Our sages' affection for Greece, its language, and its beauty begs an explanation.
Would we openly marvel at the beauty of the German language, architecture, or engineering, or anything about them, after the Holocaust?
Our political (Maccabees) and spiritual leaders (tana'im) after the Holocaust have not chosen names such as Fritz or Hans.
The same national leaders and guides chose Greek names after the bloody wars against the Greeks.
Why do we not use Greek names today (besides Alexander, who saved Jerusalem from destruction)?
Our sages in the Roman period taught that one should speak only Hebrew or Greek in the holy land.
Is the answer simply a "natural" assimilation and lack of Jewish pride that diminished after the great Jewish victory by the early Maccabees? Has it just worn off?
After the "no-holds-barred" decades of wars against the Greeks, our leaders chose Greek names?
Halacha teaches that our Torah should be written only in Hebrew or Greek(!); the language of the war of destruction of the Torah?
What really happened?
Is there a logical Torah based explanation, or is it just a dearth of Jewish self-confidence and pride at the time?
Perhaps not to be compared, but what is at the root of naming our children American, British, or French names?"
A Jew at home but "normal" in the real world?
And what of Rabbis who are known to the world by non-Jewish name?
Chanukah sameach
Shalom
You are invited to my Chanukah walking tour in Yerushalayim on 26, Kislev, Tuesday, December 16
shalompollack613@gmail.com
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