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Til SOUTHERN ISRAELITE
Friday, !>««• 1, 1901
What the Press is Saying
A Oldest of Contemporary Opinion
The Southern iHraelite
and THE SUNCOAST JEWISH NEWS
Hanukah
Hanukah, which we shall start celebrating
this weekend with feasts, song and lights, is
not merely the celebration of the victory
over Antiochus of Syria; it is not merely the
celebration of an event which enabled our
ancient people to maintain their dignity as
Jews and to worship as Jews; Hanukah is a
perennial reminder of the Jewish urge to
defend the inalienable right of human beings
to their own character and identity.
And again on this Hanukah holiday we
should rededicate ourselves to the principle
of the right to be different—for in that prin
ciple lies the core of freedom and independ
ence.
And another thought strikes us as we read
the story of Mattathias and his sons, the Mac
cabees—father and sons who fought together
for an ideal. In these days of dangerous ju
venile delinquency, a good deal of which is
the result of broken homes, it may be perti
nent to stress the solidarity of the Mattathias
household—a solidarity not perhaps alone in
material things, but surely in the stpiritual.
Today while Hanukah is a feast for the
children in which so many participate in
Hanukah plays, perhaps a little more accent
on the need to stay within the family might
be stressed on the theme of those plays.
Mattathias and his sons proved that when
a single family is united, ideally, a nation
may be united.
B’NAl B'RITH MESSENGER
Los Angeles, Calif.
Background to Maccabean Revolt
In 333 B.C.E.. Alexander the Great, defeated Dar
ius, King of Persia and became ruler of the entire
Persian empire, which included Syria, Palestine
and Egypt. After Alexander’s death, Syria and
Egypt fought for power. Palestine was their battle
ground. At last, the Seleucids, as the rulers of Syria
were known, won the war, and Palestine was theirs.
Then, in 175 B.C.E., there arose an evil Syrian king
named Antiochus Epiphanes. He hated our people
because they refused to worship Greek idols. In
the year 167 B.C.E., when Antiochus prohibited the
practice of Judaism, a priestly family known as the
Hasmoneans, struck down an officer of the king
who ordered them to sacrifice a pig on the holy
altar. This happened at Modi’in; and now the fam
ily, consisting of Mattathias and his five sons —
Johanan, Simon, Judah, Eleazar and Jonathan —
became the leaders of a revolt against the Syrians.
Judah was nicknamed Maccabee, which some say
means “The Hammerer,” for he was the hammer
that pounded the Syrian forces. Later, the whole
family came to be known as the Maccabees. When
Mattathias did in 166 B.C.E., Judah took over the
mantle of leadership. His little army of farmers
defeated the trained legions sent against them . . .
Again and again they achieved great victories
against tremendous odds. In the year 165 B.C.E.,
they entered Jerusalem. Then the Temple was
cleaned, and worship began again and the Festival
of Hanukah was declared . . .
WORLD OVER
Topic of the Day
By DAVID BENARONE
South Africa and Israel
Published weekly by Southern Newspaper Enterprises, 390 Court
land 8t., N E„ Atlanta 3, Georgia, TR. 0 8249, TR. 6 8240. Second
ciaas postage paid at Atlanta, Ga. Yearly subscription five dollars.
The Southern Israelite invites literary contributions and correspond
enee but is not to be considered as sharing the views expressed by
writers. DEADLINE is 5 P.M., FRIDAY, but material received earlier
will have a much better chance of publication.
Adolph Rosenberg, Editor and Publisher
Gustav Oppenheimer, Sylvia Kletzky,
Kathleen Nease, Jeanne Loeb, Ruth Kahn
JOURNALISTIC AFFILIATIONS
AMERICAN JEWISH PRESS ASSN
JEWISH TELEGRAPHIC AGENCY
SEVEN ARTS FEATURES
GEORGIA PRESS ASSOCIATION
Hanukah Lcxiks ro the Future
The Talmud records the debate between the schools of
Shammai and Hillel over the lighting of the Hanukah candles.
The school of Shammai, holding that Judaism must look to
the past for its supreme inspiration and glory, said that all
eight candles should be lit on the first night of Hanukah and
diminished by one each succeeding night. The school of Hillel,
on the contrary, said that Judaism must have its primary look
to the future, and so urged that the first night, a single candle
be lit and added to on succeeding nights.
