The Arizona post. [volume], December 08, 1961, Page Page Seven, Image 7

About The Arizona post. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz.) 1946-1990

Image provided by: Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records; Phoenix, AZ

                
■Friday, December 8, 1961
Minor Holiday?
Chanukah Time
For Greatness
By MEIR CHARNIAK
(Copyright, 1961, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.,)
It is sometimes astonishing—and always illuminating
to discover how ancient holidays renew themselves in our
own time; how past traditions and events take on new
meanings and speak to us across the ages.
For many years now, it has been stated by Jewish
spiritual leaders, historians
and sociologists that Chanu
kah is a minor Jewish holi
day, not to be measured
against the major holidays.
Chanukah, after all does not
possess the awesomeness of
Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kip
pur; nor does it have the “to
getherness” of Passover. In
deed, the literature on Cha
nukah is scant.
There is little music relat
ed to the holidays and except
for the miracle of the cruse
of oil burning for eight days
instead of one, Chanukah is
remembered and celebrated
for the military victory of
the Maccabees over their
Syrian oppressors in 165
8.C.E., and the reclaiming
and rededication of the Tem
ple which had been defiled
by the Syrians and Greeks.
Nevertheless, as we move
into the 1960’s of this century,
we, Jews and non-Jews alike,
are taking more serious cog
nizance of Chanukah as a
festival of deep meaning.
What, after all, is the Cha
nukah story? It is the tale
of a small group of men who
are outnumbered and per
secuted by the occupying
forces in their homeland.
They are not permitted to
observe their faith, but they
are encouraged to live free
ly under a strange way of
life. That is to say, if they
are willing to shed their Ju
daism, they can live comfort
ably. It sounds like a famil
iar pattern, doesn’t it?
That the victory of the
Maccabees led to the estab
lishment of the second Jew
ish Commonwealth, is, in a
sen se, incidental to this
story. What remains is the
excitement of choice: slavery
or freedom. Never mind that
the slavery was not actual
slavery, but only ideological.
The “only” is, in this case,
a vital word. What counted
to these ancient Jews was
freedom.
Men have fought for free
dom since sometimes suc
Holiday Greetings
PAVONE’S
FORT LOWELL INN
“Famous For Pizza ”
2910 East Fort Lowell Rd. Ph. EA 7-2821
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entire Jewish Community
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= our most sincere best wishes =
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FOR A JOYOUS CHANUKAH
n in
daily dtlivary HAtamP
Open Daily 9:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.
Saturdays ’til Noon
cessfully, and sometimes in
vain. But the Maccabees,
who began with a small
group of men, gained adher
ents to their cause. Slowly,
the army expanded. More
and more Jews joined the
forces of the Maccabees, for
victory engenders enthusi
asm and faith. The enemy,
with vast resources, mount
ed heavv attacks against the
Jews. But in the end, the
Jews won. And with their
victories freedom itself was
unshackled. It is, at this
stage of the story, unimpor
tant that the events took
place so long ago. What re
mains with us is the image
of a band of brave men
making a critical choice.
They elected to die for free
dom. They died, some of
them. But enough survived
to bring freedom to their peo
ple.
This, of course, is what
makes the Chanukah story
a great one and impresses
upon us that any time men
decide to fight for their free
dom is a time for greatness.
Notice how this Chanukah
story is not out of date, how
we can change a word here
or there, make a few geo
graphic changes, a handful
of alterations in names and
we are set in our own time.
Thus, Chanukah is time
less and Judah Maccabee, his
father, his brothers and his
followers symbolize all men
who are ready to take up
arms for liberty. Unhappily,
the necessity always exists,
for freedom is never com
pletely with us. The Jews in
Israel, like citizens in other
lands at the present, are
ready to do battle for their
freedom. And, whether they
are aware of it or not, they
are emulating the Maccabees
of old, whose exploits,
dreams and ambitions we
mark during the holiday of
Chanukah.
THE ARIZONA POST
DAYEHU BY HENRY LEONARD
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248
“You say you want a Chanukah present?
A aesunt auf deine keppele!”
3 Copr. 1960, Doynii Produttlont
W. J. (BIFF) BAKER
Wishes His Many Friends
A MOST JOYOUS CHANUKAH
American Fence Co.
1811 S. Park Avenue MA 3-3641
.jj,, Best Wishes for
ttljljP' A Very Happy
Chanukah
AARONSON BROS.
Congress at 6th
LAWRENCE LANGER, General Manager
CHANUKAH GREETINGS
• Rodeo Field & • Campbell at • Broadway
South 6th Ave. Grant & Swan
MAY THE CANDLE OF LIFE
£jlCo*i 'SfoppMtj Cwfth,
A Joyous Chanukah To All
• from
IRVING BERGER
AL COHEN
of
Central Insurance Agencies
Room 106—Garden Plaza
201 N. Stone MA 2-7625
Mr. and Mrs. Irv Ostroy
and
Mr. and Mrs. Mort Edberg
would like to wish
Everyone A
JOYOUS CHANUKAH
27 W. Congress MA 4-7361
Wishing You a
Most Happy Holiday!
|V| Mswmmrs Fmmce Cmumr
■SS Tucson Title Bldg.
45 W. PENNINGTON
STANLEY A. KATCHER, Pres.
Re u n
Take This Opportunity to
Wish Everyone a
HAPPY CHANUKAH
Page Seven