Lighting the fires of reclamation
It’s the 25th day of Kislev. And, we all know what that means, even if we don’t know what Kislev is. Today marks the beginning of Chanukah, or as the kids call it these days: Hanukkah. If you’re not Jewish, this means little to nothing to you. And, even if you are Jewish, it’s not the most important holiday on the Calendar. And, since we live by the Gregorian calendar, it’s even more confusing. Unlike Christmas, every year, it falls on different days. This is another example of how the old religion lost out in the time wars. People still use the Hebrew calendar for ceremonial and reflective purposes, but, don’t try using it to book a flight or doctor’s appointment. It’s more about reflection on the past. Today, we reflect on the Jewish people Lighting the fires of reclamation.
It’s 8 days of lighting candles and revering a struggle from Middle Eastern history that is actually pretty poignant this year, given the conflict in Israel at this very moment. Around 200 BC, Jerusalem was under Greek and Syrian Rule. Antiochus III, the Seleucid king of Syria, “allowed” the Jews to remain in Jerusalem (AKA Judeah). But, his son decided to crack down on Jews practicing their own religion. The Selucids took over the second Jewish temple, and converted it to a Greek Church with shrines and dedications to Zeus and the Greek Gods. They even slaughtered pigs as offerings to these gods. As you may imagine, this pissed off a bunch of orthodox Jews. So, around 168 BC, they staged a rebellion to get back the Temple and extricate anyone who didn’t adhere to the old ways of the Jewish religion.
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Rebellion led to Lighting the fires of reclamation
So, the whole Battle was an effort to “reclaim” what was rightfully theirs. But, it’s not that simple. As with modern politics, the people rebelling didn’t have consensus from all Jews to rebel against the Seleucid occupiers. It was a group of hardcore traditionalists who wanted to bring back the “good old days” when the Rabbinical Patriarch had total control over the people of Judeah. The rebellion started with a Jewish Priest named Mattathias. But, he died a couple years into the rebellion. His son, Judah Maccabee, known as “the Hammer”, led the battles that finally forced the Syrians out. They used Guerilla warfare tactics to achieve this outcome.
Having re-claimed the temple, Judah and his followers cleansed the temple of all outside influences, and re-lit the Menorah. That’s where Chanukah comes in. They had enough oil to light the flames for a day. But, by some miracle, they remained lit for 8 days. Thus, the 8 days and 8 candles celebrated today. While the “miracle” may or may not have actually happened, the sentiment of celebrating the re-dedication of the temple was a major achievement. But, the average Jewish citizen at that time may not have been on board with how it got done. There were battles within the ranks of the Judean people. Some accepted the rule of the Selucids, and incorporated some of their modernization into their own lives.
And, we see a similar trend today. Most people call it Hanukkah, which is a non traditional variation on the word. Hanukah bushes and other modern practices are an infusion of Christian traditions. Is it really so wrong to have a Hybrid society?
Reflections in reclamation
There is irony in Israel today. It was rebellious Jews, using Guerilla warfare who took back their temple from another religious sect. Today, Hamas used underhanded, brutal tactics to start the current war, with the hopes of repeating the victory the Jews had against their oppressors. This current battle started with some major atrocities and war crimes. But, there are some similarities to the Maccabeean revolt of 168 BC. Hamas doesn’t have the backing of the majority of Palestinian people. The ruling party of Palestine was voted out in favor of Hamas in 2006, not by a majority, but by a plurality. Basically, Hamas seized control to push their agenda, which was to thwart the peace effort supported by the former governing body of Palestine. And, they haven’t allowed an election since taking over.
The Maccabee rebellion that led to the liberation of the temple was a much smaller scale than the Hamas rebellion. Hamas want to take back all of Palestine and eradicate the Jews. Unfortunately, if history has taught us anything, there will never be peace in this region. For some reason this little strip of land, roughly the size of New Jersey, has been the center of attention for empire after empire. It’s been seized and re-seized repeatedly.
How did we get here?
