The goal of the Hellenists was to water down Judaism. They wanted to convince the Jews to combine the two religions into a cultural melting pot. (Perhaps something on the order of today’s December holiday parties that celebrate everything and therefore celebrate nothing.)
Many of the Jews of that time perhaps even a majority embraced the concept ofmulticulturalism. They had no objection to a Judaism that stood for nothing. But this small group of dedicated Jews took up arms to defend our right to follow G-d’s Torah. And by doing so they kindled a light that illuminated the world.
We live in a time when it is so easy to follow the Torah. Shabbat kashrut and all of the mitzvot are so easy to observe in this wonderful country that allows us to practice our faith as we choose. However the melting pot of America also gives us the option of throwing it all away or perhaps even worse of living a Judaism that is so wishy-washy that it makes Chanukah look like little more than a Jewish Christmas.
How do we celebrate Chanukah today? Where did the multitude of lavish gifts come from? Ask any Jew who was born in Europe. Nobody gave Chanukah presents in the old country. Yes parents gave their children Chanukah gelt a few pennies to encourage them to excel in their Torah studies. The children were supposed to take some of that money and give it to the poor. The way gifts are given today is clearly an imitation of our surroundings.
Where does it say in any of the books of Jewish law and custom that we’re supposed to deck the halls with tinsel Happy Chanukah signs? Where does it say that we should have parties that serve latkes and eggnog with a menorah and a tree?
Isn’t it ironic? In celebrating our right to follow the Torah without outside influences we are borrowing from the dominant culture and enhancing our Judaism with outside values!
I am proud to live in a country that allows us to follow our religion. Why do we thank ourneighbors for the right to be different by trying to be the same? I don’t expect my Christian neighbors and co-workers to make Christmas into a generic winter holiday. Why should we do it to Chanukah?
As we light the Chanukah candles let us celebrate the religious freedom that G-d has given us in America by taking advantage of that freedom.
Joseph succeeded in Egypt by being an observant Jew. The Talmud says that our people were eventually taken out of Egypt because they maintained their Jewish identity. They kept Jewish names a Jewish mode of dress and spoke Hebrew.
In other words they weren’t afraid to celebrate diversity by being different.