Fact-Checking the Story of Chanukah: Part 1
Texting Tuesdays with Rabbi Jim Bennett • The ancient and beloved story of Chanukah celebrates the second-century CE Jewish warriors known as the Maccabees. According to legend, the Maccabees rejected assimilation and defeated the Assyrian army, rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem, rekindled the menorah, and then, a great miracle happened there – The oil lasted for eight nights rather than one! In Part 1 of this class, we will explore, unpack and “fact-check” this ancient Chanukah story. In Part 2, we will apply the Chanukah story to current day events in Israel, America, and the rest of the Jewish world, asking the question: “Who are the true Maccabees today?”
