tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-625451878473643263.post3120229621008518391..comments2023-11-03T06:07:11.050-07:00Comments on Open Source Judaism: A Happy Assimilated Hannukah Everyone!AChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11480189366919227459noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-625451878473643263.post-78819003103322192992010-12-06T04:44:26.163-08:002010-12-06T04:44:26.163-08:00This comes directly from a friend of mine:
"...This comes directly from a friend of mine:<br /><br />"My take is that the" Helenistic Jews" at that time were not Jews at all because the Syrian Greeks were out for the complete eradication of Judaism. The Greeks were barbequeing pigs in the temple, etc. Today I guess the comparison would be if a "Jew" just stood by and toasted marsmallows on a fire of Sefer Torahs! No Jew in my book. Going back to 300 BCE to be Helenistic was to elevate/worship the beauty of the human body and mind. To be Jewish is to elevate/ worship that which is beyond the human and physical. The battle of Chanukah was a World War over whether the Physical or the Spiritual would prevail. Through the might of HaShem we were victorious. So I challenge the comparison. The Haredi ( let's not call it orthodox-too wide a group) and Reform rift is is not an existential battle over whether Judaism survives but I would guess more of a Catholic vs. Unitarian thing. So I prefer teaching Chanukah as the victory of the Eternal over the Temporal and as long as one spark of the Eternal exists then it is enough to light a fire in the world to defeat darkness. A small band of Jews who carried that spark defeated the mightiest superpower of the time. Chanukah should encourage each of us to recognize that we each have that light of Betzelem Elokim within us and that like the Chanukiah we have a duty to let it shine to the world,be a shamash and use it to light other candles, watch it grow, use it to conquer the evils we face today and to be a partner in Tikkun Olam."<br /><br /> - Leon<br />goingkosher.wordpress.com<br />edibletorah.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com