An e-mail:
For Christians it may not mean much but I still get a tingle when the President issues these Chanukah messages or holds a Chanukah party at the White House. My goodness, in a world where Jews are so hated, what other country is so welcoming, so embracing of Jews? Moreover, the statement was written by someone who “gets” that Chanukah is not about peace on earth and good will toward men(a common albeit good hearted attempt to equate Christmas and Chanukah). Very appropriately to the world we live in, we are reminded that Chanukah is about killing the bad guys, not letting Jews be run out of town and defending people of fervent faith(which the Maccabees were in contrast to the city folk who had assimilated into Hellenic culture).