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| Festive Blend: Christmas Tree and Hanukkiah |
Greetings of the Season!
These two celebrations are intimately related with both violence and miracles: on Hannukah, the Jewish People remember the Greek occupation, its attempts to delegitimise the Jews; how the occupier desecrated the second temple (one of the factors leading up to the Maccabean Revolt) and, celebrate the miracle performed during the re-dedication of the Holy Temple. On Christmas, Christians celebrate the prophesied birth of Yeshua and remember that, during the Roman Occupation, King Herod - in an attempt to kill the Christian Messiah - massacred all the babies in Bethlehem. This occurred more than 2,000 years ago.
Today, in 2012, not much has changed...
Although Israel is an independent state; it sees a good part of its territory occupied by foreign entities (i.e. Arabs now calling themselves Palestinians) whose partial mission is to delegitimise the Jewish History and connection to the land. Because of this Arab occupation, violence has disrupted the lives of not only the Israelis but also of the Arabs who peacefully settled in Israeli land.
Question: if the Jewish Messiah were to be born soon, what could be expected?
Answer: given the existence of the Hybrid Terrorist Organisation (i.e. a new type of non-state actor according to Dr Boaz Ganor); it would be safe to assume that Hamas - with the blessing of Fatah and Iran (given its obsession about the Mahdi) - would want to play the role of King Herod and slaughter the Jewish Baby...probably with the tacit support of certain European nations. Although the Jewish People experience relative peace in the diaspora, the cloud of the Anti-Semitism still hovers upon their heads; although Christians are free to profess the teachings of Yeshua, the lions of persecution still devour them in many Muslim nations.
I know this might be an awful thing to say during the Festivities Season; however, as I eat my Sufganiyot in the safety of my home, I cannot stop thinking of those who celebrate these holidays under the yoke of either violence or the constant threat of imminent violence. Not everybody believes in miracles; however they do occur. Miracles are performed each time a baby is born and lightens up the world; each time a child smiles (even in the midst of tension and conflict); each time a human being, in the middle of chaos, shows a glimpse of humanity; each time a prayer is directed to God...
This is a season of feast but it should mainly be a season of reflection.
"Even in laughter the heart aches; and the end of mirth is grief" - Proverbs 14:13
Comments
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Dissecting Society™ welcomes all sorts of comments, as we are strong advocates of freedom of speech; however, we reserve the right to delete Troll Activity; libellous and offensive comments (e.g. racist and anti-Semitic) plus those with excessive foul language. This blog does not view vulgarity as being protected by the right to free speech. Cheers
Max, I am blessed to be living in a country where bar problems created by our neighbour which results in riots and killings, we have a truly secular state. As I write this two Hindu ladies have announced their intention to invade my home on Christmas day to celebrate their getting fabulous jobs and to get me to celebrate something. I am notorious for not and that is why this invasion, which I have gladly accepted. In the meanwhile here is something that will tell you from an independent point of view what it means to be an Indian, http://www.nst.com.my/mobile/opinion/columnist/egypt-the-next-india-or-pakistan-1.187204
ReplyDeleteHi Rummy :D!
Delete"Max, I am blessed to be living in a country where bar problems created by our neighbour which results in riots and killings, we have a truly secular state."
I am viewed as being secular (in the way I conduct my life: separating religion from politics and from my relationship with humans in general) however, we need to be careful about obliterating the spiritual/religious-makeup of nations in the name of secularism.
"As I write this two Hindu ladies have announced their intention to invade my home on Christmas day to celebrate their getting fabulous jobs and to get me to celebrate something. I am notorious for not and that is why this invasion, which I have gladly accepted."
LOL LOL your life is so exciting, Rummy: good for you :D. I don't celebrate Christmas either but celebrating life is always good, no matter on which day.
"In the meanwhile here is something that will tell you from an independent point of view what it means to be an Indian, http://www.nst.com.my/mobile/opinion/columnist/egypt-the-next-india-or-pakistan-1.187204 "
Very interesting article: thank you so much (I agree with most of it). I am sure that the new head of India's bureau of intelligence was properly vetted, so there should be no worries. But we can rest assure that if something grave occurs involving the Muslim community he will be one of the first to be probed - unfortunately, it is like that everywhere (due to radical Islamism and the Muslim tendency to support one another no matter what).
Rummy, thank you ever so much for your super comment :D.
Cheers
Happy festivities to everybody!
ReplyDeleteMax, only you to provoke the Iranians by bringing the Mashiach up lol! Are you trying to get us all killed ahahahaha? :-) Well, it is true that big things walk by the side of tragic events and sadness, why do you think that is? Anyway, Hanukkah is over the fast of tevet is coming this Sunday so we will have plenty of time to reflect and ask the Mashiach to hurry up cause we are tired of fasting for Jerusalem ahahah...a bit of festive humour ;-).
Hi Ana :D!
Delete"Happy festivities to everybody!"
Thank you, darling *bowing*. Are you going to celebrate the New Year?
