Bob Schwartz

The old Hanukkah dilemma for Jews was the coincidence of the holiday with the increasingly overwhelming Christian holiday of Christmas. The dilemma isn’t entirely solved, though in general we treat them as two of the December celebrations, though they have profound distinctions. There is universal agreement that Hanukkah is a minor Jewish holiday, just as there is universal agreement that Christmas is one of the two super-major Christian holidays. But inspiring winter lights, gifts, celebrations and fun are also universally appreciated.

The new Hanukkah dilemma is not as simple or simply solved. The historical holiday is based on a small band of Jewish guerillas defying the odds in defeating an oppressive empire. The storied miracle of the oil lamp is paired with a real military victory. Unfortunately, the Jewish dynasty that took over followed the well-known path of becoming oppressors themselves. If The Who created the rock opera, meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

The war in Gaza is not the first example of Israeli aggression in the name of security. It is not the first example in world history of aggression in the name of religious hegemony. Whether Israel or any other country or religion, whether now or any other era, questions arise about how the initiatives are conducted, what suffering is inflicted, and what happens next.

In the case of Hanukkah, the approach has been to stress the story of a bright miracle, including the immediate outcome of Jewish independence, but mostly look away from the darker elements of the history. In a certain light, that is exactly how the war in Gaza is being approached. By some Jews, but not all. Not by me. It’s a dilemma.

Our menorah, a box of candles, and a box of matches stand ready for Sunday evening. Will it matter if I don’t light the candles? Like the proverbial falling tree unseen in the forest, is it a hollow protest with no effect? If I do light the candles, will my wish for peace, repair and a new Jewish and Israeli ethos mean anything?

I guess that more light is better than less or none.