F14SS Hanukkah Christmasho1
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Holiday Harmony in the Messianic Home Olive Tree Adult Shabbat School Series The Meaning and Message of Hanukkah—or Hanukkah for Gentiles? I. Some Historical Background (What is the Story of Hanukkah?) A. In the month of Chislev (Nov/Dec) in 167 B.C., the Seleucid/Greek ruler Antiochus Epiphanes IV defiled the temple by erecting a statue of the Greek god, Zeus on the altar of burnt offering on the 15th day. And then, on Chislev 25, he forced the daily sacrifices to cease when he offered a pig on the altar. Judah the Maccabee led a revolt against the Greek forces and retook Jerusalem rededicating the temple exactly three years later on Chislev 25, 164 B.C. (1 Macc 1:54; 4:59). Thus, Hanukkah celebrates Jewish survival with the Feast of Dedication (also the Festival of Lights, see below). B. According to a much later Talmudic tradition (b. Šabb. 21b), when the Maccabees regained control of the temple, there was only enough consecrated oil to light the menorah for one evening. But they lit it anyway, and the oil lasted for eight nights—enough time to obtain more consecrated oil. C. Customs: playing dreidel (spinning top, Heb. sevivon); eating oil-based foods like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts); giving Hanukkah gelt (gold coins); lighting candles (technically the Hanukkah menorah is called a hanukkiah); singing Hanukkah songs like Hanukkiah Li Yesh (I Have a Chanukkah Menorah), Ocho Kandelikas (Eight Little Candles), Kad Katan (A Small Jug), S'vivon Sov Sov Sov (Dreidel, Spin and Spin), Haneirot Halolu (These Candles which We Light), Mi Yimalel (Who Can Retell) and Ner Li, Ner Li (I Have a Candle). The most well known songs in Bronze coin of John Hyrcanus under the English-speaking countries include Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel and Seleucid Antiochus VII, the date in Greek Chanukah, Oh Chanukah. Some families incorporate giving gifts and letters, APR, is the year 181 = 131/30 B.C. decorate the home blue and white with a “Hanukkah bush.” The lily Graced the capitals of the pillars at the entrance of the Temple. The upside-down II. Should Christians Celebrate Hanukkah? . What a Question?!? anchor shows naval strenGth. A. Though not commanded (Lev 23), new holidays like Purim and Hanukkah were allowed (Esth 9:26-32). B. Jesus was at the Temple at Hanukkah (John 10:22-29). C. Gentiles are not commanded to observe Torah or the calendar, but are blessed to see the Messiah in both. D. With the instruction of Paul (Rom 14), a should becomes a can in light of one’s freedom in Messiah. E. Thought: If there had never been a Hanukkah, could there have ever been a Christmas? III. Hints for Holiday Harmony in the Messianic Home. A. Loving God means loving your spouse (shema v’ahavta . the greatest commandment). B. Take God seriously, but not yourself—distinguish between God-given and man-made. C. Discovering the harmony between the Hebrew Scriptures and the NT brings true spiritual unity. D. To avoid extreme holiday disappointment (or all out family war), lower expectations, be a generous and forgiving person, and don’t turn your desires into idols (Js 4:1-2). Freudenheim, Ellen. “8 Hanukkah Do's & Don'ts for Non-Jews: What to Give Jewish Friends for Hanukkah,” About.com. Web. 27 Nov. 2014. <http://brooklyn.about.com/od/Xmas-Hanukah-Kwanzaa-New-Year/a/8-Hanukkah-Dos- And-Do-Nots-For-Non-Jews-What-To-Give-Jewish-Friends-For-Hanukkah.htm>. “Should a Christian Celebrate Hanukkah (Christmaskah)?” Got Questions Ministries. Web. 27 Nov. 2014. <http://www.gotquestions.org/Hanukkah-Christian.html>. Zaretsky, Tuvya. “Resolving the December Dilemma,” Issues 17.7 (2008). Jews for Jesus. Web. 27 Nov. 1014. <http://www.jewsforjesus.org/files/pdf/issues/issues-17-07.pdf>. © Tim M. Sigler, Ph.D. .