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And rediscover Life Without Shoveling.

Please join us for “Tastes and Tours at Ten”
Be among the first to walk through our newly completed model home,
enjoy a delicious brunch and learn about exclusive end-of-year savings.

Wednesday, December 4 at 10 a.m.

Please also join us for a Dine & Discover luncheon
Explore life at Meadowood over a chef-prepared lunch.

Thursday, December 19 at 11 a.m.

THE GROVE AT
Space is limited, so please RSVP
for all events at 484.991.7850 or
TheGroveAtMeadowood.net. Location: Meadowood campus,
3205 W. Skippack Pike, Worcester, PA 19490
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foulkeways.org | 215-283-7010
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A Life Plan Community
22 NOVEMBER 28, 2019
Ch anukah
Continued from Page 21
Much of how we live today would prob-
ably not have jibed with the ethos guiding
the swords of Mattathias the Bold or his
fi ve brave sons.

Judah Maccabee, the third and most
celebrated son, the legendary general
and original Hebrew Hammer, would
have found the garden-variety Chanukah
bazaar bizarre. He might’ve branded
us blasphemers and used that hammer
(legend has it that Judah was called
“Hammer” not just because of his ferocity
in war but also because the hammer was
his battle weapon of choice) of his against
us in ways in our civilized society might
fi nd untoward. Th ese were heroes and
soldiers and tough men, but they lived in
brutal times and were brutal.

Should we stop singing their praises
then? Th e Maccabees weren’t perfect, and
neither are we.

Being Jewish doesn’t inoculate us
from the American condition and, more
broadly, the human one. And it doesn’t
mean we shouldn’t strive for and celebrate
the highest of ideals even while, most of
the time, falling a good deal short. Th at’s
not hypocrisy. Th at’s just living.

So give yourself, and your neighbor
who overindulges his kids once a year, a
break. And give the Maccabees a break,
too. Like us (and like our contemporary
celebration of Chanukah), they were prod-
ucts of their time and far from perfect, but
they were conquering heroes, nevertheless.

When we memorialize their exploits in
song, we’re not hypocrites; we’re not war
mongers, either.

Failing all else, do what a rabbi in search
of meaning would do: look to the Talmud.

Berkowitz tells of an argument, memo-
rialized therein, between the sages Hillel
and Shammai over the proper way to light
the Chanukah menorah.

“Shammai argued that you should start
with eight candles and diminish to one,
because that’s what would have happened
with the oil,” Berkowitz explained.

“But Hillel argued that you should
start with one candle and grow to eight,
which is what we do [today] ... because ‘in
matters of holiness, we increase; we do not
decrease.’” So if you’re looking to add some
sanctity to all the secular this Chanukah,
perhaps all that’s needed is a new way of
looking at lighting the menorah. ●
msilver@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0737
WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



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