The view of Hillel iprevailed. The Hanukah spirit looks
to the future, and throughout Jewish history in fact the Hanu
kah holiday has been an inspiration to the future.
The writings of Theodor Herzl show that he drew strength
from the Hanukah story. The first Zionist periodical in Ameri
ca was called The Maccabean. The entire modern story of the
rebuilding of the Jewish State is, as it were, but a re-living
of the ancient Hanukah story.
In Jerusalem, this Hanukah, young men carrying torches
will race to Modin, as thousands of newcomers in the land
recall the Hanukah story and take to their own new future. In
New York, tens of thousands will crowd the great Madison
Square Garden to watch the mammoth Hanukah Festival,
sponsored by the Israel Bond organization, which is helping
that future come into being. In Israel, the future becomes the
present very quickly.
Perhaps we of today can feel the freshness of the Hanukah
story better than many previous ages for it talks to a Jewish
world in crisis such as ours has experienced. “The beauty
faded from the face of young women” writes the Book of
Maccabee telling of the fear and gloom which pervaded Judea
as the result of the decrees of the tyrant, Antiochus, “who re
garded no gods but exalted himself into a god.” He had at
first decreed the extinction of the Jewish faith and later sup
plemented this with a determination to exterminate the peo
ple as well.
At this time of pitch blackness, one candle shone in the
little hamlet of Modin northwest of Jerusalem, the family of
the priest Mattathias, and through it the darkness was changed
to light. The rabbis of old said that all the darkness of the
world cannot extinguish the light of one candle. This is the
meaning of Hanukah.
Christmas and Hanukah
Many Jewish parents find themselves concerned at this
time each year by the question of just what attitudes they
should take in guiding their children with respect to the
Christmas holidays. One of the best statements we have seen
on this subject has been prepared by the National Women’s
League of the United Synagogue of America. It is in the form
of answers and questions that commonly arise in many Jew
ish households at this season:
It seems clear now that because of Israel's anti-
Apartheid stand at the UN—in which she shares
the company of nearly every member state—Prime
Minister Hendrik F. Verwoerd of the Union of
South Africa has decided to retaliate in ways that
go even beyond the political realm.
It is reported that he has cast an evil eye also
upon the prosperous and flourishing Jewish com
munities within his domain.
Following the recent elections, he is said to have
complained about the heavy Jewish vote for the
opposition Progressive party and the light Jewish
vote for his own National party.
This, he is alleged to have said, "did not pass
unnoticed.”
No one could have failed to sense a threat to
his remark about the Jewish vote.
The whole world, big and small states, have
accused South Africa of racial discrimination
against its colored peoples and those of Indian
origin. The UN has on record several resolutions
condemning the Union’s racial policies Apartheid.
Yet, Verwoerd saw it fitting only to attack Is
rael.
True, South Africa has shown great friendship
for the Jewish State since 1947. This does not
mean, however, that Israel must support a policy,
condemned by the whole world, which touches
upon the very issue of discrimination.
No, Israel had no other choice. Truth, justice,
sometimes prove very costly.
Q Shall we teach our children that Hanukah takes the
place of Christmas?
A. Definitely not. Hanukah is not the Jewish substitute
for Christmas. While the calendar dates frequently coincide,
Hanukah commemorates an episode in Jewish history which
occurred 10 years prior to the event marked by Christmas.
Christmas represents the birth of Christianity. Hanukah marks
the rejection of Hellenism through the revolt led by the Mac
cabees. Today, too, we must have the strength to withstand
dogma that is not in keeping with the teachings of our religion.
Q Has not Christmas really become a national festival
of good will, without religious significance?
A No. Christmas has a decidedly religious message for
those who observe it. It is based on a belief that runs counter
to Jewish teachings, i.e. that the founder of Christianity was
divine—God in human form.
Q Should Jewish children take part in Christmas plays?
A No. When it is celebrated for sheer entertainment or
exploited for commercial purposes, the holiday is degraded.
Q How can we install in our children a sense of pride in
Hanukah?
A. A good way is through reading books of Jewish con
tent to your children. Arrange holiday parties . . .
