The Visible Jew: The Real Hero of Chanukah

The Visible Jew:
The Real Hero of Chanukah

Rabbi Michael L. Feshbach

Temple Anshe Hesed

Jewish children know the story of Chanukah by heart from an early age. They learn of Judah Maccabee as they learn about Power Rangers, they can recite the reason why we light candles for eight days far sooner than they can properly pronounce the names of the more major Jewish holidays: there was a single cruse of extra virgin olive oil (what is a 'cruse" of oil, anyway -- Royal Caribbean does the Persian Gulf?), enough to light the Ner Tamid, the Eternal Light for only a single day, is lit and -- miracle! -- lasts for eight days!

The story is fine for young children. But if this is all that Jewish teens and adults know of the holiday of Chanukah, we are depriving ourselves of a more powerful message, a lesson well suited for our own era, and our own area.

For if we study the sources, if we peek into our past with an ear to history and politics, we will learn a very different message. (Copies of an article I wrote which describes this history in more detail for any who are interested are available from the office of Temple Anshe Hesed, 814-454-2426.)I believe that the lesson of history, the true miracle of Chanukah, is that the Jewish people found a way to survive -- indeed, to thrive -- as a minority in the midst of an overwhelming and very different majority culture.

The secret was to be open to the world around us, to not isolate ourselves -­ but to always, always, stand with pride and even in public ... as Jews. And I believe that it is this strategy, developed in response to the assimilationist pressures of Hellenism that is the secret of our survival through all the subsequent centuries of living as a tiny drop of still distinct oil in a vast watery ocean of others.

To keep the flame of faith and culture alive. To survive and stand proud even as a minority. How greatly does living in an area with a very small Jewish population, as do I, give us the chance to celebrate the true message of Chanukah?                            For here it is hard to forget how much of a minority we truly are.

When a local high school has a Bible Club that meets during the Activity period during school hours, we know we are a minority. When secular organizations from the PTA to the Social Workers Association open with Christian prayers, we know we are a minority. When it takes special arrangements to get kosher food, we know we are a minority. When (yes, there is a positive side) we are constantly called upon to be ambassadors of our ancient heritage , explaining its simplest practices to others with patience and pride , then, too, we know we are a minority .But at no time of the year more than now, when Christmas lessons are taught in the local schools for an entire month , when the holiday of our neighbors seems absolutely ubiquitous, when every cashier and every clerk we encounter wishes us a Merry Christmas, it is now more than ever that we feel how few we are .

It is always a judgment call: when to draw a line, and when to blend in. Part of the reason we survived was because we learned to be open, to foster friendly relations with and yes, even to learn some things from our neighbors. But it is too easy to forget the other half: that when anything loomed to detract from our identity, to confuse our children, to dilute our Judaism, we took a stand -- even an unpopular one. We stood firm, and without fear, for we knew that without this balance we would not be.

We can see the balance between accommodation and its limits even in the celebration of Chanukah itself. We give gifts now at this season. It is based on an ancient tradition, to be sure, but let’s be honest. The real reason that Chanukah has become a gift-giving holiday is because of the influence of Christmas. So we give gifts but as Jew on Chanukah. And in front of a menorah .We do not buy trees. Here is no such thing as a Chanukah Bush. Your children want nature in your home? Build a Sukkah.

There is a reason our tradition teaches us to place our menorahs in the window. (Was this in the days before flammable curtains? now it takes a paper decoration or an electric menorah to do the trick.)To stand up, to be counted , to say to the world that is celebrating one thing that we are celebrating something else ... that is the core commandment of Chanukah in our day .

The visible Jew is the true hero of Chanukah. And living where we do, we are blessed with the opportunity to know the heart of the miracle of minority survival as did our mothers and fathers, at this season, in ages past.

May your latkes give you the strength to face the winter!