"Max, only you to provoke the Iranians by bringing the Mashiach up lol! Are you trying to get us all killed ahahahaha? :-)"
LOL No, I am not trying to get us all killed at all. But tough issues must be addressed :).
"Well, it is true that big things walk by the side of tragic events and sadness, why do you think that is?"
To keep the balance of things.
"Anyway, Hanukkah is over the fast of tevet is coming this Sunday so we will have plenty of time to reflect and ask the Mashiach to hurry up cause we are tired of fasting for Jerusalem ahahah...a bit of festive humour ;-)."
LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL that was a good one *nodding*. You kill me!
Ana, thank you so much for your festive humour and for your super comment :D.
Cheers
Merry festive season to all!
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous :D!
DeleteThank you so much *bowing*. Happy Festivities to you :).
Cheers
I am anxiously waiting for the Mahdi. Meanwhile, the sufganiyot sure sounds tasty.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you can help me with something puzzling: Why is it that Christmas has been commercialized, but Hanukkah has not? There is no equivalent for Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer in Judaism or Islam.
Hi Looney :D!
DeleteLOL...I definitely hear you - and when the Mahdi comes, I will name kids after him. Oh, sufganiyot are my main sin: they are super tasty.
Christmas has been commercialised perhaps because the Church, when alluring and proselytising pagans, incorporated some of their Yule customs (hence the Christmas tree, Santa Klaus, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer etc). Judaism never sought (and still seeks not) to proselytise and therefore Hanukkah remained a bit less commercialised - and I say this because Jews in America celebrate Hanukkah in a more exuberant fashion (i.e. similar to Christmas' exuberance) than Israelis and European Jews. Islam doesn't share our sense of humour, they take their religion too seriously and that is why they do not commercialise whatsoever (doing it would probably constitute "Haram" = sin).
Looney, always a pleasure indeed. Thank you ever so much for your fab humour and comment :D.
Cheers
Hi Max
ReplyDeleteHappy Festive :)
I cant wait for the Christmas...a new member will be born soon.. and our house will be so delighted get overexcited maybe he/she will be born on the same day as I was born which 25th December :) Omg Cant wait
Wish you a very happy Festive to you and your family! GOD bless you
Hi Sabi :D!
DeleteHappy Festivities to you and to yours, darling!
Congratulations for the new family member *hug*. You were born on Christmas Day? How cute.
Thank you, Sabi. God Bless you :D
Cheers
HI Max:
ReplyDeleteLong time since I've visited you. So sorry, but you know, life happens.
As always, your post was reflective and thought provoking. As to it's deep meaning, I defer to the famous words of Rodney King: Why can't we all just get along? Ha, ha, if we only we lived in a perfect world.
My oldest daughter was raised Buda, and she married a Jew. Now they have two lovely children that we truly adore. However, as my wife and I are intermittent Christians, we are saddened that they have chosen not to expose our grandchildren to Santa Clause. We love Santa and always decorate a tree and hang stockings with his image every Christmas. It's just for fun, nothing heavy. But they say Santa is a lie, and they don't want their children to be taught a lie. Boohoo. The thing is, they are both über smart and well educated people, but somehow they totally miss the philosophy and spirit of the Christian belief. Am I missing something? Max, as always, I defer to your wisdom.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Hang ten, or whatever else brightens up your holiday.
Hi Swu :D!
DeleteIt is so good to see you, my friend. No need to apologise at all; are you kidding me? I am simply glad to see you here now :D.
"As always, your post was reflective and thought provoking. As to it's deep meaning, I defer to the famous words of Rodney King: Why can't we all just get along? Ha, ha, if we only we lived in a perfect world."
Thank you *bowing*. Indeed, why can't we? The paradox of it all is: we do live in a perfect world, even though it may not seem like it.
"My oldest daughter was raised Buda, and she married a Jew. Now they have two lovely children that we truly adore."
Mazel Tov! :D
"However, as my wife and I are intermittent Christians, we are saddened that they have chosen not to expose our grandchildren to Santa Clause. We love Santa and always decorate a tree and hang stockings with his image every Christmas. It's just for fun, nothing heavy. But they say Santa is a lie, and they don't want their children to be taught a lie. Boohoo."
LOL Swu, I am sorry...but I kinda agree with your daughter. My mum tried to introduce me to Christmas when I was a kid and soon enough I realised that Santa was a big lie. I only appreciated the Nativity Scene, even though I wasn't Christian.
"The thing is, they are both über smart and well educated people, but somehow they totally miss the philosophy and spirit of the Christian belief. Am I missing something? Max, as always, I defer to your wisdom."
They are not Christian, so the spirit of Christmas just isn't there - I know exactly how they feel, think and live. No, you are not missing anything...it is just not their path. You are too kind *bowing*.
"Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Hang ten, or whatever else brightens up your holiday."
LOL Thank you so much for your wishes. I don't celebrate Christmas but many in my family do; I celebrated Hanukkah because the majority in my family did...so, you see I can easily hang ten and have my day brightened ;).
Have a Merry Merry Christmas, Swu; you and yours!
It was a blast having you here with us; thank you :D. You were missed.
Cheers