A Faithful Spirit

Chanukah is one of the most celebrated of Jewish holidays, but how much do we really know and understand about it? A Faithful Spirit is based on a midrashic text, M'gillat Antiochus, which is traditionally read during Chanukah in Italian and Yemenite synagogues the same way that M'gillat Esther is read at Purim. This medieval midrash emphasizes an active, flexible faith that can be adapted to meet the needs of the times and circumstances, and deals with maintaining a Jewish identity while living in a non-Jewish world. Rabbi Levy helps readers deepen their understanding of the message of Chanukah and add new depth to modern observance of the holiday. This volume includes the Hebrew and English text, d'rash and p'shat commentaries, and related mini-essays and gleanings.