That the first night of Chanukah (or Hanukkah, or Hannukah, or however you decide to spell it) fell on the same night as Christmas Eve this year meant that, around me at least, the Jewish holiday was more strongly thought of as "the Jewish Christmas" than ever before. It appears that Chanukah is more synonymous with gift-giving and "Chanukah bushes", rather than the narrative that it commemorates.
At a time when Baroness Deech stated barely a week ago that some of the top UK universities are becoming "no-go zones" for Jews, the lessons that the story of Chanukah brings to a Jewish student are more pertinent than ever.
The eight-day holiday reminds us of the importance of seeking freedom in times of despotism and oppression. The Maccabees were ordinary people who reclaimed their Temple in what appeared to be an unwinnable situation.
Whether you take the fables from the Torah literally or metaphorically, the message still stands: the small man, allied with his peers can fight and overcome what appears to be a ruling majority in their unwavering perseverance for justice and autonomy. It is the classic David and Goliath narrative, where the little guy comes out on top.
