We respond to every follow-up question submitted, but only publish selected ones.
In order to be considered for publication, questions must be on-topic, polite, and address ideas rather than
personalities.
Question: What universal message can be drawn from Chanukah?
Answer: Chanuka is a holiday about Jewish identity. The Assyrian Greeks (Yevonim) weren’t interested in the physical destruction of the Jewish People rather they wanted to destroy the Jews separate identity. They were welcoming to different peoples and cultures but they wanted everyone to assimilate into one homogeneous group. Jews, Muslims, and Christians all believe in retaining our individual religious identities. The victory of Chanuka is the success of a war to retain our religious identity and our right to worship G-d and believe in Him. We weren’t interested in fighting the Assyrian Greeks, we just wanted to be allowed to worship as we believed.
All the Best,
Rabbi Azriel Schreiber
