The internet is full of reasons why the one holiday is better then the other and vice versa.  But there is one difference that most simply ignore, and that difference is the core of the issue.

Christmas is all about assimilation.  Taking in practices of many people so as to be acceptable to as many people as possible.  Morphing to be relevant.

Hanukkah is all about resisting assimilation.  Staying pure.

It is written in the Bible, in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 12 verse 30, “…do not ask about their gods, saying, ‘how did these nations serve their gods?  I want to do the same. You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way.”  There are other verses stating the same principle: don’t assimilate.

So, which holiday pleases Yehova (or Yahweh), God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?

– Yosef