Zealotry or Moderation?
Moshe Meir 16.12.2009
Zealotry or moderation?
Hanukkah good opportunity to examine contemporary Jewish identity in
Israel
Moshe Meir
“The Hanukkah holiday has been embraced by Zionism to a greater extent than any other holiday. The war of the Hasmoneans has been perceived as reflecting and anticipating the ongoing war for Jewish independence, while the Maccabees became a model for the Hebrew soldier. However, reviewing the views of our sages enables us to examine our contemporary Zionist identity vis-à-vis this holiday.”
“The holiday has turned into a battlefield for contemporary Jewish identity in
Israel. Who do we wish to be like – the temperamental and belligerent Matityahu and Pinchas, or the moderate and restrained sages? And perhaps, as is the case with constructive disagreements, we wish to see a blend of these two characteristics, creating an Israeli identity that contains both worlds?”
The first chapter of the Book of the Hasmoneans describes Antiochus’ letter, which orders all peoples to abandon their faiths. When an envoy arrives in order to apply this order in Modi’in, Matityahu refuses to follow the decree.”
“Next, ‘a Jewish man came, in the sight of all, to sacrifice on the altar…according to the king´s command. And Matityahu saw this, and he was filled with zeal, and his reins trembled, and he cast forth his rage according to judgment, and he ran and slew him upon the altar. And also the king´s commissioner…He was zealous for the Torah, as Pinchas had done towards Zimri, son of Salu.’”
“On the face of it, Matityahu did well, based on Jewish criteria. He was a man filled with national pride and he did not bow before the envoy who came to erase his Jewish identity. The writer of this passage also connects the act to that of Pinchas, the man who was blessed by God. Overall, Matityahu is presented as a model that cannot but be sympathized with.”
For the entire article
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3820309,00.html
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