It is one of the earliest recorded centers of human civilization. And, it changed hands dozens of times since then. The Egyptians laid claim to it several times. Even after the reclamation of the temple, Romans ruled the land for centuries. When they became Christians in the 3rd century AD, it went from a Jewish stronghold, to Christian. In the 7th century AD, Muslims took over. And, it changed hands between multiple factions over the ensuing centuries. It became part of the Ottoman empire in the 16th century, until control ceded to Britain in 1922. After WWII, it was given to the Jews, who suffered the Holocaust. But, the Palestinian people didn’t peacefully accept the taking of their land.
technically, it’s never been one group’s land. The people who lived there were almost always under control of a foreign power, be it Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Mongols, Ottomans, or British. They were always part of a larger empire. And, the ridiculous thing about it is that the current and historical difference has always been a question of religion. When The second temple was reclaimed it was to wrest power from Adherents to Greek Gods. The Jews fought the Romans and their Gods. Christians took over from the Jewish and Roman Gods. Then, Muslims took over from them. And, it’s been back and forth, even with fighting amongst factions who believe in the same gods. The true irony is that Jews, Christians, and Muslims all worship the same God, just a different messenger.
In the words of Rodney King: Can’t we all just get along? Isn’t the God referenced in all these texts supposed to be the God of Peace? Well, this “god” isn’t doing its job very well.
Why all the fuss?
Seriously, we need a Lewis Black to have a motivational Talk to all the religions of the world. It would go something like this:
WTF is wrong with you? It’s all the same Freakin’ god! You F’ing idiots! Who gives a flying F”‘ what Noah, David, Jesus or Mohamed said on any given day? Other than live in peace and harmony with each other, nothing else matters!
And, Sam Kinneson would have reminded them: “You live in a DESERT! You know what this is? It’s sand? You know what it’ll be a thousand years from now? SAND!!!!
What’s the big Hub bub bub? It’s not like it’s a great piece of land. There are plenty of really beautiful places in the world. This one happens to be where civilization ostensibly began. But, remember, most people moved out of there. Where did Rome, Greek, and every other empire in the history of the world have their headquarters? Not in Israel. Why? Because it’s not that great a place. So, drop the petty fighting over non-existent issues. And, do what Jesus, Mohamed, Rodney King, and Lewis Black all want: get along!
How about lighting the new fires of reclamation?
Hanukkah is a perfect time to work on lighting the new fires of reclamation. When “the Hebrew Hammer” (No not Adam Goldberg’s schlocky sitcom version) reclaimed the second Jewish Temple, it was for the good of the religion, not the people. For thousands of years, Israel or Palestine or whatever you want to call it has been under empirical rule. Even today, despite Israel being a “sovereign ” nation, it’s still tied to all the other countries of the UN, especially the USA and European allies who “gave” the land to them. Why don’t we call it by its real name: 31.0461° N, 34.8516° E? That’s right. It’s just a location on the Earth. If we take away names, it’s no more special than Krumville, New York, Paris Texas, or Intercourse Pennsylvania.
So, why not take this auspicious occasion of the Festival of lights to shed light on the most insipid issue that has destroyed the world for millennia. Think of all the senseless slaughter invoked in the name of God. Muslims say their god is greater than the Christian god, who think theirs is greater than they Jewish god, who say theirs is better than all the rest. Newsflash: It’s the same God! Dumbasses! And, if we remember anything from the Ten Commandments, thou shalt not kill or “covet”. This should be the basic tenet of all humanity no matter what “god” or “savior” you subscribe to. And, to kill or do anything untoward in the name of “God” is pure blasphemy and heretical at its core.
Today’s assignment
So, today’s assignment is to achieve world peace. We can start by lighting the new fires of reclamation. This time, we reclaim humanity and wrest power from those who distort the concept of a superior being. Perhaps we can start with a concept Only Cumin Brought up in our recent stout blog: Share a pint and work out your differences. But, let’s do it on a global scale. If we’re all working toward the same goal, there’s no need for fighting.
We all need food, shelter, and companionship. So, let’s do that. Here are some recipes that fit with the holiday, and can help to bridge the gap between Abraham, Jesus, and Mohamed. How about sharing some hummus to the abolition of Hamas? These three recipes come from Christian, Jewish, and Muslim backgrounds. So, let’s jpin together, and overthrow all religions to truly understand that an affront to any creation of “god” is an affront to “God himself”.
Mazel Tov and Happy Chanukah!
