Robert J. Avrech: Emmy Award winning screenwriter. Movie fanatic. Helplessly and hopelessly in love with my wife since age nine.
Tomorrow night begins the holiday of Chanukah, Here’s a fine video from our friends at The Land of Israel, that sketches the historical roots of the Festival of Lights and its modern relevance.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW138NkFoI8[/youtube]
Allow me to add an important historical note.
Now, not a smith was to be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make swords or spear.” And all Israel went down to the land of the Philistines to sharpen each man his plowshare and his colter and his axe and his mattock… And it was on the day of war, that neither sword nor spear was found in the possession of all the people who were with Saul and Jonathan, but Saul and Jonathan had them.
I Samuel: 19-22
“I don’t like guns.”
This declaration from a friend, a Jewish liberal reacting with dismay when told that yours truly owns several firearms, goes regularly to the shooting range, and strongly advocates for private ownership of weapons by honest, law-abiding citizens.
“I don’t like plastic bags.” I responded.