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(NewsNation) — Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, takes place this year from December 25 to January 2.
I spoke to Uri Goldflam, an expert in the history and ancient religions of Israel, about the holiday and its significance as the Israel-Gaza war continues. Goldflam is a licensed guide and serves as an elected member of the Tzur Hadassah town council where he resides with his family in the mountains outside of Jerusalem. He served in the IDF’s Paratrooper Reserves for over 20 years.
Susie Pinto: Can you describe the spiritual significance of the Hanukkah?
Uri Goldflam: “Hanukkah is a holiday commemorating the liberation of Judea from the oppression of the Assyrian Greeks in the 2nd century BC, and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. (Hannukah=dedication). It’s a celebration of the victory of the few against the many, the weak against the strong, light over darkness, the believers in the One God against the pagans. It was so revolutionary that it echoed throughout the ancient world. No one, especially not a small tribe from a small mountainous region, has ever defeated the empire nor rejected its values and principles. Once again the Jews were set apart from the rest of the world. It is a testament to the Jewish spirit, faith and unwavering steadfast loyalty to the Land of Israel and the God of Israel and of God’s loyalty to the nation of Israel.
In later years, repeated attempts by Jewish rebels to overthrow Roman oppression resulted in tragedy. First the destruction of the 2nd Temple and of Jerusalem in the year 70 AD by Emperor Titus and later, the complete destruction of Judea, a genocide and the enslavement and exile of Jewish survivors by Emporer Hadrian in 135 AD who also renamed Judea and called it Provincia Palestina. The calamity was so great that rabbis of the 2nd century preferred to emphasize the miracle of Hanukkah, a small pot of oil that lasted for 8 days instead of just 1, as divine intervention rather than the military success of the Maccabee.
In exile, this has been the emphasis in celebrating Hanukkah by Jews around the world for almost 2000 years. Today, in Israel, many Jews return to the original historical events and commemorate both the heroism of the Maccabees, vanquishing darkness and God’s love for Israel, bringing light to the world.
Jesus also visited the Temple for Hanukkah. John 10: 22: ‘Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter.’”
SP: This will be the second Hanukkah since the Israel-Gaza war began. How will you and your family observe the holiday this year?
UG: “We will light candles every night and enjoy our family time together. Whether permitting we will spend time outdoors, enjoying the crisp air, Hanukkah is often an opportunity for my teens to go hiking with their youth movement and immerse themselves in the historical landscape of Israel. We often join with grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts for an evening of candle lighting, songs, exchanging gifts, and eating latkes (shredded and deep-fried potato patties, with sour cream, apple sauce and sugar) and jam-filled, sugar-sprinkled doughnuts. It’s the festival at the peak of the oil harvest, and it shows. One of our favorite family traditions is a doughnut-tasting tour at Jerusalem’s colorful Mahne Yehuda market. A feast for the eyes and taste buds, mostly the sweet ones.
Yes, it is especially significant and filled with gratitude. Celebrating our history and our freedom, our lives and family, at a time of war when so many have lost so much, is truly miraculous and uplifting.”
SP: How has the war impacted how Israelis celebrate Jewish holidays?
UG: “Jews have been celebrating Hanukkah for more than 2,000 years, through pogroms and expulsions, from crusader slaughter to Nazi concentration and death camps. The Menorah has been a symbol of hope and light in the darkest of hours. Over the past year Israel has undoubtedly seen some of its darkest hours. Especially after Oct. 7th last year that triggered Jewish historic memories from the Holocaust and medieval barbarism. The difference now is that the State of Israel exists with a strong army that can defend our people and vanquish our enemies. It’s a unique phenomenon in Jewish history, for Jews have been defenseless for the past 2,000 years. I believe that this year, especially after the military success the IDF has achieved, Israelis will feel deeper feelings of gratitude and hope. We have witnessed true heroism since Oct. 7th, with civilians and soldiers alike. We have seen true life-saving miracles and miraculous recoveries.
