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‘Hanukkah, oh Hanukkah, Come Light Menorah!
Let’s have a Party, We’ll all Dance the Horah!’
What is Hanukkah? Is it the Jewish answer to Christmas? Well, it’s probably so popular here in the states because of the competition with Christmas… Hanukkah cards, tons of gifts for the kids, I’ve even seen a Hanukkah ‘bush’!
Traditionally, cards are sent at Rosh Hashanah. Gifts for the children are traditionally only gelt that is money, coins, or chocolate coins. I don’t know what a pine tree really has to do with a Christmas let alone Hanukkah.
But I think of Hanukkah not as the Jewish Christmas, but as being more of a Fourth of July, an Israeli Independence Day. Without Independence Day, there would be no United States. Without Hanukkah, there would be no Israel, no Messiah, no Christmas.
About 200 years before our time, the patriots, lead by George Washington, beat the British army and ‘established these United States of America.’ About 200 years before Jesus was born, the Israelites lead by Judah Maccabee beat the Assyrian army and freed Israel. So when Jesus celebrated Hanukkah, he probably felt the same kinds of feelings for his country and it’s heroes as we feel for ours.
Over 2000 years later, Israelis are still celebrating this independence day of Hanukkah. I knew very little about the holiday that first year I spent in Israel. Actually, my knowledge didn’t go much farther than an attempt made by a fellow fourth grader to share his holiday with the class.
I remember being amazed by his presentation… this kid had no Christmas. No tree, no Santa, just some strange candles and weird square tops? How could someone who sits right next to me in class be so different and I not even know it?
So I approached Hanukkah with a sense of pity and alienation until the Hanukkah, which I spent, on the kibbutz. The decorations in the kibbutz-dining hall showed me that Hanukkah was not some substitute for Christmas.
It is the celebration of a great victory. Two armies adorned the picture windows, which lined the hall. One army was well clad with armor and swords. The other had farmers, yet these farmers were fierce and obviously triumphant. When I learned the inspiring story of Hanukkah, all pity left, replaced by admiration for the faith and strength remembered in this Holiday.
In 165 B.C.E., Israel was once again a defeated country. The Hellenistic Empire reigned supreme over all the Middle East. The early death of Alexander the Great had led to four of his generals fighting over the kingdoms. Finally Antiochus, King of Syria, overcame the rest and ruled with a heavy hand. This, the Israelis could stomach. Israel and Judah had been conquered many times in the past and would be in the future. But when Antiochus changed his name to Antiochus ‘Epiphanes’ or ‘God manifest,’ things grew intolerable.
Antiochus demanded to be worshipped as a God. He had the temple desecrated. The Perpetual Light, the great Menorah or lamp, was extinguished. This seven-branched candleholder was a symbol of God’s spiritual presence. The holy oil, used in the great Menorah, was poured out.
King Antiochus required all his subjects to give up their ways, worship only Greek gods and adopt the Greek way of life.
Then a hero arose. An old priest named Mattathias refused to cooperate. Soldiers had come to the small village of Modi’im, insisting that Mattathias lead the people in a pagan ceremony. He and his five sons killed the soldiers and began the revolt against Antiochus.
One of his sons, Judah became the leader and was nicknamed Maccabee or the ‘hammer’ for his persistence against the enemy. The freedom fighters soon became know as the Maccabees, a fitting name for an army of farmers and craftsmen. Their cause seemed hopeless. The Maccabees were fighting an army that was well trained, well supplied, and huge. How could these villagers defeat the soldiers of King Antiochus?
The answer is on the dreidel, the little square top, a symbol of Hanukkah. On the dreidel are four Hebrew letters Nun, Gimmel, Hay, and Shin. They stand for the saying, 'Nes Gagol Hiya Sham or Great Miracle Happened There.' Of course, in Israel the dreidels say 'Nes Gadol Hiya Poe' or 'Great Miracle Happened Here.'
Well, a Great Miracle did Happen There! This little ragtag army defeated the great army of Syria or to use Stars War’s terms the Rebels beat the Empire.
Great rejoicing began but as they entered the temple in Jerusalem, their hearts fell. It was a mess, defiled and desecrated. The Perpetual Light, the Great Menorah had gone out. Pigs had been sacrificed on the altar. Idols had been erected in the holy sanctuary.
So Hanukkah began. Hanukkah means dedication and is what took place. The temple was cleansed and all traces of idolatrous worship removed. The Perpetual Light was rekindled but only enough holy oil was found to burn for one day. It would take 8 days to replenish the supply. How sad it would be to see it burn out again!
