Friday, November 30, 1945 DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle Page Three A CHANUKAH MESSAGE FOR OUR TIMES 1 (Continued from Page 1) spoiled his subjugated peoples of every vestige of economic and political liberty, but decided to enforce a common religion and a uniform depraved Syrian-Greek culture throughout his Empire, including Judaea. It was a long and uneven battle with the grim brutalities of a powerful and ruthless enemy without, and a fierce struggle with cowardly and servile collaborators within, who only too easily succumbed to the glitter and blandishments of the deified tyrant, and bowed down to the vulgar idols of the market-place. But Mattathias, a truly regal and majestic figure, and his sons refused to surren- der their religious autonomy, and openly rebelled against the cruel authority of Antiochus. In an imperial voice, full of terrible wrath in presence of evil and religious persecution, Old Matta- thias uttered •.words, brimming with passionate devotion and loyalty to God and full of com- manding dignity which were car- ried forth by all the winds that blow: "Though all the nations that are in the King's dominion obey him, and fall away every one from the religion of their fathers, and give consent to his commandments: Yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers. God forbid that we should for- sake the law and the ordinanc- es." Like armies these words marched to battle and steeled faithful Jewish hearts in their determination to resist the fierce attack of the enemy on their re- ligion and fired them with en- thusiasm in their equally fierce defense of their Jewish way of life. Mattathias' stroke at Antio- chus' commissioner at Modin ini- tiated the Maccabean revolt. The Maccabean uprising marks a milestone in the long and ter- rible march of Democracy. For here we no longer deal with dy- nastic struggles, nor with mili- tant rivalries in which the Jews themselves had little concern. We are faced by a conflict of ideals which has persisted down to our day. It was a rebellion of the free spirit against despot- ism, the first courageous attempt to resist and repudiate spiritual servitude, the first organized collective action for the princi- ple of religious liberty. The mil- itary genius and dauntless spir- it of the Maccabees, notably Ju- das Maccabeas, carried little Ju- daea to victories never dreamed of before. And there are per- haps no more surprises left for the children of men like that bright astonishment with which the inhabitants of Palestine, overshadowed in numbers, learn- ed of the military triumph which Judas had won over the dom- inant forces of their Syrian op- pressors. the present age is a moral and ethical one. Every problem pre- sented to us in the difficult task Chanukah, which means dedica- A new era has dawned; but it of reconstruction, is in the last tion, or "re-dedication." presages crucial and testing days, analysis, an ethical problem. If Chanukah thus provides us days filled with heart-searching security, prosperity and an en- with a view, an interpretation responsibilities and demanding during peace are to be achieved of victory which is as yet imper- the utmost fidelity to the ethi- by the stricken nations, both fectly recognized in our times, cal principles of Justice, magna- small and great, the divisive namely, that the resort to arms, nimity and cooperation, if we forces of political provocation, unavoidable and essential as it economic strangulation and so- at times is, never can be the are to avert another catastrophe, cial and religious discrimina- too horrible to contemplate, if ultimate principle upon which tion must give way to the heal- society rests. Force alone cannot we are to lift the specter of an ing moral influences of mutual serve as an ultimate ethic. Vic- atomic cataclysm now hanging concern for the welfare of all tory itself is but a negative con- over the world. There are tre- inhabitants of the earth. The dition. The ultimate principle mendous obstacles to be over- choice of roads lies before us. which will and can lead to a come: conflicting claims to ter- The ways of dictatorial rule, of better society and a happier ritory, inveterate national jeal- power politics, of military and mankind is the foundation of ousies, ingrained habits of au- competitive armaments and of Justice and right, the idea so tocracy, rivalry for markets, col- precarious alliances have all been eloquently stated and summariz- onies and military bases, conflict- tried and have led to disaster ed by the prophet Zechariah, ing ideologies and constant and tragedy. Now we must set whose sublime words we read strains on the war-born unity our feet resolutely on the path during the Sabbath of Chanu- of the United Nations. The prob- first trod by the brave Macca- kah; "Not by power, not by lems are simply stupendous and bees, the road of religious res- might, but by My Spirit, saith will tax our moral wisdom and toration, moral recovery and the Lord." courage during the days that lie ethical redemption. No other How meaningful are these ahead. road, Chanukah suggests, can words, and how relevant to the In a word, the challenge of lead to peace. many deep and tortuous prob- lems now confronting the world! We have emerged from the most terrible of all wars. Victory has CHANUKAH GREETINGS TO ALL! finally come. But let us not be deceived into confusing military During the past 24 years we have made it possible for victory with peace. Victory is our hundreds of patrons to enjoy Perwein's The year 165 B.C.E. stands out, therefore, as a year glori- ous in the annals of Judaea, one indeed of the world. For had the Seleucids overwhelmed the Maccabees in the Beth-horon pass or at Beth-zur, the whole aspect of human history would have been different. The great literary and religious documents of the Bible would have been forgotten; the splendid, lofty and sonorous utterances of the great prophets would have been silenc- but the opportunity for peace. ed, the moral earnestness and matchless spiritual insights of some of our best Psalms and A Joyous Holiday the books of the Maccabean age would have never come into be- To All Jewry! ing; and needless to say, but for the Maccabean victories Chris- tianity and Mohammedanism would have been impossible. Yet, however odd it may ap- pear on the face of it, Jewish tradition is strangely silent con- cerning the military prowess and victory of the Maccabees, but 8438 Harper focusses attention upon the re- PLAZA 6751 sults, the outcome of that mo- mentous struggle which led to the re-dedication of the Temple and opened up new pos- sibilities and opportunities for the Jew to think for himself and to worship God and His pur- poses in accordance with the Tal- mud (Sabbath 21b), where the official story of Chanukah is re- corded, and is suggested by the very name given to the festival, famous Cakes and Pastries We Use Pure Ingredients Only • FONTANA BROS. MADISON 6569, 6870 9144 TWELFTH STREET Branch: Neumann's Market, 25 E. Grand River COFFEE CAKE OUR SPECIALTY CHANUKAH GREETINGS • With deep gratitude in our hearts Heartiest Greetings For Chanukah • With hopeful prayers on our lips • With thanks for the opportunities in America. • HOTEL BOOK-CADILLAC DETROIT, MICH. BUY VICTORY BONDS :—: scores again .2aged.in sealed.in flavor" ALTES LAGER THE UNITED DAIRIES Wishes to express their appreciation for the loyal patronage of the many thousands of Jewish customers we have been privileged to serve and extend our sincerest wishes for HEALTH, HAPPINESS and SECURITY May Yours Be a Joyous Chanukah UNITED DAIRIES. Inc. Listen to KAY LORRAINE America's flinging Sweetheart TUESDAY/ THURSDAY 10JR 6:30 P. M. (E. S. T.) consrer I143 rmu IMIIIWG cowrur 4055 PURITAN U Niversity 1-2800