After the act of extinguishing the Khanu candles with the aid of a fire extinguisher, thunders fell on the MP Grzegorz Braun. Even Bible scholars spoke, claiming that Braun was incorrect and even lied, claiming that Chanuk's feast was “memory”, Talmudic, alien to us.
That might be harsh words, but what is it? I will look at this event from a philosophical, theological and political perspective. Then it will appear in a different light.
The Bible scholar, Fr Prof. Marcin Kowalski in the Republic of Poland, he states that “Jesus himself took part in the festival of Hanukkah” and that is why the statements of Mr Braun are “deplorable”. So let us examine precisely under what circumstances Jesus “partook” in the feast, what resulted and what theological importance it is. In John 10:22-42 he says that “23 Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s portico. 24 The Jews surrounded him and said to him, “Where will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us openly!» 25 Jesus said to them, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The deeds I do in the name of my Father bear witness to me. 26 But you do not believe, for you are not of my sheep...30 I and the Father are one». 31 And again the Jews took stones to stone him...’.
Thus, according to the message of the Gospel, Jesus Christ’s “participation” is shown in the Temple Sacrifice (Chanuk). The Jews endanger to stone him. He says to them: “37 If I do not do the works of my Father, believe me not! 38 But if I do, even though you do not believe me, believe in my works, that you may know and know that the Father is in me and I in the Father». 39 And [then] they sought to capture him again, but he escaped from their hands....” This passage shows the rejection of the boy of God by the Jews. He is facing stoning and must flee Jerusalem outside Jordan. Hanuka is besides called the Holy Light (herb. Hag ha-Urim). The metaphor of light, however, has a much deeper dimension than the historical events described in the Scriptures.
The events are symbolic. The celebration of the Temple Sacrifice was celebrated in remembrance of the cleansing of the Jerusalem temple after the desecration given to it by the king over the Seleucids of Antioch IV Epiphanes, who attempted to transform it into a pagan temple and its re-sacrifice in 164 B.C.E. by Jude Machabeus. The lights lit on this feast are not only a reminder of the re-flashing of the Menora, or golden seven-point candlestick, utilized in the temple, but besides of the light of the hope of the independency of the State of Israel, which the expected Messiah is to bring. The Jews expected the Messiah as a powerful earthly king to establish the universal kingdom of Israel. In this context, Jesus telling the Jews in the temple of his identity as the boy of the Father and Savior of the World, ruling the planet on a spiritual alternatively than physical level, liberating, as a Good Shepherd, his sheep from the yoke of sin and indicating eternal salvation in the kingdom of heaven had to be rejected.
Compared to any physical light from this world, from Khanucan candles, or from any another source, Jesus Christ is manifested as actual light. He is the “Light of the World” (John 8:12). It is He who shows the way of Love to all people, regardless of their nationality and origin. It is He who can bring spiritual light where darkness reigns due to our weaknesses, sin, suffering, fear and death. It is He who is ready for the fight and for the top sacrifice. Although he is aware of the enmity among the Jews, he goes to the temple of Jerusalem to bear witness The fact is to illuminate the darkness resulting from the deficiency of actual cognition and values with its message, and to illuminate them to this day, as long as we have religion in his Messianic role.
For over 1,000 years Poland has become active with Jesus Christ and Christianity. Lighted by the Real Light, she has survived any hard times in history, but she has survived. This Light is our strength, not only spiritual. On this Light are the strengths of human characters: courage, steadfastness, hope, love. Looking at this issue from a political perspective, there are 3 basic ways to conquer states: military, economic, cultural. Cultural dependence is the most effective way to enslave another nations. As a result, they lose their traditions and values and take their place in what is alien.
Therefore, in Poland we should light and celebrate the Real Light, in the Presidential Palace, in the Sejm and in many another places. This actual Light, moving to us from the Gospel, leads us and all mankind to the eventual goal, to good and common love, not to hatred, conflict and destruction, which are revealed to our eyes present and are the consequence of our departure from God. We should always have a simple message before us: “To love 1 another” and to know that love is expressed by doing good.
Although the judaic festival of Hanukkah was established in the second century B.C.E., for centuries it was not emphasized what was his appropriate reason, or military triumph over the Seleucids. It was an ancient holiday, but celebrated modestly, in the synagogue and at home. The emergence of judaic nationalism and Zionist movement at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries had a profound effect on the celebration and reinterpretation of judaic holidays, including especially Hanuki. It took on fresh meaning as a festival of independence, symbolizing the judaic people's conflict with abroad oppression and celebrated publicly, as a judaic national vacation in many diaspora countries. Its promotion besides reached Poland. Should it be celebrated in Polish government institutions? We have come to know the Real Light, and it is through this Light that we can overcome the darkness of the modern world. So there is no reason to celebrate the holidays of those who rejected the Light and inactive refuse to accept it.
How frequently there are incidents and verbal and physical attacks on Christians from orthodox Jews in Jerusalem today. The Christian answer is love. Love, however, does not mean approval to conquer culture, to replace our tradition, tradition alien and to eclipse the apparent light of actual Light. By rejecting the boy of God, the Messianic thought becomes false. It becomes simply a political idea, motivated by planet domination, a vain quest to make wars, riots and revolutions, to establish a universe kingdom on the ruins of nations. That's not the way. “Come to me, all of you. I am the Light of the World," says He. “I have created your hands for giving—not for taking, but your hearts for loving—not for hating” (from Let love embrace you).
Prof. W. Julian Korab-Karpowicz
photo of wikipedia
The author is simply a philosopher and political thinker. Lectures at the Anglo-American University in Prague. He won the prestigious woman Davis Trust award and in 2021-2022 was a visiting prof. at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Author of “Social Harmony” and another books translated into respective languages.
Think Poland, No. 7-8 (11-18.02.2024)
