BRIS MILAH CIRCUMCISION, CHANUCAH & THE GREEKS
The history of the Greek rule and oppression over The Jews dates to 168 BCE.
The rulers over Judea the Seleucid Greek King Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
The Greeks decreed against The Jews to disrupt three essential religious practices
- חֹדֶשׁ Chodesh The sanctification of the New Moon monthly for the Jewish calendar
- שַׁבָּת Shabbos The sabbath commemorates God created the world.
- מִילָה Milah Bris Milah religious circumcision.
CHASHMONAIM HASMONEANS
The CHASHMONAIM חשמונאים (Hasmoneans) led the Jews. CHASHMONAIM חשמונאים is the initial letter of חֹדֶשׁ Chodesh שַׁבָּת Shabbos and מִילָה Milah Bris religious circumcision.
Mattisyahu the son of Yochanan, The Cohen led the revolt. I heard that they were named Maccabees from Mattisyahu Cohen the son of Yochanan.
מכבי= מתיתיהו כהן בן יוחנן
THE FEW OVERCAME THE MANY
Rashi in the last sedra Vzos Habrocho explains that they Jewish rebellion by the Family started in Modiin. Although such a small family of about 11 they had faith and trust to overcome the enormous size of the Greek army and remove the Hellenists wishing to eradicate Torah.
HANUKKAH IS EIGHT DAYS & BRIS MILAH IS ON EIGHTH DAY
Hanukkah is an eight-day Festival related to the number eight, which in Jewish tradition EIGHT represents a level of existence beyond the natural world; similarly circumcision Bris Milah is performed on the eighth day. Their success we emulate and celebrate today 2194 years later.
THE PRACTICE OF CIRCUMCISION
Circumcision was particularly offensive to the Greeks, since they wished perfection in the human body and public display. An example was their Olympic games and wished to ban an form of interference or surgery being abhorrent to Greeks.
THE JEWISH PRACTICE OF CIRCUMCISION Bris Milah
Conversely Jews held that circumcision Bris Milah is essential and a sign of perfection on the eighth day and covenant Bris with G-d. Whereas the Greeks banned the circumcision bris milah practice with punishment of death.