But each day as they came into the temple ‘Nes Gadol Hiya Sham.’ The Menorah kept on burning. It continued to burn the full eight days, another miracle of Hanukkah.
Hanukkah or the Feast of Dedication centers on these two miracles, the dedication of the Maccabees in defeating the great army of Antiochus Epiphanes and the rededication of the temple in the miraculous glow of the Great Menorah. The Jews and Israel had been saved from annihilation.
Well, if that’s not enough to make you want to celebrate Hanukkah as much as the most Hassidic Rabbi, I’ll give you another reason.
Jesus did!
John tells us in his tenth chapter, verse 22.
22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem:
23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon.
There Jesus was, walking through those same pillars that brought tears to Judah Maccabee’s eyes as he saw the desecration left by Antiochus. Jesus was stepping on those same stones that the priests had scrubbed and cleansed from blood of pigs sacrificed by Antiochus’ soldiers.
Did he look up at the Perpetual Light that day and think of the Hanukkah 165 years before when the oil continued to burn for 8 days?
Oh, I think Jesus did and I think he was enjoying the Feast of Hanukkah when, he was interrupted by some Jews that day.
John 10:24b
“How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Here it was, Hanukkah, a feast of miracles. Jesus answers his questioners in the spirit of Hanukkah. Humble as ever, Jesus refers to his miracles as good works or mitzvoth.
John 10:25 “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these bear witness of Me.”
He reminds them with these words, of all the amazing battles he has fought and won throughout Israel. The Maccabees defeated the enemy on the hillsides, roads, and valleys of Judah.
Jesus also defeated the enemy. The blind could now see, the deaf could hear, and the lame could walk. Demons had been cast out, the hungry had been fed, and even the dead had been raised back to life. Yes, like in the days of Judah Maccabee, a Great Miracle Happened There and the enemy had been defeated.
This Messiah, this Son of David, then speaks of another miracle. Like the eternal light shining in the Great Menorah, he speaks of another miracle that God has ordained. This miracle is the eternal light of life shining forth from the hearts of his followers. Their light cannot be snuffed out, no they cannot be snatched out of His Hand. (John 10: 29)
Thank you God, that you have lit the Holy Oil of your spirit in our hearts. Thank you Lord, that you keep us burning, burning, burning.
Paul has a little Hanukkah lesson for us as well. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul quotes Isaiah 52: 11 saying that we are God’s temple. God dwells in us and walks among us.
Be clean. Be holy. We need to clean up our temples.
II Cor. 6: 16b For we are the temple of the living God…
Our temples have been desecrated. We have worshiped at the altar of our own pride, lusts, and selfishness. Just like the temple in the days of the Maccabees, a Great Miracle is needed to save us and make that light shine.
Yeshua Ha Mashecha, Jesus the Messiah is that miracle as He calls us to be the sheep, who hear his voice. (John 10: 27 -part of Jesus' Hanukkah sermon.) Or as the scriptures say in Isaiah, to be the sheep of His Hands.
Don’t miss out on the fun and the lessons of this Feast. Buy or make a Hannukiah, a nine pronged candle holder with one candle (the Shamash or servant candle) more elevated than the rest. The Shamash candle is used to light the other candles, one more each night until all eight are shining brightly.
Make some latkes, and sufganiyot, (potato pancakes and donuts) and talk about how they are cooked in oil. Oil reminds us of that holy oil that continued to burn. Pray that God will give us the oil of his Holy Spirit and that it will keep “burning" in our lives.
Thank you God, for the bravery and strength of Mattheus, Judah, his brothers, and the Maccabees. Thank you that faith beat out worldly might. Thank you God for putting your holy oil in that lamp and keeping it burning. Thank you for preserving the Jews once again so that we can now live in the everlasting light of Messiah, Son of David, King of the Jews.
Spin the dreidel and speak of the great Miracles that Happened There to the Maccabees,
without which, we wouldn’t have the greatest miracle of all, our Messiah.
Questions for Hanukkah
1. Read Philippians 2: 5-11. These verses speak of Jesus as being a bond servant but also as being highly exalted. What lessons can we learn from these verses and how does the Shamash candle represent Jesus? Can you think of some examples in your life when you have taken the job of a servant and been highly blessed for it?
2. Luke 11: 33-36 How can we keep our lamps clear?
3. Matthew 25: 1- 13 What is this oil? How can we keep our lamps trimmed?
4. “Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning, burning, burning.
Give me oil in my lamp I pray.
Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning, burning, burning.
Keep me burning till the break of day!’
How are the words from this old spiritual related to Hanukkah? What significance do they have for you in light of what you have learned about this Holiday?
