Chanukah celebrates the first recorded national liberation struggle-when the people of Judea rallied around a guerrilla war against the remnants of Alexander the Great’s empire, and the subsequent attempt by the Syrian (Seleucid) branch of that empire to impose Hellenistic culture and wipe out Judaism. The victory in 165 BCE is celebrated by lighting candles each night for eight nights, dancing, singing, playing with spinning dreidels, and in sine capitalist cultures the exchange of gifts.
If you happen to be in the San Francisco Bay Area on the third night of Chanukah, Friday November 29th, come celebrate with me and Beyt Tikkun Synagogue-without-walls, the Tikkun community and the Network of Spiritual Progressives.
It’s a veggie pot-luck and we will serve latkes (potato pancakes and apple sauce) to supplement whatever delicious main course veggie dish you bring (not bread or crackers and cheese please-something substantive).
Schedule:
5:30 p.m. Help us decorate
6:00 p.m. Rabbi Lerner tells the Chanukah story (early enough to bring your children-and since this is the day after Thanksgiving and most people don’t work that Friday, plan to get there no later than 5:45 so you have time to find parking).
6:20 p.m. Candle Lighting of Chanukah Menora (eight candle holder)-bring your own, or use ours (we have plenty).
6:30 p.m. Dancing and singing with Achi Ben Shalom’s music.
7:00-7:30 p.m. Veggie pot-luck dinner.
7:30-9:00 p.m. (optional)-Stay with us as we do the welcoming of the Sabbath and celebrating with awe and wonder the grandeur and mystery of the universe (led by Rabbi Michael Lerner with Achi Ben Shalom)
LOCATION: Unitarian Fellowship hall, South West corner of Cedar and Bonita Aves. in Berkeley, CA.
ADMISSION: $10 DONATION REQUESTED to help offset the cost of rental, advertising and the latkes
From I remember hearing the Maccabees not only fought the Seleucids but killed Jews who adopted the Greek ways. They were fanatics who wanted to establish a theocracy where all the people would follow what the Maccabees thought was the Jewish way. They established a theocracy. One irony is that years later Jews participate in the Maccabee games which is like the Olympics. The Olympics is one of the Greek practices the Maccabees objected to. The name given tio the games is most inappropriate.
I know little about the Maccabees theological doctrine but they did want to cling to what they thought was pure Judaism in order to set themselves apart as the Children of The Creator, as YudHeyVavHey had in the past commanded them to do. In their minds, the greek way was corrupt and they were trying to keep the Jewish law.
When people live in oppressive situations, they often don’t react rationally to what’s happening to them. The Maccabees were trying to do what they felt was required of them at the time. This must have been frightening and was very courageous of them, despite whatever may have been their limited spiritual knowledge of how to connect with the Light. Anyway, since we weren’t there, we can only try and put ourselves in their place. What strength and depth of conviction. Any true revolutionary is someone’s idea of a ‘fanatic.’
Georgie
Oh, everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I’m dowen in Irvine visiting my son but am driving back tomorrow to be at the Chanakah Celebration. I cant wait to be there with all of you. Since I will be driving, I’ll stop at whole foods or somewhere nice to pick up a dish on my way over. BLESSINGS TO ALL TODAY, be grateful for family, love and friendship!