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On Chanukah and Star Wars

T

his year, Disney gifted us a new each flame. In so doing, it reminds us
that our own individuality is precious
Star Wars movie for Chanukah.
and, simultaneously, that we are all
It is truly fortuitous that the
release of The Last Jedi coincided with fundamentally equal.
As a lifelong Star Wars fan, one of
the holiday. In many ways, the paral-
the things I have always loved
lels between the Star Wars
about the Star Wars franchise
saga and the Chanukah story
is its diversity and its egalitar-
are striking. Both stories tell
ianism. Even today, it’s rare to
of meager bands of freedom
find a Hollywood blockbuster
fighters, including farm boys
where the hero isn’t a white
and paupers turned warriors,
male. Yet, for over 40 years,
mounting unlikely rebellions
the Star Wars films have
against much larger, better
been replete with heroes of
equipped, better-resourced
Rabbi Michael
all colors, backgrounds, gen-
and seemingly invincible
Knopf
ders, shapes and sizes. This is
empires.
especially true of the current
In both stories, the rebels
trilogy, which features a beau-
defeat their enemies, in defi-
tifully diverse lineup of pro-
ance of all reasonable expec-
tagonists. Fine, some of those charac-
tations. They draw upon an invisible
force that surrounds and binds every- ters aren’t human. But there is a basic
equality implied in the diversity of the
thing that exists for guidance, sup-
Star Wars universe. There isn’t a gen-
port, strength and resilience in their
der or species hierarchy in the galaxy.
struggle against the evil empire.
By and large, characters relate to each
Both stories highlight freedom
other’s internal qualities, rather than
against tyranny, hope over fear, good
their external features. It doesn’t mat-
against evil, light against darkness.
ter if you are male or female, black or
Then there is the connection
white, human or Wookie. It just mat-
between Star Wars and the Chanukah
ters what side you’re fighting for, what
candles. There are really only a few
you’re doing to advance the cause of
things that make a menorah kosher.
peace and justice, and how good you
The candles (save the shamash) have
are at fighting the Empire.
to be level and in a straight line. That
Perhaps that’s why the only candle
way, each flame is equally important
permitted to be raised or elevated
and can be distinguishable from the
above the others on the menorah is
other flames. The menorah upholds
the distinctiveness and equal status of the shamash, the helper candle. What

distinguishes the shamash is not its
external appearance, but rather what
it does on behalf of the other candles.
It helps them. It enables them to do
what they’re supposed to do. It gives
them light and, in so doing, increases
the overall luminescence. The
shamash’s prominence is not inher-
ent. Just as in Star Wars, it’s earned by
helping others and by spreading light.
One final thought: This newest Star
Wars trilogy is set about 30 years after
the original Empire is defeated and
yet chronicles a familiar conflict. The
Rebel Alliance and the Empire are
gone, but the Resistance and the First
Order battle in their stead, implying
that evil is never fully vanquished,
that the struggle of light against dark
is eternal.
Historical experience affirms this
artistic assertion. The Maccabees’
victory was not a decisive triumph
of good over evil, but, rather, a tem-
porary one. The struggle is renewed
in every generation. That’s why we
keep lighting the Chanukah candles
year after year, to remind ourselves
and our children that the work is
not done. The war remains ours to
fight. But the force is with us in the
struggle. •

Michael Knopf is rabbi of Temple Beth-El in
Richmond, Va., and a Rabbis Without Borders
fellow. This essay was originally published in the
Times of Israel.

letters

Views On Trump’s
Decision to Move U.S.
Embassy

As a longtime subscriber to the Jewish
News, very often I see pieces written
with which I agree. On the other hand,
there are many times that I see pieces
written to which I am diametrically
opposed.
My belief is that any sovereign
nation has the right to establish its
capital in whatever city it chooses.
When this is done, the other world
countries never take issue, and
shouldn’t.
If tomorrow, the United States
moved its capital to New York or
Chicago, there wouldn’t be a peep from
any country. If Russia moved its capital
to St. Petersburg, there wouldn’t be a
mention of it. If Lebanon moved its
capital from Beirut, not a word would
be said.

Why is it that Israel is the only
country in the world that is vilified for
exercising this obvious right? It comes
down to pure anti-Jewish reasons. It
is, as far as I am concerned, the pur-
est example of Jewish hatred in the
world that never seems to allow Jewish
hatred to dissipate.
Rabbi Michael Lerner is sim-
ply wrong! (“Trump’s Decision is
Destructive,” Dec. 14, page 9) For some
reason, he believes that greater vio-
lence will be produced by this decision.
The amount of violence directed at the
Jewish people will never change; just
the excuse used to legitimatize that
violence changes. If it isn’t this subject,
it will be some other subject, perpetu-
ated by the international community
through the auspices of that unbal-
anced organization known as the U.N.
I am not a fan of President Donald
Trump. I find him to be a narcissist,
misogynistic, a fabricator, a bigot,
duplicitous and, most of all, a bully.

However, on this point, he is right! The
other countries should recognize that
and move their embassies out of Tel
Aviv as well.
Joshua Krasna said that there are
“good guys” such as Jordan, Saudi
Arabia and Egypt. These countries
need to have the words “good guys” put
in quotes, for there are no “good guys”
amongst this group. They will slit the
throat of a Jew just as fast as members
of Hamas, Hezbollah and the leader-
ship of Iran would if they thought they
could get away with it. Krasna need
not be conflicted.
It reckons back to Mahmoud Abba’s
statement that should there at some
time be a Palestinian State, Jews will
not be welcome there. Where will
he establish the capital did he say?
Jerusalem. Where will the members of
the U.N. place their embassies, do you
suppose? That says it all.

Kenneth Bertin
West Bloomfield

My Story

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jn

December 28 • 2017

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