After the death of Alexander the Great, two powerful Greek Empires emerged in the Middle East: The Ptolemies in Egypt and the Seleucids in Syria. The Land of Israel was the border between these two warring Empires. At first, the Jewish people were under the control of the Ptolemies, who were curious about Jewish beliefs and philosophies and had the TaNaCh translated into Greek. A miracle occurred, the seventy sages charged with the translation all presented the same work – verbatim. As the Ptolomies grew weak they were overcome at the Battle of Panias in 198BCE, Israel found herself in the domain of the Seleucids and their king, Antiochus.

It would be wrong to view the conflict as purely Greece versus the Jewish people. Very strong socio-political elements within the Jewish community contributed significantly to the conflict. Many of the Hellenized Jewish supporters of the Seleucids took it upon themselves to “help” those who wished to keep their faith and way of life “dragging” them away from what they perceived was their primitive beliefs into the “modern” world of Greek culture. (This pattern has repeated itself many times throughout Jewish history.) To aid them in their endeavor, these Hellenized Jews recruited the help of their Greek allies, ultimately bringing the king himself, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, into the conflict.

Chanuka is a celebration of Yiddishkeit/Judaism. The lights that were kindled at Sinai have burned in the Jewish heart and soul to this day. Every challenge to “modernize” and abandon our beliefs, culture and lifestyle has been unsuccessful. We have endured wars, disputations, pogroms, exile and still can be true to the faith of our fathers.

When we light the menorah, we affirm our freedoms, our triumphs and the future.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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The Story Tour Blog has grown to over 400 short stories about faith. Many visitors to the Story Tour Blog have requested that the stories be gathered together into a book. 72 of these special tales are now available in the new book, Story Tour: The Journey Begins that would make a special gift for Chanukah

The Season of Lights – Chanukah is coming very quickly as it begins at Sundown on November 28, 2021.

The very backdrop to the spiritual stories is attractive to its readers allowing one to peek into the beliefs, and lifestyles of a vanishing age of a faraway world and reminding them that the messages are eternal – just as strong today as they were yesterday.

The book, Story Tour: The Journey Begins will remind readers of forgotten stories of faith that strengthen and reaffirm hope for a better world.

Buy a copy of Story Tour: The Journey Begins as a gift for someone special today. Story Tour: The Journey Begins is available from the publisher, Xlibris, Booksamillion, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon