Religion and Politics

Hanukkah’s Darker Origins Feel More Relevant in Time of Rising Antisemitism, Intense Interest in Identity

Michelle Boorstein of The Washington Post reports that some Jews are challenging the common, lighthearted narratives about Hanukkah, especially considering the heaviness of 2021 and the recent rise in antisemitism. Some are focusing on the complicated history of the holiday, instead of the usual story about the miracle of light. Boorstein writes that “the story historians tell is heavier, about violent Jewish zealots called the Maccabees who were fighting back not only against the religious oppression of the Greeks, but also against fellow Jews who adopted Greek ways, such as idol worship.”

Read at The Washington Post

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