Influence of Greek Culture

Many are not aware that the Chanukah story actually began with the meeting of Alexander the Great, and the High Priest, Shimon Hatzaddik.

Legend has it that Alexander had a dream that he would meet the Kohein Hagadol dressed in his eight holy garments. When the dream came true, he made a pledge to the Jewish people that he would not harm them.

Alexander kept to his word and maintained a friendly relationship with Israel. This is why, to this day, Jews give the name Alex or Alexander or Alexandra to their children.

The occupation of the Greeks did not present a physical danger to the Jewish people, but it did present a serious spiritual problem.

Greek culture, with its emphasis on beauty and self indulgences, did manage to turn away many Jews from their religious observances. They became known as the Hellenists, who saw themselves as being more Greek than Jewish.

The ultimate battle that led to the miracle of Chanukah, was a spiritual battle together with the wars against Antiochus and his armies. They tried to enforce laws prohibiting the practice of Judaism. They thought they would succeed because so many Jews eagerly complied with these decrees.

The celebration of this holiday is not only the victory of the “few over the many,” but it was a celebration of the victory of “good over evil,” and “holiness over the profane.”

We are still fighting this spiritual battle today. If anything good could be said if the tragedies of October the seventh, is that it did arouse an awakening among many Jews who were previously distant from their Jewish heritage. There is even a name describing this awakening, by calling them, “October eighth Jews.”

Ideally we would like to see a return of our people without a tragic event. But the return will eventually come. We celebrate this return on Chanukah, and we will have even greater celebrations in the future.