We have also witnessed unimaginable horror and suffering. This year Hanukkah candles will symbolize the very real redemption Israelis feel from the dangers that surround us, achieved with the sacrifice, blood and selflessness of so many. For many Israelis, none of these could have been achieved without the real and loving hand of God. I feel there is an awakening and newfound awareness to God’s presence, or in secular terms a move to strengthen Jewish identity, belonging and values. This awareness is not necessarily expressed in the synagogues but in art, music and culture as well as in politics and public discourse. This year the lights of Hanukkah will pierce the darkness that surrounds us. As I am writing these words there are still 100 people, alive and dead, Jews and non-Jews, Israelis and other nationalities, being held in darkness in Gaza. I pray the light of Hanukkah reaches them and they too come from darkness to light.”
SP: Can you tell us about your religious community and the mood this year as Hamas still holds hostages captive?
UG: “Our community has suffered losses in the war. A son, who was a young officer in the IDF who was killed in the early battles of October 7th while protecting the lives of young IDF recruits and nearby civilians, a father who was killed later in the war in Gaza, a reservist who left two small children orphaned and another beloved teacher in our local high school who was also killed in the war as a soldier in reserves. Many fathers, sons and daughters are serving in the IDF which leaves their families in emotional turmoil, stress and often also in single parenthood distress for months at a time. More specifically to your question, we are also in pain and stand in support of the family of Eliya Cohen, who are members of our community. He was kidnapped from the Nova dance party and is still being held hostage in Gaza. Eliyah hid with his girlfriend under a pile of dead bodies until he was discovered, shot and kidnapped. We do not have information about his well-being or whereabouts.
While the mood is heavy, we also maintain a routine. Kids go to school and life goes on. We have seen an outpour of support and solidarity in addition to unparalleled resilience within our community. Israeli society, and especially the younger generations (millennials) at whom we so often like to poke fun, born in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s have shown a level of selflessness, sacrifice, courage and dedication that may even surpass Israel’s founding generation. Yet it is still a society in trauma, not post-trauma because the events are still unfolding and the hostages are still in captivity. It will take years to truly understand the impact on the kids growing up today.”
SP: You just got back from a speaking tour in the U.S. What do you speak about and what is the main goal of your tour?
UG: “In normal times I work as a tour guide in Israel, telling Israel’s story to delegates, church groups, families, business people and everyday tourists. Since the war began, and tourism is no longer a viable industry, I’ve taken Israel’s story abroad, across the US and Canada. My presentation offers an educational perspective on Israel and Gaza, providing knowledge and tools that foster informed discourse. The discussion highlights historical, religious, cultural, and geographical contexts and their profound impact on geopolitical dynamics, as well as the rise of antisemitism. My lecture is tailored for members of faith communities, business leaders, elected officials, and students, aiming to demystify the complexities surrounding Israel and antisemitism. It offers insights that transcend headlines and stereotypes. My objective is to cultivate a space for learning, dialogue, and understanding, to empower audiences to develop their informed perspectives on events that now have far-reaching effects in their lives.”
SP: You aim to ‘demystify the complexities surrounding Israel’ – what reaction do you receive?
UG: “The reactions are overwhelmingly positive. My main takeaway is that most Americans intuitively understand what is at stake and they support Israel. However, many lack the confidence, knowledge, and tools to defend their understanding against false narratives and the demonization of Israel. That is what I do. My mission is to engage, educate, and equip audiences with the information and ability to stand up for their beliefs and to support Israel.”
SP: Have you interacted with any college students during your time in the US – and if so, how did they react to your point of view?
UG: “Only a few, those that come to my events that are often private and self-selecting. However, I have spoken to many concerned parents who wish to have a conversation with their kids who are in college but lack the necessary language to do so. These conversations sometimes become emotional given the circumstances. I offer talking points and information in a Q&A format that can help with such conversations. I encourage your readers to download for free: How To Talk About The Conflict – Travel Trailer Israel.
As this is a growing concern among many communities, Jewish and Christian alike, my next speaking tour will focus on this issue: How to speak about the conflict. I would be more than happy to speak with student groups who are willing to listen and have a real conversation.”
SP: Israel and the war in Gaza make headlines every day. Do you think the American media is covering the conflict fairly?
UG: “Generally speaking, no. And, as stated above, I think most Americans intuitively know this.
