Tonight begins Chanukah, which
marks two events.
The victory of the Maccabees over
Hellenistic forces that were destroying Judaism.
And the miracle of the oil in the
rededicated Temple that lasted for eight days when it should have been enough
for only one day. Thus the lighting of candles for eight days and the use of oil
in cooking foods, such as sufganiyot (donuts) here in Israel.
Credit:
Kohenari
When we light the candles we say
that they are for remembering the miracles and the wondrous victories that were
ours in those days, for which we are to be thankful.
Indeed, but miracles and victories
are with us always, and always there are reasons for giving thanks.
~~~~~~~~~~
MK David Rotem, of the Yisrael
Beitenu party, is Chair of the Constitution, Law and
Justice Committee.
Credit:
Ariel Jerozolimski/JPost
He has now
announced that there will be a hearing in that Committee on the Levy Report,
which provides the legal basis for Israel's rights in Judea and Samaria.
The Commission had determined, after extensive legal research, that Israeli
building in Judea and Samaria is not illegal, that Israel is not an "occupier,"
and that the Geneva Convention does not apply to those Israelis living in Judea
and Samaria.
Rotem's announcement
came after a year in which nothing was said in the Knesset about the Levy
Report. The date of the hearing has yet to be announced, but it will be
soon.
The JPost carried a story
about this today:
And it included this quote by
Rotem:
"It’s our duty to ensure that
Justice Levy’s report is adopted by the government.”
~~~~~~~~~~
The theme of thanks, of course,
has an additional meaning this year, for tomorrow, the first day of Chanukah, is
also Thanksgiving.
And so I say Chanukah Sameach, and
Happy Thanksgiving, and end will a lovely little video of the Chanukah classic
Ma'oz Tzur:
~~~~~~~~~~
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Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by Arlene Kushner,
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