22 We will not hearken to the words of king Antiochus, neither will we sacrifice, and transgress the commandments of our law, to go another way. 23 Now as he left off speaking these words, there came a certain Jew in the sight of all to sacrifice to the idols upon the altar in the city of Modin, according to the king’s commandment. 24 And Mathathias saw and was grieved, and his reins trembled, and his wrath was kindled according to the judgment of the law, and running upon him he slew him upon the altar: 25 Moreover the man whom king Antiochus had sent, who compelled them to sacrifice, he slew at the same time, and pulled down the altar.
26 And shewed zeal for the law, as Phinees did by Zamri the son of Salomi. 27 And Mathathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: Every one that hath zeal for the law, and maintaineth the testament, let him follow me.
1 Maccabees 2: 22-26
Hanukkah is anathema to the Left. A religious revolt against an attempt to have Jews cease being Jews strikes too close to home, since Leftism is a substitute religion. It is also an indication that nothing is inevitable in History when the Lord of Battles begins to speak.
Hanukkah is the celebration of a people’s success in maintaining their freedom.Freedom to be who God created them to be. Freedom of religion, freedom of speech and freedom of peaceable assembly. All unalienable human rights.
This does strike very close to home. Some in the Church would probably call the Maccabees rigid and backwardist.
Hanukkah, like Purim, has great significance on the Libertarian side of the political spectrum as both signify freedom from government control and oppression. In decades past, these holidays did not receive as much attention as Yum Kippur and Passover. With increasing governmental activity throughout the world, their necessity as reminders of how power corrupts is increasingly needed.