What is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after its defilement by the Hellenistic Empire. During Hanukkah, a nine-branched menorah is traditionally placed in the window, and one candle is lit every night for eight nights. The ninth branch is reserved for the ‘shamash’ candle, which is used to light the other candles.
The lighting of candles during Hanukkah commemorates the miracle that happened over 2000 years ago, when the Jewish people regained control of their temple and only had enough oil to light the menorah for one day. However, miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, which was enough time to prepare a new supply.
Aside from lighting the menorah, Hanukkah is also celebrated with traditional foods as well as playing dreidel, a spinning top game. Hanukkah is a time of joy and hope, and it serves as a reminder of the resilience of the Jewish people in the face of oppression and adversity.
Why Our family chooses to celebrate it
Although we are not Jewish, we love and have much respect for the people and culture. When we read the bible, we understand that our Messiah Yeshua/Jesus was Jewish. That the bible was written by Jews as well. We choose to celebrate Hanukkah for the beauty we’ve found in it.
Dylan and I didn’t grow up celebrating Hanukkah. This year will our 3rd year celebrating it. We started celebrating it when we began reading the bible and understanding it more on a deeper level. When we started questioning manmade holidays and started keeping the biblical feasts found in Leviticus 23. Celebrating the biblical spring feasts and the biblical fall feasts.
> Did you know that Hanukkah is mentioned in the Bible?
> Did you know that Daniel prophesied about the war that Hanukkah is in remembrance of?
> Did you know that Yeshua/Jesus attended in a Hanukkah celebration?
Hanukkah in scripture
(This event took place between the Old Testament and the New Testament.)
Daniel prophesied of the event in which Hanukkah memorializes. The book of Daniel is a prophetic book. It describes dreams that God gave to Daniel. Some of the things Daniel prophesied about have already happened, and some have yet to happen.
“Then I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a ram which had two horns was standing in front of the canal. Now the two horns were long, but one was longer than the other, with the longer one coming up last.” – Daniel 8:3
Horns in the bible typically stand for strength. The ram is Medo-Persian Empire. The long horn is the King of Persia, and the shorter horn is the King of Media.
“While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. He came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of the canal and rushed at him in his mighty wrath. I saw him come beside the ram, and he was enraged at him; and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns, and the ram had no strength to withstand him. So, he hurled him to the ground and trampled on him, and there was none to rescue the ram from his power.” – Daniel 8:5-7
The Persian Empire is coming in to destroy the Babylonian Empire. The goat coming in from the west is the middle east, Greece – Alexander the Great. This happened in 334BC-331BC.
“Then the male goat magnified himself exceedingly. But as soon as he was mighty, the large horn was broken; and in its place there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.” – Daniel 8:8
This is referring to the massive kingdom of Alexander the Great. He died in 323BC. After his death, four of his generals divided Alexandar’s kingdom into four regions. Each general then ruled over that region he was given.
“Out of one of them came forth a rather small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land. It grew up to the host of heaven and caused some of the host and some of the stars to fall to the earth, and it trampled them down.” – Daniel 8:9-10
Scholars believe that this “small horn” is Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He was a Greek Hellenistic king who ruled the Seleucid Empire from 175 BC until his death in 164 BC. The “Beautiful Land” mentioned in this verse is in regard to Israel. Antiochus issued decrees forbidding many traditional Jewish practices and began a campaign of persecution against devout Jews.
“It even magnified itself to be equal with the Commander of the host; and it removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was thrown down.” – Daniel 8:11
Antiochus killed the high priest Onias the 3rd in 170BC. He removed the sabbath worship and defiled the temple and sacrificial table. He then ordered the worship of Zeus. The Maccabees then rallied together, revolting against Antiochus and his armies.
> You can continue studying scripture and history to learn more! It’s deep and it’s AMAZING!
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When we read in John, we find that Yeshua/Jesus is attending a Hanukkah celebration. He is honoring and remembering those who died. Those who gave up their lives for God’s torah and God’s ways. They gave up their lives before Yeshua/Jesus was even sent to earth for them.
“At that time the Feast of the Dedication (Hanukkah) took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” – John 10:22-24
The beauty in that Yeshua/Jesus is the “light of the world” and here he is celebrating Hanukkah. John 10 is POWERFUL. Yeshua/Jesus shares who he is and why he has come.
There was a remanent of people then and there is a remanent still today! May we continue to celebrate and honor God, his promises and his love for us!
Extra Hanukkah Teachings
Rabbi Greg Hershberg of Beth Yeshua International
You can read more about the history and story of Hanukkah in the book of Maccabees. It can be found in historical texts, the Apocrypha and Catholic Bible.
* I will warn that the stories in this book aren’t for the faint of heart. They are heartbreaking and powerful. Without the boldness of the Maccabees there wouldn’t have been a Jewish remnant.
You can do deep dive studies simply by researching history and archeological finds.
Our family’s Hanukkah Traditions
Our family opts out of the typical and traditional Hanukah festivities. We do gather together and pray as a family each evening. We take a moment of silence and then light the nine-stick menorah each evening of the eight-day Hanukkah celebration.
We will usually have praise and worship evenings during the week. Giving God praise for his promises and faithfulness. We also enjoy making festive Hanukkah themed sugar cookies and decorating them together.
This year we will be trying different traditional Hanukkah recipes!
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We are called to “examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good”. May you continue to research and study. May your faith continue to grow and thrive. May you find beautiful blessings if Hanukkah is something you feel lead to celebrate.
Yeshua spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light which gives life.”
– John 8:12
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