The meanings of Chanukah

JVL Introduction

The meaning of the festival of Chanukah is highly contested.

In a fine compilation of critical articles and perspectives on the resources pages of Jews for Justice for Palestinians here, you will find links to contributions from Tony Karom, Anschel Pfeffer, Christopher Hitchens (who saw the Maccabees as “a sect of murderous religious fanatics”), Robert A.H.Cohen and others.

In the article reposted below, Rabbi Brant Rosen argues that “the essence of Hanukkah is the theme of resistance. At its core, the Hanukkah story commemorates the victorious resistance of the people over the power and might of empire.

“On a deeper level, we might say that the festival celebrates the spiritual strength of our resistance to an often harsh and unyielding world.”

Chag sameach!

This article was originally published by Shalom Rav on Thu 10 Dec 2020. Read the original here.