One of the most interesting encounters in history was when Alexander the Great came to Israel and the Greeks met the Jews. The monotheistic religion of observing the holiness of G-d combined with the heritage of the original philosophers and historians.
Was quite a moment.
The Septuagint, which translated the Torah from Hebrew to Greek, was also a revolutionary step.
Though the relationship soured in the time of Antiochus, which led to Chanukah.
It's amazing today, people read the Bible and can't understand it -- making those childish criticisms -- because they don't understand the context.
"What? A mother and father can take their rebellious son to the court and have him executed by stoning? That's barbaric!"
"Really? You want the father to be able to make that decision on his own? Because that's what it was prior."
That's true. Alexander had his brilliance. But things fell apart after his death and "to the strongest."
There's a lot of very interesting attributes to Chanukah that gets lost when American Reform Jews just interpret it as being a sort of Jewish Christmas. Many Jews wanted to assimilate completely with Greek culture. They were called Hellenists. The Maccabees actually were fighting two wars: Fighting Antiochus and the Greek suppression of Judaism, and their fellow Jews who wanted to assimilate to Greek culture. It was a civil war as much as a war against a foreign authority.
One of the most interesting encounters in history was when Alexander the Great came to Israel and the Greeks met the Jews. The monotheistic religion of observing the holiness of G-d combined with the heritage of the original philosophers and historians.
Was quite a moment.
The Septuagint, which translated the Torah from Hebrew to Greek, was also a revolutionary step.
Though the relationship soured in the time of Antiochus, which led to Chanukah.
It's amazing today, people read the Bible and can't understand it -- making those childish criticisms -- because they don't understand the context.
"What? A mother and father can take their rebellious son to the court and have him executed by stoning? That's barbaric!"
"Really? You want the father to be able to make that decision on his own? Because that's what it was prior."
This is a brilliant post. You are bright. One thing you forgot to mention that would help your post (realize most people have no clue) is that...
Alexander the Great was a student of Aristotle.
Hope you do not think I threw shade, because not the intent.
That's true. Alexander had his brilliance. But things fell apart after his death and "to the strongest."
There's a lot of very interesting attributes to Chanukah that gets lost when American Reform Jews just interpret it as being a sort of Jewish Christmas. Many Jews wanted to assimilate completely with Greek culture. They were called Hellenists. The Maccabees actually were fighting two wars: Fighting Antiochus and the Greek suppression of Judaism, and their fellow Jews who wanted to assimilate to Greek culture. It was a civil war as much as a war against a foreign authority.
great reply. problem is most people in the world today have no clue. we need to focus on the past but make it applicable to today.
love your posts, dear sir!