Most of you will look at the calendar and recognize the year as 2022 – some will look at the calendar and see the year 5783 – that would be those who recognize the Hebrew calendar.
I would like to take you back to the year 145 BC – 145 years before the birth of Christ. In this year, history records the Seleucid ruler, Antiochus Epiphanes, issued a decree to all of his subjects that they must worship the Greek gods and adopt the Greek way of life. Antiochus made it forbidden for Jews to observe the Sabbath and to study the Torah. Jews were forced to worship pagan gods and an idol was placed in the holy temple in Jerusalem.
Five years after these decrees went out, in the year 140 BC, Torah-faithful Jews revolted against the Greek suppression of the Jews and the desecration of the Holy Temple. This rebellion was led by Matityahu the Hasmonean and his five sons: Yochanan, Shimon, Yehuda, Elazar and Yonatan. One year later, Matityahu died and the movement to throw off the yoke of suppression was led by Yehuda (Judah) the Maccabee!
This revolt marks the first time in history that guerilla tactics were used to any great extent. The Maccabee warriors were highly skilled and their execution of the battle was brutal. So much so, that in 139 BC, they were able to expel the Greeks from the Holy Temple and in doing so, they discover that there is only enough sanctified oil in the Temple for one day --- but the oil burns for the necessary 8 days for newly sanctified oil to be made available. Thus, we have the Miracle of Lights that everyone is familiar with --- The Celebration of Chanukah!
So, you ask yourself … What does this have to do with antisemitism in the year 2022? We are told that antisemitism is on the rise all across the world; but, most importantly, right here in America. Ultra-religious Jews are being attacked for the way they dress and the way they manage their communities. The desecration of Jewish places of worship is increasing --- swastikas are painted on the walls and slogans, disparaging Jews, are made plain for all to see.
Needless to say, unless the perpetrators of these crimes walk into a police station or the FBI’s main building in DC, none of these crimes will be solved and the violence will continue to escalate.
So, what can be done? The Jews of America can, I believe, take a lesson from history and specifically, the Maccabees. When confronted with the forced Greek way of life, a denial of their religion and even their most sacred temple … the Maccabees fought back! There is much that can be said about taking a non-violent approach in response to the issue of antisemitism … and the bottom line is that IT DOES NOT WORK. If you allow a bully to beat you because you are a Jew and do not fight back, then you lack the spirit of the Maccabee. If the temples in which we worship are desecrated, then … just like the Maccabees of the first century … we have the absolute right to fight back … to seek out those who are committing these crimes and to bring them to justice. This is America and we have the 2d Amendment on our side.
The Jews of America can lay claim to the spirit of the Maccabees much the same as the Jews of Israel have.
Face the issue of antisemitism head on and do not allow those who would bully you, threaten you, and disparage you, to succeed! Fight back. Utilize law enforcement to the max --- don’t be afraid to point a finger and say “That’s the person who did it” … and don’t be afraid to aim true should it come to that. We don’t need any more watered-down statements from the Commander in Chief …
… instead we want “Deeds, not Words!”
We must hold those in Congress accountable for their response when antisemitism is in their face --- people like Senator Chuck Schumer, a New York Jew with the spine of a jelly fish when it comes to dealing with antisemitism; or Jerry Nadler, another New York Jewish member of the House of Representatives who runs and hides when confronted with the blatant antisemitism of an Omar or Tlaib … The silence of Jews like Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Jamie Raskin and Adam Schiff, all of whom have plenty to say when it comes to making sure Donald Trump never sees the Oval Office again … but are mute when acts of antisemitism are committed in our cities and towns. There are currently 28 Jewish members of the House of Representatives and 9 Jewish members of the Senate and not a single “Judah” among them.
That leaves the rest of us. In 2022, we must all adopt the spirit of the Maccabees … fight back and when you are fighting … fight like you are the third lion on the ramp to the Noah’s Ark and it is starting to rain!
I want to take this opportunity to wish all who read this a very Happy Chanukah …
… and a Merry Christmas …
… and a Happy New Year.
We have 23 months until we can take back our country --- until then, we must keep on fighting for what is right and together “We the People” will prevail in the end!