Jews vs Greeks. Good vs Evil. Religious Freedom vs Persecution.
The easily digestible version of Hanukkah many of us grew up with contains glaring omissions and even some outright falsehoods. Before you grab your pitchforks, know that patriotic Greek Jews are the ones most concerned with correcting the oversimplified narrative they believe does a disservice to a land they have called home for over 2,000 years.
To borrow from an excellent article written by a rabbi living in Athens, “For starters, the ‘Greeks’ were actually the Seleucid Empire which was not centered in Greece but in Syria and Iraq. Its capital was the city of Antioch, located in modern-day Turkey. The Antiochus we know from the Hanukkah story, Antiochus IV, only received his “Greek citizenship” in his 30s. The early high commander sent to quash the Maccabean revolt was of Syrian origin, not Greek.” Furthermore, the Maccabees also fought against Hellenized Jews in a battle more ideological than territorial.
But it is not only the antagonists of the Hanukkah narrative whose origin story proves murky. The Maccabees, military arm of the Hasmoneans, were controversial in their time and even more so afterward. Hanukkah takes up a mere three pages of the entire Babylonian Talmud. Far from an oversight, the rabbinic lack of enthusiasm for the holiday lay directly in a decision made following the Maccabee victory that the kingship should no longer flow through the Davidic line in direct contravention of Biblical law.
The Hasmoneans, themselves kohanim/priests and thus religiously ineligible to serve as political leaders, decided to assume the kingship anyway in a sort of military coup d’etat where might made right. Rabbi Judah haNasi, redactor of the Mishna which serves as the basis for the Talmud, was a direct descendant of King David. We can only assume he was furious at seeing the dynasty usurped. Stranger still, later generations of the Hasmoneans promoted the Hellenization they initially fought against. The Talmud teaches that on becoming king, Herod’s first order of business was slaying the entire rabbinic caste save one rabbi who successfully convinced Herod he had made a grave mistake.
The nitty gritty of the Hanukkah story contains numerous personal and national lessons including the merits of separation of powers, cautioning against the seduction of zealotry and the importance of staying united as a Jewish community especially during times of great turmoil. Just as the discussion around Seleucids, Hellenized Jews and Hasmoneans will continue for the foreseeable future, so too the University of Chicago’s Latke-Hamantash Debate rages on as to the pros and cons of each holiday’s signature nosh. My take? Latkes all the way especially when they’re coming out of the JCC kitchen.
Services
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, December 1st
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Parshat Vayishlach
Kiddush Sponsored by Aryeh Laufer in honor of the Akiya Collective, Rabbi Dr. Israel Singer, Rabbi Andrew Scheer, and the many Jewish Educators and community builders committed to Repairing the World
Saturday, December 2nd
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat – 2nd Night of Hanukkah
Friday, December 8th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Parshat Vayeshev
Kiddush Sponsored by a Jew choosing to go by his Greek name, Anonymous, in memory of Robert Kirschenbaum and his years of service to the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan
Saturday, December 9th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, December 15th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by reservation: 7:00pm
Events
50 Broken Pieces
An intimate portrait of an Air Force pilot who lost comrades-in-arms and a veteran soldier experiencing guilt for not preventing a terror-attack, on a mutual journey, trying to deal with the ghosts that haunt them.
Film Screening followed by Q&A with Producer/Director Micha Amitai
Sunday, December 3rd at 3:00pm
Hanukkah at the JCJ : A Night of Lights and Laughter
Saturday, December 9th at 7:00pm
Registration Details
Hebrew School Hanukkah Candle Lighting
Sunday, December 10th at 4:30pm
Registration Details
If you have an idea for an event or a topic you would like to share with others, please visit our website.
Announcements
The JCC deeply regrets to announce the passing of longtime member Robert Kirschenbaum. Bob was a friend, a gentleman and above all a mentsch. He was a well-known fixture in both the JCC and FCCJ communities for many decades since he arrived with the US Air Force to postwar Japan. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. May his memory be for a blessing and his family comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Condolences to the Carter Family on the death of Rosalynn, recipient of a 1979 National Council for Jewish Women special award for voluntarism. The First Lady was known as an invaluable political partner who was often dispatched on the campaign trail to meet with establishment Jewish organizations.
Condolences to the Munger Family on the loss of Charlie, second largest shareholder at Berkshire Hathaway after the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett. While not exactly the ‘Rabbi of Omaha’, the always quotable Charlie Munger once remarked “My humor is Jewish humor. Maybe I’m part Jewish.” He made numerous investments with the Jewish business community including an illiterate Russian-Jewish refugee who built the largest furniture store in America, a Maine-based shoe manufacturer and an Israeli metalworking firm. Charlie’s conscience and business acumen were very much related as he reflected “My life is organized so that time after time, what works for my pocketbook works for every moral teaching that I’ve been taught.”
Condolences to the Kissinger Family on the death of Henry, whose relationship to Jewish identity, the Jewish people and Israel merits more a PhD than a blurb in a newsletter. Both ally and foil throughout his long career in public service, Henry Kissinger set the stage for America’s alliance with Israel during the Yom Kippur War which led to peace with Egypt. A man of contrasts, he also said ‘If it were not for the accident of my birth, I would be antisemitic.’
Mazal Tov to the Edery Family on Moshiach’s wedding to Ruth at 770 in Kfar Chabad.
Mazal Tov to our ‘Mazda Machirs’ the Guyton Family on Jeff being named a 2023 Automotive News All-Star. He can’t get you a discount on a Roadster/Miata. We already tried. But unlike David Puddy, he’ll throw in the rustproofing for free.
The week saw two articles published about the relationship between Israel and Japan. Both are very much worth the read. The Spectator article is behind a paywall so please reply to this email if you would like to read it but do not have access.
Spectator Article by Philip Patrick
There will be a Menorah Lighting at Tokyo Tower on Monday evening 12/11. For more details and the registration link please reply to this e-mail.
Yiddish Club with Jack Halpern: Please contact Jack at jack@cjki.org if you are interested to join. All levels are welcome, from beginner to advanced. Much more than just language, the club’s monthly meetings explore Yiddish culture as well.
Shabbat Vayishlach
Candle Lighting: 4:10pm
Havdala: 5:09pm