Hanukkah: The Clash Between Greeks and Jews

 

A war between the Syrian Greeks and the Jews over 2,200 years ago, which resulted in

a miraculous military history, led to the Jewish holiday called Hanukkah.  

 

Americans love to celebrate Hanukkah more than any other holiday other than possibly Passover. 

 

What led up to this war and why was it so important for the history of Judaism and

Christianity will be discussed during the “Hanukkah: The Class Between Greeks and Jews” course series in December.

 

This three-part, four-hour classes will be led by Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan, spiritual leader of

Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley. The course will enable Jews and Christians

to look at the Maccabean war and analyze what were the values of the opposing sides

as well as what were the consequences of the Maccabean victory. 

 

Classes will be from 10-11:30 a.m. Dec. 5 and 12, and 10-11 a.m. Dec. 19 at the Temple. Registration deadline is noon Dec. 2. Cost is $20 for Temple members and $35 for non-members. Call the Temple office at 623.977.3240 to register between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. 

 

“Hellenistic Judaism was a form of Judaism in classical antiquity that combined Jewish

religious tradition with elements of Greek culture. Most Jews embraced Hellenistic

culture and combined it with their Jewish religion,” Rabbi Kaplan said. 

 

“But many felt that it was a threat to the continued existence of the Jewish people. The conflict between those who embraced Hellenism and those who rejected Hellenism broke out in the second century BCE in what we now know as the Maccabean war,” he explained.