The eight day festival of Hanukkah begins each year on the 25th day of the lunar month of Kislev. Kislev usually corresponds to late November or December on the Gregorian calendar.

Hanukkah means “Dedication”. The feast of Hanukkah is the Feast Of Dedication. It’s a thoroughly Jewish festival that commemorates an important Jewish victory over tyranny. The events behind the festival of Hanukkah are found in the apocryphal book of I Maccabees. The story of Hanukkah goes back to the days when Alexander The Great had conquered most of the known world. Before dying, he divided the conquered acres between his four generals. The Ptolemies took the area around Egypt and the Seleucids took the area which today is Syria. Eventually the Seleucids, under Antiochus IV, gained power and control in the year 175 BCE, Antiochus inherited the Seleucid throne and declared himself Epiphanies. He asserted that he was divine according to this declaration. Antiochus proceeded to demand of the Jewish people to give up their customs and beliefs and worship him instead. These demands struck at the very heart and core of Jewish belief. The Sabbath, dietary laws, circumcision, and any reference to the One True God were part of Antiochus’ decrees. Many Jews died rather than disobey the God they loved and served. Antiochus even desecrated the alter of the Temple by sacrificing a pig upon it! This was a terrible atrocity in the eyes of the Jewish people. Therein, the story is told in the book of I Maccabee of how Judah Maccabee (nicknamed the Hammer) and his heroic band of freedom fighters overthrew the tyrannical Seleucid forces that had subdued Judea and defiled the Jerusalem temple. After recapturing Jerusalem, Judah Maccabee and his followers purified and rededicated the temple. The alter that had been defiled with pagan sacrifices was dismantled and a new one was built. The Menorah, the Alter Of Incense, the Table Of Bread Of the Presence, and the Curtain Before the Holy of Holies, were all replaced. When their work was complete, they established the 25th day of Kislev as the date for the rededication of the temple because that date was the anniversary of the day of which the temple had been defiled three years before.

During the destruction that had taken place, the consecrated oil used in the temple Menorah had been destroyed except only enough for one days use. After filling the Menorah bowls with the limited supply, the Menorah miraculously stayed lit for 8 days! To celebrate the restoration of God’s Holy Temple, all Jerusalem rejoiced for eight days! Judah Maccabee declared that future generations should rejoice annually during those eight days to remember the miracles of the temple’s dedication!

Again, Hanukkah means “dedication” and has also been called the Festival Of Lights.
John 10:22-24 shows the account of Yeshua Jesus attending the Festival Of Dedication, so apparently this festival was important to Him.

Hanukkah is not a moed time or commanded festival found in Leviticus 23, but the Jewish community celebrates the great significance of this historical event. Many Christians or followers of Messiah, are beginning to study and examine this festival because of what it can teach them. It’s also true that many are making the decision to inculcate this festival observance into their lives.

Hanukkah is a story about freedom over tyranny. It is about standing up for what one believes in even to the point of death. Most of all, it is a story about serving and obeying the true God in truth and spirit.

The Hebrew word Torah really denotes the full instruction and teachings of the Elohim God of Israel called Yahweh. He is the GREAT I AM mentioned in Exodus 3:14-15. The Jewish people have been called the people of the book and Romans 3:1-2 says, “They’ve been entrusted with the very words of God”. The Jews, led by Judah Maccabee, rose up at a critical time to defend what God had entrusted them with.

II Corinthians 6:14-18 says, “That those of us who have confessed, repented, and been baptized from our sins, have become the temple of the living God”. This places upon us the responsibility to walk in the light and to have no fellowship with darkness. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path”. I John 2:5-6 says, “if anyone obeys His word, God’s love is truly made complete in Him”. This is how we know we are in Him whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Yeshua Jesus did.

We must become people of the book, spiritual Jews in our minds, hearts and actions. Messiah was the LIGHT OF THE WORLD and we must reflect the light of His word in us. We must be those dedicated spiritual Judah Maccabbees who are devoted and in love with our Father and His son, our Messiah.

This ministry issues a challenge to each reader to open, read, study, and live by the contents of that book. It’s called the Holy Bible, The Torah! The second challenge is to study and contrast the twin stories of Hanukkah and Christmas. Study the origins and meaning of both celebrations. Some real surprises will be forthcoming to those with an open mind! This writer submits- real light will spring forth!

Shalom blessings to all!!