Part of the Chanuka narrative is the distinction between Jewish religious piety and the Greek worldview reflected in Greek art, gymnastics and philosophy. How big a challenge was all of this to the Jews of that era? Can Judaism co-exist with secular philosophical thought or are they in truth irreconcilable? Can Judaism only be maintained at the price of shutting out non-Jewish thought and ideas? How did Jewish thinkers absorb or reject major Greek thinkers like Plato and Aristotle?

Dr. Elliott Malamet is the co-director of Living Jewishly, a non-denominational organization that creates inspiring conversations and ideas for meaningful Jewish living. Dr. Malamet lives in Jerusalem where he teaches literature at the Hebrew University as well as Jewish philosophy at a number of Israeli institutions. He blogs regularly on the Living Jewishly website.

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