Q. Is it not a pity to deny my children the beauty and
pageantry of Christmas?
A. Hanukah is also a gay and colorful festival, and prop
erly observed, can thrill our children with its rich pageantry
and ceremonies.
BUFFALO JEWISH REVIEW, an editorial
Comment...
Israeli Press Appraises Soviet Arrests
Haboker: “How can it be explained that the
authorities who criticize the repressive measures
employed during the Stalinist period give ex
pression to anti-Jewish feelings in trials against
Jewish leaders? . . . One assumption is that the
Khrushchev era has also led to changes in the atti
tude of Soviet Jewry, who feel freer to identify
themselves with Jewish values and Jewish cul
ture . . . ” “Davar” suggests that Mr. Pecharsky of
Leningrad was arrested because of his struggle for
Jewish rights. It called upon the Soviet author
ities to state why this Jewish leader was thrown
into prison . “Herut” terms the charges against
the three Leningrad Jewish leaders as “a complete
fabrication.” After suggesting that this incident
might be connected with internal difficulties in
side the USSR, the paper asked: “But why do the
Jews have to serve as a lightning rod in the Soviet
storm? The Leningrad sentences and the attempt
to blame Israel “prove that the Kremlin has no
intention of changing its policy toward us ... ”
“Lemerhav” declares that even if the trials were
not considered a portant of a worsening of the
situation of Soviet Jewry, it could not be denied
that even now the Jews of the USSR were dis
criminated against in the cultural, linguistic and
religious spheres in comparison with other Soviet
citizens . . . “Hatzofeh” scoffed at the idea that
Pecharsky had contacts with “foreign agents” or
carried out “treasonable activities . . .” “Haaretzi:"
“The fact is that forty years after the October
revolution the Jewish question still exists in the
Soviet Union . . .”
WEEKLY NEWS BULLETIN, Israel
The Price of Freedom
In guaranteeing freedom of the press, freedom of
speech, and the many other blessings of a demo
cratic society, we frequently find ourselves dis
mayed that these inalienable rights are utilized by
some people to the detriment of our own way of
life. And yet, to sustain our democracy, we must
endure the petty irritations that oftimes accompany
but seldom outweigh the advantages. Therefore, it
is hardly surprising that the Supreme Court, high
est judicial body in the land, refused to reverse a
ruling by the State Supreme Court of New York
which allows American Nazi Party leader George
Lincoln Rockwell to spew forth his vicious anti-
Semitic lies. The New York State Court had de
cided months ago that despite the malicious con
tent of his propaganda, Rockwell is entitled to
stand in a city square and speak his piece. To deny
him the right to speak—regardless of what he
stands for—is a violation of his Constitutional
rights. Unfortunately for this nation, Rockwell and
his associates are citizens, and hence entitled to
full protection of the law . We can counteract
his privileges by complete, concentrated silence.
This may well be one of those cases when the old
axiom may hold true; ‘Ignore him and he will go
away.”
THE JEWISH EXPONENT, from an Editorial
For Democracy’s Survival
j
By AMI RECCA
A Maccabean Lesson
The Maccabean episode in Jewish history has
brought light, inspiration to all ages since the day
Judah Maccabee and his small band recaptured the
Temple at Jerusalem in 165 BCE
The light and inspiration have served as a les
son in freedom and liberty to all peoples. Jews
and non-Jews alike.
But it is good to remember today—when the
world again faces not only one Antiochus but sev
eral—that the Maccabean struggle was not only
national. In fact, it was primarily a battle for re
ligious freedom.
Thus they fought, and won the day, with sword
in one hand and the Torah in the other.
This is a lesson that must not be forgotten in
our present struggle with all the modern tyrants.
And the leadership in Israel should take note.
JEWISH CALENDAR
*HANUKAH
Sunday. Dec. 3
•PURJM
Wednesday, March 20, 1982
•PASSOVER
Thursday, April 19, 1962
•SHAVUOT
Friday, June 8, 1962
•ROSH HASHONAH
Saturday, Sept 29, 1962
*YOM KIFPUR
Tuesday, Oct 8, 1962
•SUKKOT
Saturday, Oct II, 1902
•SIMHAT TORAH
Sunday, Oct *1, 1962
•Holiday begins
preceding evenings