Q&A: Hanukkah — the Rabbi — and Us
Hanukkah — the Rabbi — and Us
Question
Hello Rabbi,
1. Does the Rabbi celebrate Hanukkah? And in what sense? (Not from the halakhic angle of course, lighting the candles, etc.)
2. Can a rationalist who believes in the Holy One, blessed be He, and at the same time also believes in personal freedom, equality, liberty, etc. —
a kind of “light Hellenizer” — honestly celebrate this holiday?
In other words:
If Judah Maccabee and the rest of the zealots for God were scrolling through this site and trying to figure us out,
they would probably be waiting for us with some elephant under the house, ready for a spectacular fencing show,
and then we too would be hoping for a small miracle.
I would be glad to hear your response.
Thanks!
Answer
Even if you are right about the Hasmoneans, in order to celebrate the victory over the Greeks you do not have to identify with them and with their worldview. By the way, the Sages and Nachmanides did not identify with them either, and apparently neither did the Holy One, blessed be He.
Discussion on Answer
See Nachmanides on the portion of Vayechi, on “The scepter shall not depart from Judah.”
Nachmanides argues only about the part that they should not have ruled as kings, no?
That is an expression of their religious extremism: that even the secular sphere should be ruled by holiness. See my article on sacred and secular in Hanukkah.
Hello Rabbi, could you please point me to the words of the Sages and Nachmanides showing that they did not identify with them?