A Talk By Rabbi Jon

The Chanukkah story took place in the 2nd century B.C.E., in the period between Alexander the Great and the rise of the Roman Empire. In addition to the story of freedom from religious persecution that most of us know, there are larger themes. In that time period, Jews debated how to integrate into the culture, arts, and philosophy of the wider world. Different prominent Jews of the time developed and used power in different ways — through relationships with the empire, through corrupt use of wealth. The Maccabees who won the war against Antiochus became kings themselves, and had to decide what would principles would guide their regime and how they would interact with world powers. Learn some of the history and think about whether there are parallels or lessons for today and for this year especially.

At the Temple and on our regular Zoom.