Despite the fact that Chanukah (the Festival of Lights) is considered a minor holiday in Jewish tradition, it's possibly the most significant Biblical holiday to the modern state of Israel. The Maccabean victory over the Greeks in 164 BCE, celebrated by the Chanukah holiday, ushered in a 100 year period of independence for the nation of Israel. This period ended with the Roman conquest in 63 BCE. Independence was not realized again until the recent 1948. Regardless, large Jewish populations remained in Israel through the 3rd century CE and occasionally rebelled against the Roman occupation, most notably in 66-70 and 131-135, but each time ending in significant defeat. Following these periods Jews migrated to the four corners of the earth, unified only by religion and traditions, maintained by the Rabbis. Because Jews lived at the mercy of national rulers, through the Rabbis, Jews utilized the principle of appeasement to protect their communities. This often meant paying huge sums to rulers, moving from territories, accepting severe restrictions upon lifestyles and occupations to simply survive. Ironically, modern Israel, the nation of Jews, presents a very different face of Judaism, better expressed through the Chanukah rebellion.

Jews remained as cloistered communities until the 18th century with the rise of the Enlightenment in Europe. For the first time Jews were allowed to become citizens of the nations in which they resided. As they did the principles of the Enlightenment began to influence Jewish religious thought, permitting Jews to assimilate into larger society while they maintained certain limited religious observances unique to their faith. This allowed Jews of Western and Central Europe to flourish in the rapidly changing societies. Eastern Europe, however, was still locked in by the medieval Russian Empire where most Jews lived. But the Enlightenment ideas infiltrated some of the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe. This occurred simultaneous to the rise of Socialist ideas in Russia in the mid to late 19th century. While Jews were experiencing increasing freedom and prosperity in Western Europe, the Jews of Eastern Europe were heavily discriminated against. Some of these Jews began to write about the need to find a permanent national home, and the most likely place was Palestine (Israel).

In the late 19th century as persecution increased in the Russian Empire, some "enlightened" Jews from Russia immigrated to Palestine. The community grew from 25,000 in 1881 to 100,000 by 1920, later leading to the establishment of the modern nation. Most of these Jews were unique. They tended to be secular. Why? The ultra-religious Jews of Eastern Europe believed only the coming of the Messiah would usher in the return of the Jews to the promised land, and thus most refused to come. In Western Europe, where Judaism was more moderate, most Jews were finding success in assimilating into Western culture and had no desire to relocate to a more primitive land. The only group taking advantage of the settlement of Palestine were the "enlightened" Jews of Eastern Europe, influenced by secularism and socialism. They rejected many of the values of the rabbis, and saw themselves as direct descendants of the Maccabees of the Chanukah era. These groups valued nationalism, military training, land development and practical skills, most of which were absent from Jewish history following Jewish dispersion to the nations in the early centuries. Consequently, today in Israel, most Israelis are secular and have little use for the rabbinic traditions developed during the time of Jewish dispersion around the world.

However, that doesn't mean the Jews of Israel are not spiritual. Many, especially the young, search for deeper meaning beyond a national identity. But for many rabbinic values seem irrelevant and defeatist. Interestingly, Messianic Judaism, which is growing quickly in Israel, is a faith that essentially disappeared when Jews were forcibly relocated in the first two centuries of the common era. Hence, while Messianic Judaism is still intertwined in the minds of most Israelis with the history of Christian Anti-Semitism, it is a unique form of Judaism, not directly connected to the traditions of the Rabbis, but more in line with the Judaism of the Maccabees - a form of Judaism reflecting both a national and messianic hope. As Christians continue to show support for Israel, the barrier of prejudice against Yeshua diminishes among Israelis, opening them to a more Chanukah version of Judaism - the Judaism of Yeshua or Messianic Judaism.

War is not fair. Innocents die. But there is right and wrong in this world. And war, as horrible as it is, can be just. Modern Israel has been at war almost continuously since its inception. Once again, she is at war. As usual this is not a war she started. This war began when two separate terrorist organizations invaded Israel's undisputed lands and killed and captured some of her soldiers. The terrorist organizations claim these captives are similar to the thousands of Palestinians languishing in Israeli prisons, and they want to use the captives as tools to negotiate the release of the Palestinian prisoners. But there's a difference. The Palestinian prisoners have been tried and convicted of crimes in Israeli courts. Israeli law only allows for very short term detentions for untried prisoners. When prisoners are tried either in Israeli criminal courts or military courts in the territories, they are given full due process rights, far exceeding what the US government has granted to prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.

How do I know? I've witnessed these trials.

There is no comparison between convicted criminals and Israeli soldiers protecting the borders of Israel. Sadly, this is a religious war. The perpetrators claim Allah is with them and is motivating them to take these acts.

Much of the Muslim world has been arguing since 9/11 that Islam is a religion of peace. Now's the opportunity to prove it. If the Muslims of the world condemned the terrorist organizations for their actions and withdrew financial and political support, the terrorist organizations would dry up. In the meantime, what is Israel supposed to do? Negotiate with terrorists? Yes, the destruction of Lebanon is tragic. But so was the destruction of Afghanistan. Lebanon refused to clamp down on its resident terrorists. Afghanistan did the same. Innocent Lebanese are dying. The same was true for innocent Afghans. War is not fair.

The prophet Isaiah spoke of a time like this: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" Many schools in Muslim nations teach Jews use the blood of Muslim children to make Jewish ceremonial foods. But Israeli Arabs (most of whom are Muslim and who comprise 1/5 of the population of Israel) serve in the Israeli military, vote in Israeli elections and are represented by Arabs in the Israeli parliament. What's fair in the Middle East? Israelis warn Lebanese residents to flee from targeted areas before bombing begins because many of the terrorist organization's weapons are embedded in civilian areas. In turn the terrorist organization bombs Israeli hospitals. The civilized world needs to take a stand for truth by supporting a nation that has some semblance of morality and respect for human life while repudiating organizations and nations which have neither.

Tikvat Israel Messianic Congregation
2715 Grove Avenue
Richmond, VA 23220