Should the Chanukah Candles Be On A Birthday Cake?

Yonatan Adler’s The Origins of Judaism, an Archeological-Historical Reappraisal asked the question as to when “strict adherence” to Torah practices first took place. His conclusion suggests that Chanukah could be the moment to celebrate the birth date of the widespread practice of Judaism.

Professor Adlers’ archeological data suggests that the societal Torah adherence first occurred around the time of the Hasmoneans aka the Maccabees.

Did the Maccabean revolt that inspired Chanukah also transform religious practice? Or, is it possible that emerging religious practice started at a not too distant time before the revolt? What came first? The golden chocolate coins or the jelly donut?

Professor Adler looked at dietary laws, ritual purity, circumcision, Sabbath regulations, holidays and other matters to make his assessment. To do this assessment, he looked at sources outside of the Hebrew Bible as well as archeological findings.

Within his chosen criteria, he found that the “earliest surviving evidence for a widely practiced Judean way of life governed by the Torah never predates the second century BCE.”

Thus, on or about the time of the Hasmoneans, Judaism first presented in a unified religious practice supported by the archeological record.

This conclusion, however, yields some confusion when one looks at the First Book of Maccabees. First Maccabees depicts a slightly different story.

First Maccabees discusses Judean religious practices pre-dating the revolt. According to the text, monolatry was practiced, sacrifices were offered, and both the Sabbath and Festivals were observed. 1 Maccabees 1:44-45. The concept of unclean animals aka Kashrut was also well known. 1 Maccabees 1:47. To top it off, circumcision was practiced. 1 Maccabees :1:48.

The First Book of Maccabees also references the book burning of religious texts at the behest of the Selucid King. The “books of the law” were to be torn up and burnt. 1 Maccabees 1:56 Those possessing the “book of the covenant” were to be put to death. 1 Maccabees 1:57. Likewise, those adhering to the law were to be put to death. 1 Maccabees:1:57.

Thus, the First Book of Maccabees, if taken on face value, evidences some level of observance pre-revolt. It also evidences that literacy and possession of religious texts were not exclusive to the Temple in Jerusalem.  

At the same time, however, Maccabees describes the presence of Gentiles and Israelites who followed the Selucid King’s religion. 

Thus, one can speculate as to what was transpired. Was there a shift towards Torah adherence prior to the revolt?  Or, was it the Hasmoneans who instituted Torah adherence as part of their rule?  Or, did Torah adherence arise out the confluence of both?

One factor to be explored is the notion of literacy. At the time of Ezra, with the Temple rebuilt, the scripture was read to the people. It was the Levites who instructed on the text. Nehemia 8. 

First Maccabees appears to reflect on a period of advanced literacy. The scripture was now in the hands of many. Perhaps, this literacy increased Torah adherence. Thus, proliferation of the text may have arisen out of greater publication and readership. Alternatively, the Torah could have been adopted as the Hasmonean Constitution.

Regardless of whether the chocolate coins or jelly donuts came first, Chanukah may appear to be a time to celebrate the period in which Judea blossomed into Torah adherent society. 

Be well!!

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