Hanukkah 2021

Hanukkah begins this year begins at nightfall on November 28th and ends at nightfall on December 6th. Hanukkah means “dedication”. It is referred to as the Feast of Dedication or the Festival of Lights. It is a minor holiday, but a significant one. The occasion for this holiday occurred between the time of the Tanakh and the Brit Hadashah. The story is recorded in the Jewish apocryphal book of Maccabees. It occurred around 168 BCE in the reign of King Antiochus IV. Antiochus was intent on eradicating the Jewish religion. He forbade them from keeping the Sabbath, they could not keep their biblical kosher diet, they could not study Torah, or practice circumcision. He was also demanding that pigs be offered for Zeus on the altar in the Temple. He considered himself to be the incarnation of Zeus, hence the appended title to his name, Antiochus Epiphanies.

In 168 BCE Antiochus marched on Jerusalem. Jason the High Priest, who had started opposing him, was slain. A statue of Zeus was erected in the temple, pigs were sacrificed on the altar, the golden candlesticks and golden altar were taken, and copies of the Torah were destroyed. Many were killed in the violence and those who were left were forced to bow before the statue of Zeus and pay more taxes. The desecration of the Temple was known as the abomination of desolation (Daniel 11:31, Dan 12:11). Resistance began to surface when Mattathias, a priest, interfered with the offering of swine and subsequently fled Jerusalem. Pious Jews joined him, and a war began. The Temple was successfully taken back and restored.

Later, stories began to circulate about a miracle concerning the oil of the menorah when the sacred lights in the Temple were lit. When the priests began to prepare to restore offerings only one vial of sacred oil was left that was not spoiled or broken. It was used and continued to burn for eight days until new oil could be made. This story came to be associated with the Festival of Lights. Another major theological theme connected to Hanukkah is freedom from oppression, which ultimately comes by God’s hand so that people can worship and express their faith.

Yeshua celebrated Hanukkah in John 10:22 when he was questioned about his messiahship. Yeshua also preached about being the light of the world in Jn 9:5-7, Jn 12:35-36 and was compared to light again by John in Jn 1:4-9. It is thought that Yeshua’s birth occurred on the Feast of Tabernacles and if that is true, his actual conception, where the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, may well have occurred during Hannukah. In the darkest days of the year, the light of Messiah came.

Hannukah is traditionally celebrated with the menorah occupying a central role and focus. Each night the shamash candle (the middle candle, also called the servant candle) is lit, taken out of its base, then used to light the other candles. On the first night, only one candle is lit, and a short teaching is done on a scripture that pertains to light. Prayer normally follows the teaching. The second night two candles are lit. On the third night, three candles are lit, and so on. Each night a teaching on scripture that pertains to light is done with the family. On the last day of the holiday, all of the candles are burning.

Why is this holiday important? It set up the limited autonomy and accountability needed so that the events of the Brit Hadeshah could happen. It brought the function of the temple back into focus as the world was preparing for the messiah to come.

Some other activities associated with Hannukah are the spinning of the dreidel, the giving of gifts (in America), eating fried food like potato latkahs (with other fried foods), and jelly donuts (sufganiyot). The most important activity of the season, however, is the discussion of Yeshua our Messiah, the light of the world.

Rav Calev

Apostolic Messianic International

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