Hanukkah and Syria: a reversal of fortune

by Tom Brennan,

Hanukkah is here. It is not one of the Ordained Feasts, but has been celebrated since the victory that cleared the Land of a vicious and arrogant enemy. After Alexander, the huge empire he created was divided into more governable segments. Israel was included in the area governed by the Seleucids ruling from Damascus. The intellectual arrogance was unspeakable and an effort to foist ethnic genocide on the Jewish people was launched. After the defilement of the holy Temple the Maccabees arose and overthrew the Greeks. The miracle of the 8 days of light from one day’s oil gave rise to the celebration of liberty and rededication.

Today we see a reversal as Syria is torn by a civil war fought by proxy armies of Muslim Mahdist sects and, militias, a clever Iranian government, Russian allies and a confused and clueless United States which supports “moderates”. The suffering of the average people is off the scale. The previous Christian presence, one of the oldest in the world is just about gone. Israel has been engaged on the Golan Heights since Hezbollah set up shop with the Syrian Government’s sanction. Yet the Israelis have been providing medical care to refugees for some time. Now we hear that IDF reservists have “demanded” that they be allowed to extend their medical care to more Syrian unfortunates. The descendants of the Maccabees are showing mercy to the descendants of those who showed them none.

Israel has a total population of just 8.2 million. Yet its humanitarian aid is worldwide. By sending relief supplies, expert medical staff, and emergency response personnel on almost a moment’s notice, Israel’s humanitarian agencies respond far beyond the efforts of other larger nations. Why?

Israel is the Jewish Nation,re-established under the ancient covenant with Abraham. Charity is demanded of the Jew in Torah and Israel the modern nation since 1948, complies. Deuteronomy is referred to as the second giving of The Law. It has very specific expectations for conduct towards the poor, widows and orphans and the “alien”. Syria has produced innumerable widows and orphans, the refugees are aliens among their own. Israelis are responding in obedience to God is giving, aiding and extending medical care to these distant relatives through Ishmael.

Some ask why Israel has not opened its doors to refugees. Why not ask why neighboring Islamic nations have not done so. Non-mass media news outlets report that the flood of refugees to Europe has been mostly dominated my military age males, not women and children. Increasing violence in Scandinavia, Europe and Britain are the results of this influx.
Israel’s ongoing attacks from Jihadists in the Golan Heights are evidence of the necessity to provide aid in other forms than refugee camps which will be sites for Jihadist troops. The Obama Administration’s goals of increasing Syrian refugee access to America is questionable by recent “lone wolf” terrorist violence in several states. Even the TSA admits that a significant number of its employees have not been “vetted” and the catastrophic “open border” via Mexico has allowed not only illegal entry for employment seekers but access to likely Jihadists and weapons of all varieties. Israel is wise to extend its aid to the victims rather than import them into a country with means and resource limitations. This insures safety for all Israelis.

Christmas and Hanukkah coincide on the secular calendar this year. Both celebrate liberty of the soul and freedom to worship The Almighty. It is a time to extend generosity to family, friends and the “aliens among us”. Syria is crying. God has commanded us to feed, clothe and our neighbors in need. Let’s follow Israel’s example.

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