tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442178.post116646896829103247..comments2024-03-25T08:08:23.132-07:00Comments on Who Has Time For This?: Festival of Light SpendingDavid Cowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075075203254308405noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442178.post-1167079126604251042006-12-25T12:38:00.000-08:002006-12-25T12:38:00.000-08:00The two books of Maccabees (excluded from the Jewi...The two books of Maccabees (excluded from the Jewish canon) - are the primary historical sources for the events of Chanukah and they make no mention of a miracle of oil. They explain that the original celebration was a delayed Succot (which with Shemini Atzeres is "coincidentally" 8 days long). Josephus likewise doesn't mention the miracle of the oil.<BR/><BR/>The story of the miracle comes from the Talmud (although the Talmud is hundreds of years after the Chanukah story, the specific rabbi that mentions the miracle is only about 200 years after.) But the Talmud is primarily concerned with Jewish law, ethics, etc, and not with accurate historical accountings. Many of those laws were developed with the specific intention of ensuring Jewish survival. That we are celebrating Chanukah 2200 years later is proof of its success!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442178.post-1166654024519660822006-12-20T14:33:00.000-08:002006-12-20T14:33:00.000-08:00David: Great post. But I think you missed a few c...David: Great post. But I think you missed a few chances to extend the analogy, which I write about <A HREF="http://ventureagain.blogspot.com/2006/12/miracle-of-efficient-lighting.html" REL="nofollow">here</A>.Justin Labelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05423486089757076183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442178.post-1166603131370853502006-12-20T00:25:00.000-08:002006-12-20T00:25:00.000-08:00In the NY Times, Dawkins talks about a similar att...In the <A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/17/weekinreview/17kennedy.html?ex=157680000&en=613c09c2527c7c39&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink" REL="nofollow">NY Times</A>, Dawkins talks about a similar attitude towards Christmas. It turns out that Sam Harris even has a Christmas tree.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442178.post-1166589054237111372006-12-19T20:30:00.000-08:002006-12-19T20:30:00.000-08:00That is exactly what we do at this time of year.That is exactly what <A HREF="http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2006/12/happy_hannukkah.php" REL="nofollow">we do</A> at this time of year.Bora Zivkovichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10763808287050592569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14442178.post-1166504494902495702006-12-18T21:01:00.000-08:002006-12-18T21:01:00.000-08:00couldn't agree more. many of my jewish friends and...couldn't agree more. many of my jewish friends and i have no connection to the religion but ae very proud of the culture and all of it's unique traditions. above all, as you say, it's a place on the calendar to get family together for food and fun.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com