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This year the holiday of Hanukkah coincides with Christmas, which means that it begins at sundown this evening. The holiday has a particular resonance in the current context. Our friend Binyamin at Jewish World Review has forwarded Dave Rubin’s account of the holiday’s history in the video below. Rubin calls it “A Special Hanukkah Message for AOC & Ilhan Omar.” Amazingly enough, the Jews would still like to be left alone to live in peace.

Watching the video reminded me that Alexander the Great was the original Greek conqueror of the land of Israel. Greek rule over the land originated in Alexander’s conquest. Yet Alexander is to this day a respected figure in Jewish history and many Jews bear his name — including our daughter Alexandra. Indeed, I think of her as Alexandra the great.

Our beloved Rabbi Bernard Raskas of blessed memory taught me the historical basis of our respect for Alexander as it is given in Jewish sources when he presided over Alexandra’s naming ceremony. These accounts are usefully summarized here and here.

Binyamin is taking the day off today. He forwarded the video with a request that I link to it. It is posted here at JWR, but check out Binyamin’s current lineup of columns in its entirety here.

POSTSCRIPT: Just received in the (e)mail — Reviel Netz’s witty and learned Jewish Review of Books essay “Straightening out the Menorah.”