Let’s have a Party, We’ll all Dance the Horah!’
What is Hanukkah? Is it the Jewish answer to Christmas? Well, it’s probably so popular here in the states because of the competition with Christmas… Hanukkah cards, tons of gifts for the kids, I’ve even seen a Hanukkah ‘bush’!
Traditionally, cards are sent at Rosh Hashanah. Gifts for the children are traditionally only gelt that is money, coins, or chocolate coins. I don’t know what a pine tree really has to do with a Christmas let alone Hanukkah.
But I think of Hanukkah not as the Jewish Christmas, but as being more of a Fourth of July, an Israeli Independence Day. Without Independence Day, there would be no United States. Without Hanukkah, there would be no Israel, no Messiah, no Christmas.
About 200 years before our time, the patriots, lead by George Washington, beat the British army and ‘established these United States of America.’ About 200 years before Jesus was born, the Israelites lead by Judah Maccabee beat the Assyrian army and freed Israel. So when Jesus celebrated Hanukkah, he probably felt the same kinds of feelings for his country and it’s heroes as we feel for ours.
Over 2000 years later, Israelis are still celebrating this independence day of Hanukkah. I knew very little about the holiday that first year I spent in Israel. Actually, my knowledge didn’t go much farther than an attempt made by a fellow fourth grader to share his holiday with the class.
I remember being amazed by his presentation… this kid had no Christmas. No tree, no Santa, just some strange candles and weird square tops? How could someone who sits right next to me in class be so different and I not even know it?
So I approached Hanukkah with a sense of pity and alienation until the Hanukkah, which I spent, on the kibbutz. The decorations in the kibbutz-dining hall showed me that Hanukkah was not some substitute for Christmas.
It is the celebration of a great victory. Two armies adorned the picture windows, which lined the hall. One army was well clad with armor and swords. The other had farmers, yet these farmers were fierce and obviously triumphant. When I learned the inspiring story of Hanukkah, all pity left, replaced by admiration for the faith and strength remembered in this Holiday.
In 165 B.C.E., Israel was once again a defeated country. The Hellenistic Empire reigned supreme over all the Middle East. The early death of Alexander the Great had led to four of his generals fighting over the kingdoms. Finally Antiochus, King of Syria, overcame the rest and ruled with a heavy hand. This, the Israelis could stomach. Israel and Judah had been conquered many times in the past and would be in the future. But when Antiochus changed his name to Antiochus ‘Epiphanes’ or ‘God manifest,’ things grew intolerable.
Antiochus demanded to be worshipped as a God. He had the temple desecrated. The Perpetual Light, the great Menorah or lamp, was extinguished. This seven-branched candleholder was a symbol of God’s spiritual presence. The holy oil, used in the great Menorah, was poured out.
King Antiochus required all his subjects to give up their ways, worship only Greek gods and adopt the Greek way of life.
Then a hero arose. An old priest named Mattathias refused to cooperate. Soldiers had come to the small village of Modi’im, insisting that Mattathias lead the people in a pagan ceremony. He and his five sons killed the soldiers and began the revolt against Antiochus.
One of his sons, Judah became the leader and was nicknamed Maccabee or the ‘hammer’ for his persistence against the enemy. The freedom fighters soon became know as the Maccabees, a fitting name for an army of farmers and craftsmen. Their cause seemed hopeless. The Maccabees were fighting an army that was well trained, well supplied, and huge. How could these villagers defeat the soldiers of King Antiochus?
The answer is on the dreidel, the little square top, a symbol of Hanukkah. On the dreidel are four Hebrew letters Nun, Gimmel, Hay, and Shin. They stand for the saying, 'Nes Gagol Hiya Sham or Great Miracle Happened There.' Of course, in Israel the dreidels say 'Nes Gadol Hiya Poe' or 'Great Miracle Happened Here.'
Well, a Great Miracle did Happen There! This little ragtag army defeated the great army of Syria or to use Stars War’s terms the Rebels beat the Empire.
Great rejoicing began but as they entered the temple in Jerusalem, their hearts fell. It was a mess, defiled and desecrated. The Perpetual Light, the Great Menorah had gone out. Pigs had been sacrificed on the altar. Idols had been erected in the holy sanctuary.
So Hanukkah began. Hanukkah means dedication and is what took place. The temple was cleansed and all traces of idolatrous worship removed. The Perpetual Light was rekindled but only enough holy oil was found to burn for one day. It would take 8 days to replenish the supply. How sad it would be to see it burn out again!
