by R. Yitzchak Blau
Hazal depict the Hanukkah story in two major locations: in a famous gemara (Shabbat 21b) and in the al ha-nissim prayer. Neither source mentions a clash with Jewish Hellenizers or Matityahu killing a Jewish idolater, historical episodes attested to in The Book of Maccabees. If this was a conscious omission by Hazal, what motivated it? For some intriguing suggestions, see Professor Gerald Blidstein’s essay: link (PDF)
In a subsequent issue, one letter writer claimed to find clear reference to Jewish Hellenizers in the al ha-nissim prayer. Prof. Blidstein’s response is quite fascinating as it sheds light on sensitivity to language and how terms are used in different contexts: link (PDF)