Torah and Jewish Idea > Torah and Jewish Idea
The Truth of Channukah
muman613:
http://ohr.edu/ask_db/ask_main.php/173/Q4/
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Topic: Apocrypha, Definition
Will Sleever wrote:
I read through several areas of the origins of Chanukah. There was also reference to the books of Maccabees and Judith. Are these considered false history or true history? I am aware that various peoples like to trace their history to your civilization. I am aware that other religions have Maccabees I and II and Judith in their writings. In your opinion are these events portrayed in these books false or true or mixed?
Dear Will Sleever,
These books and others like them are part of what is known as the Apocrypha. The Apocrypha are not considered holy, inspired or prophetically written. Therefore, they are not necessarily historically accurate. The Book of Maccabees describes events already discussed in the Talmud and hence is generally considered more accurate than the other books of the apocrypha. Another account is the Scroll of Antiochus, which is printed in the Siddur Otzar Hatefillot. Some communities used to read the Scroll of Antiochus during Chanukah on Shabbat afternoon.
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See also:
http://www.tzemachdovid.org/gedolim/essays/ravschwab.html
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Jewish History
By Rav Shimon Schwab tz"l
This article originally appeared in Mitteilungen Dec. Mar. 1984-85 and can be found in Selected Writings pp. 232-235. We express our Hakaras HaTov to the Breuers Kehillah for their permission to post the article here.
The story of Chanukah is described in detail in the Book of Maccabees. In the Gemorah and Midrash there are only a few scant references to this epic drama in our ancient history. Why is it that this great tale of heroism is so poorly treated by our Sages? The Book of Maccabees belongs to the Apocrypha, the Sefarim Chitzonim, which are not authentic and which are outside of our sacred literature. Why do our Chazal, who were the eyewitnesses of these tumultuous events of their era, not describe in detail the frivolities of the Hellenists, the ravings of the insane Antiochus and the rebellion of the Hasmoneans, as well as the miraculous victories of the "few over the many," of the weak over the multitude of the strong and the final triumph over the powerful army of Greco-Syria? Why did our Chachomim not leave us an account of the glory and of the final decay of the Maccabees? We have to glean almost every little bit from secular sources. Only a few sprinklings here and there are preserved for us in the words of our Chazal.
The question goes much further. We have no authentic description by our Tanaim of the period of the Churban, the Jewish war against the Romans, the destruction of the Jewish state, the revolt and the downfall of Bar Kochba, except for a few Haggadic sayings in Talmud and Midrash. For our historical knowledge we have to rely on the renegade, Josephus Flavius, who was a friend of Rome and a traitor to his people.
Come to think of it, since the close of the Tanach at the beginning of the Second Beis Hamikdash, we have no Jewish history book composed by our Sophrim, Tanaim and Amoraim. The prophets and the Anshei Knesses HaGedolah have recorded all the events of their days as well as all previous periods. When prophecy ceased, the recording of Jewish history stopped at the same time. Why did our great Torah leaders not deem it necessary to register in detail all the events of their period just as the Neviim had done before them?
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muman613:
I do not know why, nor have I found an exact explanation as to why the Book was deemed inappropriate for the Jewish Tanakh...
muman613:
Here is some insight from a Daf Yomi on Sanhedrin 100b:
http://dafyomi.co.il/sanhedrin/insites/sn-dt-100.htm
3) THE STUDY OF "SEFARIM CHITZONIM"
QUESTION: Rebbi Akiva says that one who reads Sefarim Chitzonim has no share in Olam ha'Ba. The Gemara explains that this refers to "Sifrei Tzedukim" (or "Sifrei Minim" according to all of the old, uncensored manuscripts). The RIF explains that this refers to the books written by those who do not accept the Chachamim's explanations of the verses, and who explain the verses according to their own interpretations. Since their words certainly contain heresy, it is forbidden to read their books.
The Gemara says with regard to Sefer Ben Sira -- which is not included in the category of Sefarim Chitzonim -- that one is permitted to learn the positive teachings contained therein. The RIF and ROSH infer from here that it is prohibited to read even the positive teachings (those which do not espouse heretical ideas) in the books of Sifrei Minim.
The BE'ER SHEVA cites the Yerushalmi that includes the books of Homer in the category of Sefarim Chitzonim. This is also how the BARTENURA interprets the Mishnah; he writes that "Sefarim Chitzonim" refers to the books of Aristotle and the other Greek philosophers, as well as to the books of other heretics. It is clear from the Yerushalmi that the category of Sefarim Chitzonim includes any philosophical work written by a person who does not accept Malchus Shamayim, the sovereignty of Hash-m.
The Be'er Sheva asks that according to the Yerushalmi, how did the RAMBAM and numerous other great sages learn the works of Aristotle and Plato and other philosophers of the nations?
ANSWER: The Be'er Sheva answers that the Rambam maintained that not all opinions agree with the Yerushalmi.
The Mishnah in Avos (2:14) exhorts, "Know how to respond to an Apikorus." The Rambam (in Perush ha'Mishnayos there) explains that this Mishnah permits one to study the works of the non-Jewish Apikorsim in order to know how to refute their claims, as long as one does not allow their views to enter his heart. It seems that the Rambam understood that this Mishnah argues with the Yerushalmi.
Kahane-Was-Right BT:
--- Quote from: muman613 on January 11, 2012, 12:32:31 AM ---Book of Maccabees is an Apocryphal book, do you agree? It has been decided that it is not a part of the Jewish scriptures. This is not debatable. There was a decision made by the sages to exclude it.
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I would like you to explain to me what "Apocryphal book" means.
I am aware that Book of Maccabees is not part of Jewish scriptures. There are millions of books which did not get incorporated into Jewish scriptures.
--- Quote ---Are you aware the Book of Maccabees is in the Christian bible?
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Of coures I am aware of that. We (Jews) would have no idea who Judah Hamaccabee was if not for Christian monks copying manuscripts of the book of Maccabees. Did you know that?
Can you explain to me the relevance of pointing out that the book of macabees is part of the Christian religion? They also adopted all the books of the Hebrew Bible. Should we stop reading those too?
Kahane-Was-Right BT:
--- Quote from: Dan Ben Noah on January 11, 2012, 12:44:42 AM ---I heard once that when the contents of the Tanakh were determined, certain apocryphal books like Maccabees were excluded because they were written in Greek with no Hebrew original.
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Actually, the first book of Macabees was originally written in Hebrew.
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