But each day as they came into the temple ‘Nes Gadol Hiya Sham.’ The Menorah kept on burning. It continued to burn the full eight days, another miracle of Hanukkah.
Hanukkah or the Feast of Dedication centers on these two miracles, the dedication of the Maccabees in defeating the great army of Antiochus Epiphanes and the rededication of the temple in the miraculous glow of the Great Menorah. The Jews and Israel had been saved from annihilation.
Well, if that’s not enough to make you want to celebrate Hanukkah as much as the most Hassidic Rabbi, I’ll give you another reason.
Jesus did!
John tells us in his tenth chapter, verse 22.
22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem:
23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon.
There Jesus was, walking through those same pillars that brought tears to Judah Maccabee’s eyes as he saw the desecration left by Antiochus. Jesus was stepping on those same stones that the priests had scrubbed and cleansed from blood of pigs sacrificed by Antiochus’ soldiers.
Did he look up at the Perpetual Light that day and think of the Hanukkah 165 years before when the oil continued to burn for 8 days?
Oh, I think Jesus did and I think he was enjoying the Feast of Hanukkah when, he was interrupted by some Jews that day.
John 10:24b
“How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Here it was, Hanukkah, a feast of miracles. Jesus answers his questioners in the spirit of Hanukkah. Humble as ever, Jesus refers to his miracles as good works or mitzvoth.
John 10:25 “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these bear witness of Me.”
He reminds them with these words, of all the amazing battles he has fought and won throughout Israel. The Maccabees defeated the enemy on the hillsides, roads, and valleys of Judah.
Jesus also defeated the enemy. The blind could now see, the deaf could hear, and the lame could walk. Demons had been cast out, the hungry had been fed, and even the dead had been raised back to life. Yes, like in the days of Judah Maccabee, a Great Miracle Happened There and the enemy had been defeated.
This Messiah, this Son of David, then speaks of another miracle. Like the eternal light shining in the Great Menorah, he speaks of another miracle that God has ordained. This miracle is the eternal light of life shining forth from the hearts of his followers. Their light cannot be snuffed out, no they cannot be snatched out of His Hand. (John 10: 29)
Thank you God, that you have lit the Holy Oil of your spirit in our hearts. Thank you Lord, that you keep us burning, burning, burning.
Paul has a little Hanukkah lesson for us as well. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul quotes Isaiah 52: 11 saying that we are God’s temple. God dwells in us and walks among us.
Be clean. Be holy. We need to clean up our temples.
II Cor. 6: 16b For we are the temple of the living God…
Our temples have been desecrated. We have worshiped at the altar of our own pride, lusts, and selfishness. Just like the temple in the days of the Maccabees, a Great Miracle is needed to save us and make that light shine.
Yeshua Ha Mashecha, Jesus the Messiah is that miracle as He calls us to be the sheep, who hear his voice. (John 10: 27 -part of Jesus' Hanukkah sermon.) Or as the scriptures say in Isaiah, to be the sheep of His Hands.
Don’t miss out on the fun and the lessons of this Feast. Buy or make a Hannukiah, a nine pronged candle holder with one candle (the Shamash or servant candle) more elevated than the rest. The Shamash candle is used to light the other candles, one more each night until all eight are shining brightly.
Make some latkes, and sufganiyot, (potato pancakes and donuts) and talk about how they are cooked in oil. Oil reminds us of that holy oil that continued to burn. Pray that God will give us the oil of his Holy Spirit and that it will keep “burning" in our lives.
Thank you God, for the bravery and strength of Mattheus, Judah, his brothers, and the Maccabees. Thank you that faith beat out worldly might. Thank you God for putting your holy oil in that lamp and keeping it burning. Thank you for preserving the Jews once again so that we can now live in the everlasting light of Messiah, Son of David, King of the Jews.
Spin the dreidel and speak of the great Miracles that Happened There to the Maccabees,
without which, we wouldn’t have the greatest miracle of all, our Messiah.
Questions for Hanukkah
1. Read Philippians 2: 5-11. These verses speak of Jesus as being a bond servant but also as being highly exalted. What lessons can we learn from these verses and how does the Shamash candle represent Jesus? Can you think of some examples in your life when you have taken the job of a servant and been highly blessed for it?
2. Luke 11: 33-36 How can we keep our lamps clear?
3. Matthew 25: 1- 13 What is this oil? How can we keep our lamps trimmed?
4. “Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning, burning, burning.
Give me oil in my lamp I pray.
Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning, burning, burning.
Keep me burning till the break of day!’
How are the words from this old spiritual related to Hanukkah? What significance do they have for you in light of what you have learned about this Holiday?
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