We reviewed the mishna, “Do not look at the jug, rather
look at what’s inside” (Pirkei Avot 4:20) and learned about the mishna, “Do not separate yourself from
the community” (Pirkei Avot 2: 4). We connected the later mishna to an incident 24 years ago in Billings, Montana in which
the a brick was thrown through the bedroom window of a six year old Jewish
child because there was a menorah in that window. The citizens of Billings responded by placing
images of menorahs their windows uniting in a collective declaration of ‘not in
our town!’ We watched a portion of a PBS documentary, “Not in Our Town” about
the incident in Billings, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDH4gKDw_fo. Gesher students raised many similar recent
incidents in Metro-west including swastikas, the egging of the home of a gay
couple and a community demonstration that included many clergy members who also
expressed a common commitment to ‘not in our town.’
Our learning session ended with a
discussion of Antiochus’s decrees. The story of Hanukkah is about the Hassidim
fighting the Syrian Greeks for the right to remain Jewish. It is also about the Hassidim convincing the
Hellenists (assimilated Jews) that totally assimilating is not a good
thing. After a discussion of the
decrees, students thought about which decrees supported the establishment of a
common culture among all citizens of a society and also which decrees would
lead to the destruction of the Jewish community.
THE DECREES OF ANTIOCHUS IV (167
BCE – 164 BCE)
·
No Jewish sacrifices may be offered in the Temple of G-d.
Instead mandatory sacrifices of pigs and impure animals were dedicated to Zeus
on the Temple’s altar.
·
Pagan temples were to be built throughout Judea.
·
No circumcisions were allowed on pain of death to child,
parent and mohel (the one who does
the ritual circumcision.)
·
The Torah was to be forgotten and its legal system
replaced with Greek law.
·
Shabbat and holidays were to be desecrated.
·
The celebration of the Emperor’s birthday was enforced
including the eating of sacrifices made in his honor.
·
Participation in Dionysian processions crowned with ivy
wreaths was required.
·
It was prohibited to identify oneself as a Jew (including
perhaps, the prohibition of the use of Jewish names.)
At the end of the morning, we enjoyed a wonderful,
delicious and spirit-filled all-school Hanukkah celebration with latkes and
cider (with gratitude to the Men’s Club), dreidel games and Hanukkah songs (with
gratitude to Cantor Ken).
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