The light of freedom

Editorial

"What is Hanukkah?" our sages ask.

We have been answering that question for centuries.

Is it the miracle that as we rededicated the Temple that the Assyrian Greeks defiled, a crucible of oil meant to last one day lasted for eight? Is it the victory of the weak over the powerful? Is it the story of the freedom of our people to practice our religion as we choose?

Yes, and much more.

As we light the first candle of our hannukiah tonight and celebrate our freedom, another people, one of Israel's neighbors - the Iraqis - are waging their own battle for freedom.

The capture of Saddam Hussein represents a major victory of the forces of light over the forces of darkness. The leader who portrayed himself for decades as an indefatigable lion meekly surrendered to his enemy and is now a broken, bitter old man.

And yet, his loyalists continue to wage a senseless, protracted war - targeting U.S. soldiers, Iraqi police stations, Iraqi politicians and anyone they view as "collaborators."

Pro-Saddam terrorists ambushed a U.S. patrol in Samarra on Dec. 15; 11 of the attackers were killed.
Saddam loyalists rioted near the mayor's office in Fallujah on Dec. 15-16.
A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden truck on Dec. 17, targeting a police station in al-Bayaa; at least 10 were killed and 20 wounded.

There is no reason to believe that the capture of Saddam will end the violence anytime soon.

The Iraqis in the aftermath of Saddam Hussein's regime are split into factions, just as the Jews during the time of Antiochus Epiphanes were divided against themselves.

Some Jews wanted to assimilate completely into Greek culture; some wanted to have the best of both the Greek and Jewish worlds; others rejected Greek influence altogether.

Some Iraqis completely reject Hussein; some miss the favors he bestowed upon those who declined to oppose him; others are willing to die for him.

What is the next step in the story of the Iraqi people's freedom? With Saddam's capture, a tremendous impediment has been removed. Yet, the U.S.-led coalition forces and the Iraqi people must continue to fight for a free and autonomous Iraqi nation. U.S. forces will surely break up terrorist cells; the Iraqi people need to take consistent steps to assume the mantle of leadership.

In the coming evenings of Hanukkah, as we light each additional candle, may the warm glow represent not only Jewish freedom, but also justice for Iraqis in the aftermath of Saddam's tyranny and freedom for Shiites, Kurds and Sunnis against Saddam's terrorist supporters.

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