The True Meaning of Chanukah: Understanding the Battle for Jewish Identity

The Jewish people, in all their diversity, celebrate the holiday of Chanukah. In a sense, it has become a national holiday. Religious and secular Jews alike celebrate by lighting candles, eating sufganiyot… Even my atheist friend told me that he lights a Chanukiah at home with his family.

A Challenging Question

I said to him: “You — who deny the Torah, who scorn the commandments, who claim the miracle of the oil is a fabrication, who lives in total contradiction to everything this holiday represents — do you even know what you’re celebrating? Probably not. Because if you did, you wouldn’t feel the need to celebrate it at all.”
Naturally, he didn’t understand what one thing had to do with the other. Let me explain.

What the War Was Really About

The war between the Greeks and the Jews was not a normal war.
The Greeks did not seek to kill the Jewish people physically. They wanted “only” to change their culture. It bothered them to see a nation that refused to absorb their worldview, a nation loyal to its ancient heritage.

They attempted to make the Jews abandon their faith and observance of Shabbat, purity laws, and mitzvot. The Torah itself was in danger of being erased, Heaven forbid.

The Courage of the Maccabees

In response, a small group of Jews rose up — Jews loyal to the Torah and its commandments, willing to risk their lives and fight the mighty Greek empire. They knew that from a logical standpoint, their chances of victory were almost zero.

Still, their goal was to fight — not to surrender to any attempt to blur our identity as Jews, but to continue carrying proudly and with dignity the ancient heritage of Judaism.

And because their mission was holy, God helped them. The few and weak defeated the many and strong. It was a tremendous miracle.

Beyond the miracle of the oil, the great miracle of Chanukah is the victory of the Maccabees over the Greeks — those who tried to erase our identity as Jews.

A Modern Contradiction

So I wonder: Why do atheists who celebrate Chanukah celebrate a holiday that symbolizes the exact opposite of their lifestyle?

The Greeks wanted the Jewish people to abandon Shabbat and family purity. And today, many atheists do the same — trampling on the very values for which our ancestors sacrificed their lives.

So what exactly are they celebrating? They live in complete contradiction to everything this holiday represents.

The New “Hellenism”

How did we reach a point where people willingly become modern Hellenists? They proudly celebrate the victory of the Maccabees, yet trample the very values those heroes fought for.

If they truly believe Greek culture is superior to Shabbat or family purity, why light Chanukah candles at all?

It is so important for all of us to know what truly happened, what we are actually celebrating, and what inner message we are meant to absorb from these sacred days.