Last night, the last Chanukah candles were lit on the Chanukiah. Over eight evenings, they are kindled in increments, until all eight flames dance merrily, plus the servant candle that is used to light them. I am reminded of Chanukahs past and what they have meant to me. This year, more than ever, trusting in God’s presence and power to work miracles feels especially important.
I’m not going to go into the details of what Chanukah is about here. A year ago, at this time, I wrote about the festival of Chanukah and its origin, how and why it remembers a miracle of light. I featured Jesus’ references to his own miracles on this Feast of Dedication. (Chanukah means ‘Dedication’.) You can find my post here.
USED TO BE
Looking back over the years, Chanukah, considered a minor festival in the Jewish calendar, seems to have grown exponentially, in the same way as Christmas.
It used to be that all we did was:
- say the blessing,
- light the candles,
- sing the song (Moaz Tzur – sung to the tune of Rock of Ages in Hebrew.)
There might be token chocolate money, chanukahgelt. At synagogue, kids would play with a dreidel and sing dreidel songs.
One year, I wrote and produced a kind of pantomime, performed at Streatham Liberal Synagogue. It told the story of the Maccabean revolt when, amazingly, a band of Jews beat off the Syrian Greeks, (see 1 and 2 Maccabees in the Apocrypha or Catholic Bibles).
The tinies did a sweet candle dance to the theme music from soap show, East Enders. A young Matthew Neuberger, son of Rabbi Julia, (now a Baroness!), played the baddie, belting out: “My name is Antiochus Epiphanes! I’ve got a horrible name and I’m a horrible person!”
CHANUKIYOT LIGHT THE LAND
Today, in Israel where I now am, large electric chanukiot decorate synagogues and cities everywhere, while people delight in eating sufganiyot, iced doughnuts, an oily food because the miracle of Chanukah is grounded in the oil that feeds the light.
The Syrian Greeks had ransacked the Temple, upturning all the holy oil. The light of the ner tamid, the eternal light that, to this day, still burns in synagogues everywhere, had been extinguished. The priests were only able to retrieve enough oil for God’s light to burn for one day.
They decided to go ahead and light the menorah, anyway. Miraculously, the little, oil-starved light burnt for a full eight days, time enough to purify and consecrate more holy oil.
GOD’S PRESENCE
God’s holy light didn’t go out then, a manifestation of His power. The Maccabeans defeated their oppressors. They were strong because their God was strong. His light doesn’t need fuel. It continues to glow over His people, oil or no oil. It will never go out.
He has dominion over the natural forces of this world. And over everything else:
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of Adonai Eloheinu ּour God. ”
(Psalm 20:7)
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Enlightening, Bobbie. Thank you for sharing.
You are very welcome, Faith.
Thank you, Bobbie, so much to absorb, and at the same time, very interesting.
I plan to order your book and will do that today.
Still praying for the hostages to be freed. Considering the situation, it needs one of God’s miracles.
What is so very sad about the hostages, Mary, is that every day that passes brings them closer to death. We know that they are being kept in dire conditions – children who came back had lost 10 kilos (22 lbs). And we know from those who have returned the psychological games they played with people, such as telling a girl of 9 that everyone had forgotten she ever existed. It is vital that those remaining should return or we will lose them all.
So sad about the terrible treatment of hostages. We are praying they will be released. Is there anything Christian in Jewish holidays? Or vice versa? I’ve often wanted to know more about the jewish celebrations, because I think we Christians miss a lot.
Dear Heidi – there is an awful lot that is Christian about the Passover and it is no accident that Jesus was crucified at that time. On Sukkot, when Jews remember Moses struggling down the mountain with tablets of stone, the Holy Spirit descended upon the new believers, equipping them to share their faith in Jerusalem, all Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Sukkot (Tabernacles) is well-aligned with harvest festival in Christianity, thanking God for His bounty. As I mentioned in the article, Chanukah was a minor festival that seems to be trying very hard these days to vie with the American idea of Christmas. I find it hard to see its relevancy to Christians, since it celebrates a miracle that is grounded in a story of a Jewish bid for freedom from oppression.
Quick correction above. Change first mention of Sukkot to Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks. So easy to mix up those two names. The Biblical feasts truly enrich Christian understanding of the Word, both OT and NT. Agreed re Hanukkah and Christmas, but still encouraging to look for Light in the darkness! Blessings!!
Thank you, Pat. You are right about the mix up. It should have read Shavuot at Pentecost.
Bobbie, I so look forward to reading your insights. God is using you (and Butch!) mightily through your willingness to be His witness from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. Thank you! Praying!!🙏
What lovely encouragement. Thank you for your prayers.