Says the Rambam [Chanukah 3-1]:
בבית שני, כשמלכי יון גזרו גזרות על ישראל, ובטלו דתם, ולא הניחו אותם לעסוק בתורה ובמצוות; ופשטו ידם בממונם ובבנותיהם, ונכנסו להיכל, ופרצו בו פרצות, וטמאו הטהרות; וצר להם לישראל מאד מפניהם, ולחצום לחץ גדול. עד שריחם עליהם אלהי אבותינו, והושיעם מידם והצילם, וגברו בני חשמונאי הכהנים הגדולים, והרגום, והושיעו ישראל מידם; והעמידו מלך מן הכהנים, וחזרה מלכות לישראל יתר על מאתים שנים, עד החורבן השני.
In [the era of] the Second Temple, the Greek kingdom issued decrees against the Jewish people, [attempting to] nullify their faith and refusing to allow them to observe the Torah and its commandments. They extended their hands against their property and their daughters; they entered the Sanctuary, made breaches within, and made the sacraments impure.
The Jews suffered great difficulties from them, for they oppressed them greatly until the God of our ancestors had mercy upon them, delivered them from their hand, and saved them. The sons of the Hasmoneans, the High Priests, overcame [them], slew them, and saved the Jews from their hand.
They appointed a king from the priests, and sovereignty returned to Israel for more than 200 years, until the destruction of the Second Temple.
The Greeks were פורץ פרצות - they made breaches. Some say that there was a decree that we had to remove our doors. NO PRIVACY!! That was part and parcel of the tzara.
Medrash Maaseh Chanukah:
Welcome to 2019 [at least for the next few days] and on. NO PRIVACY!! No reshus hayachid. No modesty. Everything is OUT THERE. Chosson and Kallah engaged? There pictures are Facebooked, instagramed, only simchas-ed etc. etc. New baby? Whatsapp it etc. to the WORLD. Everything is everybody's business. What is another word for a "scoop"?
Rechilus: Who is a talebearer? One who carries reports, and goes about from one person to another and says: “so-and-so said this”, “such-and- such have I heard about so-and-so”. Even if it is true, the talebearer destroys the world. [Rambam]
A woman's body? For all to see. The fancier the event - the more men wear and the less women wear. A casual event in warm weather - men wear less and women yet less. פרצו בו פרצות. It is [today] all about breaking down those walls and turning women into objects.
This Chanukah let us think of ways that we can be more private and more modest and not be sucked into the thrust of our ENTIRE society to show all.
This is discussed more here.
