This time of year, we may find ourselves asking whether we should be trying to fit into popular culture or should we be focusing on our distinctiveness? If we are, in fact, asking such a question, it is the same question that our ancestors were asking about 2200 years ago in the Land of Israel.
They were not thinking about Christmas back then (it was 200 years BEFORE Christmas came about). They were concerned with Greek culture. There were those who adored all things Greek and there were those who rejected Hellenism outright. This schism between Hellenizers and traditionalists gave Antiochus the opportunity and the justification for invading Israel and desecrating the Temple.
Three years later, the Maccabees led a revolt and re-conquered the Temple leading to the festival which we are currently celebrating – Hanukkah.
As kings of Israel after the dedication of the Temple in 165 BCE, the Maccabees ultimately realized that they could not – and should not – reject all things Greek. On the other hand, they could not – and should not – accept all of Greek culture whole-hog (please forgive the choice of idioms).
They discovered that there were some admirable things about Greek culture that fit nicely into Israelite culture. There were also some things that could never be incorporated into Israelite culture. Either way, they could not simply ignore Greek civilization. They had to find a way to interact with Hellenism in a healthy way.
The same can be said about Judaism and Christianity today. The two religious traditions – which have common roots – continue to influence one another. We can be distinctly Jewish while still being a part of the community at large.
A great example of this is the candle-lighting ceremony tonight at Faith Lutheran Church. From their perspective, they are simply being good Christians by inviting us to light a Menorah on the front lawn of their church. They are not seeking to become more Jewish. Similarly, we are participating in order to make a statement about the presence of distinctly Jewish citizens in New Providence(and surrounding towns). We are not seeking to worship as Christians. With slightly different goals in mind, we will come together tonight (at 7:30pm).
We follow in the footsteps of the Maccabees as interact with Christian neighbors and learn from them while maintaining our unique Jewish identity.
Happy Hanukkah!
Shalom,
RAF.
