The Real Hanukah Story

Michael Medved explains the real story of Hanukah in this column.

Far from the "celebration of tolerance" it is depicted as in modern America, Hanukah is a celebration of intolerance; that is, "religious zealots, exalting the values of 'that old time religion,' came into the Temple in Jerusalem and drove out all alternate, “creative” forms of worship."

Medved explains the background of Hanukah and compares it to the Religious Right of our times. Both the ancient Jews and the modern Religious Right are mocked by the cosmopolitan inclusiveness mavens of their day.

It's an interesting piece, and the historical background explains why modern secular Jews don't want to spend so much time discussing the true meaning of the holiday.