Hanukkah Hip Hop by Ari Lesser is an interesting reminder that we should not allow a shallow superficial acknowledgment of history to blind us to the deeper lessons. The song claims that Hanukkah isn’t how it used to be because people got caught up in the consumerism that often marks Christmas and the desire to fit in with others which distracted people from the history of Hanukkah which celebrates the resistance to coercive assimilation into the dominant culture’s religious and social norms.
This is something to consider. I am not saying it is always wrong to enjoy things that may not be 100% traditional, but when it comes to holidays that are supposed to remind us of God’s love it can be easy to end up using events from the past as just an opportunity to enjoy ourselves instead of actually learning from them or allowing history to motivate us to do anything to sustain and share the joy we currently have. Like if you believe coercion is wrong, negatively stereotyping groups of people is wrong, and that religious freedom is important you should stand against bigotry and coercion toward others as well. It would be a mistake to celebrate the end of religious bigotry and still practice it toward others or turn a blind eye when others are being mistreated.
The Bible teaches us that we should use the good things that God has done for us in the past as a guide for how we should treat others. “For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 10:17-19. “And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.’” Exodus 19:6
The Bible does not remind us about the good things God has brought us through just so we can feel good about ourselves. We are supposed to remember that we are called to be like God and so as believers are called to treat others with the same love and care God has shown us. So, as you think about Hanukkah this year and always remember to really internalize the message and live in harmony with the light.
