that wise parents, on the contrary, would use such situations as an opportunity to help their children grow and mature by teach^ ing them to tolerate frustration^: overcome jealousy and rejoice in another's good fortune."
By such means, she addedT children **leam who they are and who they aren't.- -
Otherwise, Dr. Ginott reported, a child can become confused and answer, as a three-year-old did; when asked by her nursery school teacher what a Christmas tree Was: **It something you hide in the closet when your grandpa and grandma come to visit."
Dr. Ginott said that the Christmas season is "tremendously appealing" and it is not a surprise that "so many Jewish parents have concluded that . one need not be Christian to cele: brate Christmas." Such parents
can be a secular-holiday for Jews, an -
American holiday like Thanksgiving."
But, she warned, **not only the essence, of Christmas — the birth of : Jesus -T but all the customs associated with it are out of bounds" for Jews.
Dr. Ginott also examined the problem for children of mixed marriages, saying that **such.a child will be fortunate if his parents give him a sense of belonging to one grotipv for "to be both is to be neither."
Purim
Shushan Purim Rosh Chodesh Nisan
Shabbat Hagadol Pesach
Jan. 9 Jan. 29 Feb. 12 Feb. 24 Feb. 27-28 Mar. 12 Mar. 13 Mar. 14
Mar. 30 Apr. 7 Apr. 12-19
she will have the baby "on the steps U of the Soviet Embassy;"/in ri Washington, D.C. . !
This separation of a family is indirect violation of the Helsinki: Agii^e- S . ment which specified that emigi^-».(iji: tion to reunite families should be fa- > cilitated.-Acdrding to^D; Appelbaum ^ of the lj[rtion4)f Caiincils f<>r«oVier^^ Jews, j^asreXfWf^ftcelis^ sK<A'rffhai^^ twhen>Wi^sterflfraltbnti6n!foctis6^ : ^ an individuil fainilys^the Soviet gdv^.;.' emment is often influenced to grant that family a visa. ' "
This was the case with Jessica Katz who became a *cause belebre* before being allowed tc Emigrate with her parents. .
Letters asking that Igor Gudz be reunited with his;family can bead-dressed to Ambassador AnatolyPo-brynin, 1125 16th street W, Washington, D.C. 20036. Letters of support can also be sent directly to Igor at Zviezony Bulvar 2-37, Moscow RSFSR, U.S.S.R,
Social Calendar :
- ■mm*wm^»m^^m^^mmJ»^:-.^^j2JlJ--1:J1-J-l!-1!'. ■. - ' •■' '■ ^-'v-'■-'-----'--^' .
Centre — "Funny Girt" Play ......................Dec. 16,17
Beth Israel Men's'Clab Chanuka Dance .......... Dec; 16
Centre Chanuka P^it^ Dec. 17 Golden Age Installation Dhmer and Dance .....Dec. 18
Centre Children's Chanuka Party ........... Dec. 24
Hadassah-WIZO Youfli
Aliyah Workshop........ Dec. 30
B'nal B'rith
New Year's Ball .V. .. Dec. 31
NEW YORK - Julius Berman, of . Forest Hills. N.Y., was elected president of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America. He is a graduate of Yeshiva uni-,versity, has served' as a national officer of the UOJCA since 1966and js. a past president of the Na-
Law
THE JEWISH WESTERN BULLETIN
Since 1930 the oniy Mreekly publication s^lng the Jewry of Ihe Pectfic NorthwfMt -
Thursday, December 14,1978
''"ilfi^j^ ^'•^ Thuwday ». 32Stf Heather Street. Vsneouwr. British Cotumbia V5Z iSKS
SAUEtAPLAM
Editor 9nd Publisher
RONFRCEOegAN
Advertisiitg Manager
BOBMARKtN
Assistant Editor <
DEAOLIi^E: THUHSOAY at B.m.
tEAOING
jewish Weekly
m western canada
Bulletin. Copy Depot. t)e8ide Jewish Com-muniiy Cenire from coor cleared at deadline.
SUBSCRIPTIONS: $19.50 per year. $22.00 r-dr year in.theg.S.^;<j.thercountrle8$23.75. Bualness houra: e:3aa.rortot4:3&|i.ft».^oxcept Saturdays, Jewish and Legal Holidays.
Second J^lasa Mail Regiqtratloh No. 1384.
-?e,Ssh S^n pTf ^^'S?' a^'^ertiolng goods at less than^the pfowr price, the-Poois^^t nn^^^^^^ '"'"'^^ '^''^^ advertiser siting iheiot^ prfce. but
difference charged tb the newspaper:
«ai««t.Mrri|-,ifi()iia,-aa.!a.»l^' g]-^ j,-, if'iiiiiiiij^i'i'^f —^