Who was Chashmonai?
In the “al hanisim” prayer said on Chanukah we say, “In the days of Mattityahu ben Yochanan, the high priest, Chashmonai and his sons…” But who was Chashmonai? Is it another description of Mattityahu? Is it members of his family? Is it someone else entirely? Join Rabbi David Sedley and explore the different views and literature available as we try to work out who the opening line of that prayer refers to.
November 30, 2021 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Who was Chashmonai?: Who was Chashmonai
Who was Chashmonai?: Who was Chashmonai
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Rabbi David Sedley lives in Jerusalem with his wife and six children. He was born and raised in New Zealand before making Aliya in 1992. He left Israel temporarily (for eight years) to serve as a communal Rabbi in Scotland and England and returned to Israel in 2004. He has translated Rabbeinu Yonah's commentary on Pirkei Avos and is the co-author of Sefiros: Spiritual Refinement Through Counting the Omer (both Judaica Press). Over the years Rabbi Sedley has worked as a journalist, a translator, a video director and in online reputation management. He also writes a weekly Torah blog on the Times of Israel.