There are many problems with news coverage and we can go into many examples in detail but I would start with this: for the past 57 years there has been a very specific media paradigm when reporting about Israel: It’s a David and Goliath story in reverse. That is an amazing story! Since 1967 Israel has come to be seen as the strong military power (bad), and the Palestinians as the weak underdog (good). (This also fits well into classic antisemitic tropes without being anti-Jewish, “only” anti-Israel.) If a news item filed from Israel doesn’t fit this paradigm, it doesn’t make the cut and never gets reported.
With decades of reporting through this paradigm, it became easy to adopt a more radical (and erroneous) position, first propagated by the Soviet Union, its Arab and Western allies alike, but mostly ignored by the West: Israel has been labeled as ‘colonial,’ and the ‘occupying power.’
Zionism has been hijacked and rebranded by detractors of Israel as a Jewish supremacist ideology rather than the truth, simply the right of self-determination for Jews. Colonization and occupation were now viewed as the source of the conflict. History, religion and ideology became irrelevant to the journalistic narrative. These ideas seemed to have gained momentum as Western civilization carried more and more guilt over its own colonial past, while postmodern and neo-Marxist ideas began spilling out of university campuses to the mainstream media and politics. Vilification and delegitimization became the next steps in order to roll back Israel’s very existence. False accusations of genocide, apartheid and colonialism (there are more, but I call these ‘The Big 3’) are used to excuse the calls for Israel’s destruction or at the very least, its deconstruction. Much of this has been done subtly over the years but since October 7th, 2023, it has become commonplace.
The media is complicit in the vilification of Israel for promoting these narratives that are demonstrably false and can be easily rejected with simple fact-checking; except for the fact that doing so will not fit the paradigm and decades of ‘narrative’ will have to be scrapped.”
SP: What do you want Americans to know about the conflict that doesn’t get covered?
UG: “This war should not be viewed through the narrow prism of the Israel-Palestinian conflict or even the Israel-Iran conflict. Rather, this is the first open battle of the ‘clash of Civilizations.’ We are seeing a realignment of the global order. The real question is what world we wish to leave our children and grandchildren. Is it a world where the despots, tyrants, dictators and jihadists of the world are setting the tone? Countries that suppress speech, liberty and freedom? Subjugate women and minorities (religious, ethnic or other), that promote war, terrorism and chaos? Or, as flawed as they are, Western democracies and their allies, who truly strive towards liberal values of equality, freedoms and liberties based on our shared Judeo-Christian value system? A global order that promotes and protects life and prosperity and peace? This is the battle that is already at your shores. Americans can’t afford to sit on the sidelines or remain silent.”
SP: What do you want Americans to understand about Israel and its position?
UG: “Israel after Oct. 7th is a different country. Israel is fighting for its very existence and will not tolerate the presence of Jihadi elements hellbent on destroying Israel on its borders. Appeasement and containment have only brought us more war and bloodshed. Israelis are well aware they are shouldering the burden of the war on the West. They don’t expect any ‘boots on the ground’ but they do expect moral and diplomatic support for a fair chance at winning.”
SP: As an expert on Israel’s history and religious sites, you have spent a lot of time with pilgrims in the Holy Land as they have a profound spiritual experience. What’s that like and how does it affect you?
UG: “I love it. It’s an incredible gift to be able to travel through the land that I love and experience its incredible landscape through the eyes of pilgrims. The Holy Land is often called ‘The 5th Gospel’ and it’s true. Once you understand the geography of the Holy Land, you will read the Bible with a new layer of understanding and clarity.
I love connecting Christians to the Jewish roots of their faith. I feel blessed to be able to provide that clarity to my clients and strengthen their faith. It’s a calling that unfortunately I had not been able to fulfill for more than 14 months. The war has had a dramatic and devastating effect on our industry. I pray for peace and the return of tourism to Israel. Until then, I invite your readers to access Travel Trailer Israel‘s video collection to see what the fuss is all about. Whether as an individual or a church group, I invite you to contact me to plan your next pilgrimage to Israel or book a speaking event on my next speaking tour.”
You can follow Uri Goldflam at @urigoldflam on Instagram or @UriGoldflam on X, or visit https://www.traveltrailerisrael.com/uri/