Despite being the Festival of Lights, Hannukah always seemed to pale a little in comparison to its cousins, the glorious Biblically mandated holidays. With jelly-donuts and a stirring tale of the hard-fought battle against the Syrian Greek army and fellow non-observant Jews, Hannukah’s historical stance against assimilation seemed a little tired, a little out of date. Passover brings with it a complex feast of ancient recipes (matzah is totally B.C.E.) to commemorate the Jews dramatic escape from slavery, while Sukkot offers outdoor camping in a tabernacle to remind observers of the 40-year desert trek. Likewise, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are equally dramatic with long synagogue sermons and accompanying feast followed by fast. The themes of these sensational holidays are always made clear by a reading of their Biblical roots; one should either remember one’s devotion to God, devotion to religion, or be thankful for the nation’s ancient escape from a dangerous situation.
But assimilation? Epic battles excite, tiring desert treks move one to sympathy, but assimilation does not really stir in me the same in of emotions. The Jews of the Hannukah story were divided between an observant lifestyle and a Hellenistic one, the Hellenistic one winning out as it was generally considered to be more fun. Yet thousands of years after in the age of the individual, it can be a struggle to connect with this tale of secular versus religious. How can this historical battle over faith and assimilation become a tale for the modern ages?In this epic story of both personal and national struggle, Hannukah reveals itself to be a story about perseverance and the power of faith. Whether its B.C.E. or 2010, Jewish freedom fighters or just your every-day Joe, sometimes we all fall into darkness. We lose our way, stray from our goals, let our dreams fall by the wayside in pursuit of the easier, more Hellenistic life. The Maccabis and their seemingly hopeless band of fighters inspire the contemporary man to keep fighting the good fight, the fight for a brighter future. If you believe in something passionately, let nothing stand in your way, not even obstacles of Syrian-Greek army proportions. It doesn’t matter if the odds are against you- the world is your oyster (or rather, some kosher and similarly analogical animal, none of which come to mind). When you find something that lights you up, make sure you keep it burning forever. So on this Hannukah, we at Eastory extended our greetings for a brighter future.
