2 Comments

  1. David S Fishback
    December 15, 2022 @ 3:11 pm

    Thank you for identifying this major challenge and a way forward:

    “Fast-forward 75 years to today. When Israel was established, Jewish nationalists regarded their newfound power as a means of self-defense. However, that original impulse evolved into today’s radical ultra-Nationalist extremism. Just as the Hasmonean dynasty over-reached, so too have several prominent right-wing nationalists created a distorted version of our national liberation Movement and turned it into an ultra-Nationalist supremacist manifestation.

    “I fear that Jews outside Israel will reject the mitzvah of pirsumei nisa for fear of marit ayin. Lighting a Hanukkiyah on Sunday night ought to say: ‘our candles are here to spread light and joy in places of darkness, and we reject the Hasmonean dynasty’s history of aggression and belligerence.’

    “This year let the purpose of our lighting the Hanukkah candles be a celebration of the miracle of yesteryear and a commitment to maintaining Jewish identity as an essential part of my being.”

  2. Rafael
    December 18, 2022 @ 8:26 pm

    The pagans believed in gender transformation.