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Since the Hamas massacre on Oct. 7 and the ensuing Israeli response, it has become increasingly uncomfortable and even dangerous to be Jewish in the United States and around the world. Anyone who has studied European and Middle Eastern history knows this is a centuries-old phenomenon.
With the Jewish holiday of Chanukah taking place -- also spelled Hanukkah --I fear we'll see more protests and even violence against Jews. What is Chanukah, anyway?
According to gotquestions.org, when Alexander the Great died in 323 BCE, his kingdom was divided as four dynasties, one eventually leading to Antiochus IV. Wanting to continue Alexander's dream of one-world culture but being ordered by Rome to stop fighting Egypt, Antiochus decided to wipe out Judaism. According to myjewishlearning.com, Antiochus enforced these laws in Israel: don't circumcise your sons, don't celebrate the Sabbath and other Jewish holy days, and don't read or even own a Torah scroll. Do build altars to Zeus and sacrifice pigs (not a kosher animal) on the altars. Also, worship other Greek gods.
On the 25th day of the Hebrew month Kislev, 168 BCE, Antiochus IV invaded the Temple in Jerusalem, set up an image of Zeus on the bronze altar, and sacrificed "a pig to Zeus."
How did the Jews react? Some relented. They obeyed the new laws and embraced Greek culture. They took Greek names, studied Greek literature and philosophy, and participated in (nude) sporting events at the new Greek gymnasium in Jerusalem.
Some resisted and were tortured and murdered. Thousands died.
Mattathias, a Jewish resister, and his five sons escaped to the hills around Modin, a village northwest of Jerusalem. He gathered other rebels, and for a year they attacked Syrian outposts and destroyed pagan altars and idols.
Before his death, Mattathias put his son, Judah Maccabeus, in charge of the rebel army. By the end of two more years, the Maccabees had defeated the Syrians and occupied Jerusalem.
Bruce Scott's article "Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights" tells us that the rebel soldiers cleaned the desecrated Temple and built a new lampstand, showbread table, and incense altar. They built new doors and replaced the altar of burnt offering. Exactly three years after Antiochus IV's desecration, the Temple was re-dedicated to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. A special recipe (given hundreds of years earlier to Moses) of purified oil was used to light the lampstand (Exodus 27:20). The Maccabee restorers found enough oil to light the lamp for one day. However, that small amount continued to burn for eight days, giving time to prepare the next batch.
Thanks to the Maccabees, the practice of Judaism and worship of the one true God were restored in Israel. The Maccabees established the Hasmonean royal dynasty, which ruled Israel as an independent nation for about one hundred years, starting in 165 BCE. After that, the Romans arrived, a story for another day.
So how did the Maccabees and the restoration of Judaism make the world safe for Christmas?
Thanks to the Maccabees, a young carpenter, Joseph, could be described as "faithful to the Law" (Matthew 1:19 NIV).
Thanks to the Maccabees, Joseph's betrothed, Mary, could say to an angel, "I am the Lord's servant…may your word to me be fulfilled" (Luke 1:38).
Thanks to the Maccabees, the promised Messiah could be born. "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Luke 1:21).
Chanukah 2023 is celebrated for eight days beginning sundown on December 7 and ending on December 15. As Chanukah made the world safe for the first Christmas to happen, let us as Christians make the world safe for Jews to celebrate Chanukah.
Roberta Tucker Brosius is a retired Bible teacher, having taught high school and middle school students at Watsontown Christian Academy and Sunbury Christian Academy. During that time, she developed four Bible curricula and a curriculum on Cults and World Religions for her students. Roberta earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Literaturea and is an alumna of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. She has had dozens of devotions published in the Secret Place, a devotional published quarterly by Judson Press. She currently volunteers with Good News Club of Northumberland County. Roberta attends First Baptist Church in Milton.