TPOL readers may not all be familiar with the story of Hanukkah, the Jewish holy day and holiday that so often is close to Christmas on the calendar.

There is much to learn from Hanukkah, whether you believe in God, the miracle of the oil for lighting the menorah in the Temple 160 years before Christ, or whether you like the modern State of Israel or not. TPOL is no great fan of that modern Israel, nor of Zionism, except in great contrast to the even more to be despised nature of Islam, Islamic governments, and the Arab nations. Israeli actions in recent years are in direct contradiction of what Moses, the prophets, and even the rabbis of old taught. And what the Christ Jesus taught. And contrary to the fundamental principles of liberty in God. And even of liberty of those who do not believe in Him, or in anything beyond what they can see.

Neither are we great admirers of Israeli media, such as Haaretz. But we do glance at them from time to time, and this time Haaretz has published what could be a real gem: It’s about time we teach our children the truth about Hannukkah. It is definitely worth the time to read and ponder it.

The first thing we note is that, as with all ancient celebrations and holidays, myths grow up around the feast or ritual of Hanukkah. In doing so, much of the value of the things learned (and that we can learn) from ancient events is lost. As the article points out, it isn’t just about “bad Greeks” and “good Jews.” It isn’t just about a miracle attributed to the Creator.

It is a lesson we all need to learn: Jew and “Christian” (and atheist and Muslim, etc.) about how humans and human governments can turn troubled times and conflicts and fears into incredible disasters of catastrophic proportions. And how our efforts to correct horrific conditions, to right massive past evils, can turn into still bigger messes.

For centuries, following the Babylonian Captivity, the Judean people (“Jews”) thrived and practiced the Law of Moses in their restored homeland. The benefits of Persian rule were largely continued under the rule of several of Alexander’s Successors in Syria and Egypt: Macedonian by origin, Greek by culture, and generally tolerable if not benign. But the remnants of the Hebrews, of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s descendants, made the same stupid mistakes as their ancestors. Some lovers of liberty will poopooh their failure to fully follow the Law of Moses, though TPOL does not. But we will agree on the negative impacts of getting involved in external power politics. And of internal squabbles and power-lust.

Above all, trusting princes, human governments and government leaders. When will we learn?

The amazing thing about Hanukkah is that despite the past mistakes and the mess the ancient Israelis got themselves into, there were a few (indeed a remnant of a remnant: the proverbial three percent, perhaps) who were able to figure out and take successful action to recover and preserve their nation, their people, their religion, and their culture.

And thereby set the stage for the rest of human history to our day. Even though those same Maccabean rebels turned around and did exactly the same things that had led to the mess they got out of. And indeed, started making the same mistakes that their oppressors, the Selucids, had made in abusing the Jews. (For interested people, look up Edom, Idumeanians, and the family of Herod.)

Or if you want more modern examples, consider the mistakes that the modern State of Israel has made in Judea, Samaria, Gaza, and Lebanon. Or the Haitian revolutionaries after independence. Or even the replacement of the Articles of Confederation by the modern US Constitution. We just don’t learn.