The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, which begins tonight, may be perhaps the most accessible of such observances for us gentiles. Unlike the great classical Jewish pilgrimage festivals, which reflect ancient agricultural calendars, Hanukkah commemorates a comparatively modern historical event. Back in the second century BC, Israel was part of the post-Alexander the Great Hellenistic world and was ruled by the Syrian-Greek Seleucids, whose king Antiochus IV Epiphanes sought to force the Jews not only assimilate to the prevailing Hellenistic Greek culture and beliefs but also to abandon the Torah and its religious observances entirely. Amazingly, a small army of faithful Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, rose up in revolt, defeated the Seleucid king, and for a time successfully drove the Greeks from the land, and restored an independent Jewish kingdom. Within the context of this larger military victory, the Maccabees successfully reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem, restored the cycle of sacrifices and worship, and rededicated the Temple to God's service.
In this time of resurgent anti-semitism (of both left and right-wing varieties), Hanukkah has a special salience that extends beyond its religious observance. Of course, like Christmas, Hanukkah has obvious elements of a winter light festival and these are among its most visible and popular aspects, notably the required daily lighting of the menorah, including Manhattan's large outdoor menorah (photo). Nonetheless, our contemporary context with its widespread challenge of increasing anti-semitism invites reflection on the historical as well as the miraculous events being commemorated.
The Christian commitment to combat anti-semitism may have been very late in coming, but it was authoritatively established by the magisterium of the Second Vatican Council 60 years ago in Nostra Aetate, the Council's Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions. In his My Journal of the Council, Yves Congar (1904-1995) detailed the difficulties even the relatively moderate language of Nostra Aetate faced. Yet, he rightly noted, "Twenty years after Auschwitz, it is impossible that the Council should say nothing" (May 3, 1965). Fortunately, the Council did not say nothing, even if it has taken another 60 years to develop its teaching more fully.
As Christians, we do not celebrate Hanukkah. But we may join our Jewish brothers and sisters in recalling God's call and promises to his people and join with them in spirit as they pray the Hannukah blessings:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah light.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days, at this time.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days, at this time.
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