Roasted Pepper Hummus and Citrus Spiced Olives with Pita
Ingredients
- 1 cup Garbanzo beans (cooked or canned)
- 6 each garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup roasted red peppers
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp Tahini paste
- 1 Tbsp ground cumin
- 1/2 cup Olive oil extra virgin
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- For the olives
- 1 cup Mixed olives (preferably without pits)
- 1 whole lemon
- 1 Tbsp Olive oil Extra Virgin
- 1/4 tsp crushed chili flakes
- 1/4 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/2 tsp chopped fresh time (or 1/4 tsp dried)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Pita bread to serve with the hummus
Instructions
- Drain garbanzo/chic peas well.
- Put garlic in a food processor and mince fine. Add in the garbanzos and pulse, scrape down the sides repeatedly to make sure it gets chopped smooth.
- When the garbanzos are relatively smooth, add in the peppers, tahini, lemon juice, and seasonings. Process until a smooth paste is achieved. Scrape down sides to incorporate everything well.
- With the processor running, drizzle in the oil in a steady stream. When it reaches a consistency that is smooth, but not too loose, stop adding the oil. Too much will make it runny.
- Put hummus in a serving bowl and chill or leave at room temperature.
- For the olives: Slice the lemons relatively thin. Grille the slices at a high temperature. Then cut them into 1/4's.
- Drain the olives of any liquid. Toss in a bowl with all the other ingredients. Then bowl them up to serve. Refrigerate for at least an hour to allow the flavors to blend.
- Cut pita bread into wedges and/or cut some fresh vegetables. Serve alongside the hummus and olives
Zucchini Sweet Potato Latke
Ingredients
- 2 cup Zucchini, seeds removed and shredded
- 2 cup shredded peeled sweet potato
- 1/4 cup chopped chives or scallions
- 1 large eggs
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 cup AP flour
- 1/2 cup corn starch
- 2 Tbsp Maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme
- Butter or oil to cook the latkes in
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Creme fraiche to garnish
- More herbs and/or green onion to garnish
Instructions
- Shred the zucchini and sweet potato. Press through a fin strainer or cheese cloth to remove excess moisture.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk an egg until well beaten, add in the sour cream and mix well. Then fold in the rest of the ingredients except for garnishes and mix well. If it is still to moist, add a little more flour. The mixture should hold together, but not be too runny. At the same time, you don't want it too stiff or it will come out dry on the palate.
- Heat oil or butter in a saute pan over medium heat. Scoop the mixture into the oil and press down to flatten. For an appetizer, make them about quarter to half dollar size. If you want to serve as an entree or side dish, make them about 3 to 4 inches. Sear about 1 to 3 minutes per side until they have a golden brown crust and are cooked through. If you make them larger, you may want to brown them in the pan and finish in an oven.
- Serve them hot with a dolop of creme fraiche and herb garnish. You can also top with ratatouille, a vegetable or meat stew, or seafood. Experiment and enjoy.
Olive Ladder Bread
Ingredients
- 7 cups bread flour
- 3 cups warm water
- 1 Tbsp Dry yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 tsp salt kosher
- 2 Tbsp Olive oil
- 2 cups chopped olives without pits kalamata or a mix of olives
- 1 tsp cracked black peppercorns
- Extra oil for coating and baking the bread
Instructions
- Mix sugar, yeast and water in the bowl of a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment. Allow to bloom until it becomes a little foamy.
- Add 1/3 of the flour and beat for about a minute until it is smooth. Cover with plastic and let sit for about 30 minutes to an hour.
- When the starter is a bit spongy, add the rest of the ingredients, and mix well with the machine. Then pop out onto a floured surface and knead by hand until the dough (with the exception of the olives) is smooth.
- coat the dough with oil and return to a mixing bowl. Allow to rise for 2 to 3 hours. It should double in volume
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- Oil a couple sheet pans.
- Cut the dough into 4 portions. Knead each into a ball. Then flatten them to about 3/4 inch thick rectangles or ovals. Place them onto oiled sheet pans, cover with a damp cloth or plastic and let rise about 20 to 30 minutes.
- Before putting into the oven, slit the bread loaves multiple times to mimic a ladder. Cut through the dough, about an inch or 2 between each slit. Pull the slits to widen the gaps if desired. Brush the tops of the bread with oil. Then pop in the oven.
- After 10 to 12 minutes, check the bread. Turn the loaves and switch pans from lower racks if necessary so they all cook evenly. Put back in for another 10 to 12 minutes until they achieve a nice golden brown.