The eight-day Jewish festival of Hanukkah, commemorating the re-dedication of the second temple in 164 BC, does not overlap Christmas very often. From 1980 to 2030, this occurs only fifteen times, and it happens this year.

But what does Hanukkah have to do with Christmas? Quite a bit, as it turns out.

In 332 BC, Alexander the Great conquered Palestine, but the Jews were granted religious freedom. This territory eventually fell into the hands of the Syrian Seleucid dynasty. In 198 BC, under King Antiochus III (247-187 BC), the Jews were treated even better, being allowed to govern themselves in accordance with their Torah.

However, the Greek influence on all aspects of life (Hellenism) was becoming overwhelming. In fact, a Hellenizing Jew, Jason, became the high priest in 175 BC. An even more extreme Hellenizing high priest, Menelaus, deposed Jason, and a civil war ensued.

The "haves" supported Menelaus, and the have-nots supported Jason.

At the request of the aristocratic group, King Antiochus IV Epiphanes intervened, taking the opportunity to prohibit the practice of Judaism, and established Greek-style paganism as the state religion. This led to a revolt by an old priest, Mattathias, and his five sons, the most famous of whom was Judas Maccabeus.

The so-called Maccabees garnered most of their support from the peasants and urban masses. How pure were their motives? They may have started off with religious indignation, but politics came into play soon after. After all, this was a civil war!

There is no doubt that idol-worshipping Jews fought on the side of the Maccabees. Moreover, after the re-dedication, Judas threw in with the Romans, who were just a wee bit Hellenistic themselves.

Sadly enough, the factionalism of the Jews continued, and got mixed up in Rome's civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey. Herod, whose father was a friend of Caesar, became king of Judea, and built temples to Augustus, outside of the Jewish areas. Not surprisingly, he and the temples were despised by the Jews. The Herods were to become only figureheads.

The Roman procurators took over in 6 AD, and one of them tried to display busts of the emperor right in Jerusalem. You might have heard of him. His name was Pontius Pilate.

If it was Pilate's intent to arouse the religious zeal of the Jews, he succeeded. Unfortunately for the Jews, the procurators who followed him were even less kind and compassionate, fostering a bloody war with Rome, that climaxed with the destruction of the Temple, and therefore the priestly class and tradition, in 70 AD. The rabbis would now control Judaism.

One reason that Jesus was rejected as the Messiah by the Jewish hierarchy was that he was not a military leader. Two more would-be messiahs did appear--one of whom, Bar Kokhba, had the support of the great Rabbi Akiba. Of course, his rebellion (132-135 AD) failed, and the Jews were more persecuted than ever, never obtaining a country of their own again until the advent of modern day Israel.

Here then, is an incredible concentration of historical events that affect us to this day!

The Temple is re-dedicated. Israel is under Rome. Jesus is born. The Church is founded. Jesus is crucified and is resurrected. The Temple is lost forever. More uprisings occur, and the Jews are dispersed. All of this occurring in less than 300 years.

After an even smaller increment of time, Rome itself will become Christian.

Although Passover and Easter are intimately related, by rule they can never fall on the same day. Hanukkah begins on Kislev 25 and Christmas is December 25. A coincidence?

In these two holidays, and in this year, which portents the real new millennium, a new spirit of true Ecumenism can be forged. Our differences are many, but our origins are the same!

Peace on Earth, goodwill to men.