Tonight begins the Jewish festival of Hanukkah (Dedication) which celebrates the eight-day rededication of the temple of Jerusalem in 165 B.C. after its desecration by the Selucid king Antiochus IV. The Talmud reports there was only enough oil for the lights of the temple menorah to burn for one day, but miraculously it lasted for eight days.

Hanukkah is mentioned in the New Testament. “Then came the Festival of Dedication [Hanukkah] at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade” (John 10:22-23, NIV). We don’t know how Hanukkah was celebrated in Jesus’ time, but an early practice was the lighting of candles on a Hanukkah Menorah. Each night one additional candle is lighted with a prayer of blessing until on the eighth night all the candles are lighted.  There is also daily reading of Scripture, recitation of some of the Psalms, almsgiving, and singing of a hymn. Here’s a paraphrase of the first stanza:

Rock of Ages, let our song, praise Thy saving power;
Thou, amidst the raging foes, wast our sheltering tower.
Furious they assailed us, but Thine arm availed us,
And Thy Word broke their sword, when our own strength failed us.

Today many customs have been added.  Potato pancakes (latkes) and doughnuts (sufganiyot) are popular. Children receive presents and gifts of money (Hanukkah gelt) which is sometimes distributed as chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil. Children play a game with a dreidel, a four-sided top.

We extend our best wishes to our Jewish friends and neighbors as they observe Hanukkah.

Read 1 Maccabees 4:36–4:59 (Apocrypha)  and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne