LIGHT! HE rescued us from darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His wonderful LIGHT. His very Name is The Light (“I Am the Way, the Truth and The Light”…”I Am the Light of the world…”). I love meditating on LIGHT and it seems to me that I can never exhaust the paths of its delights!
Tonight at sundown the first light of Chanuka will be lit across this nation and in Jewish homes (and many of those attached to us) through out the world. Chanuka is NOT a scripturally commanded holiday, but it, like Purim (the Esther holiday) is basically celebrated by all Jews because the miracle that it commemorates so points to God’s
deliverance. I am sure that you all know the story by now…how the temple was desecrated by the Greek invasion and how Judah Macabee and his brothers led the demoralized, rag tag Jews to victory against the Greeks and reclaimed the Temple. They found that all of the ‘holy oil’ had been desecrated as well and there was no oil with which to light the menorah, the lamp in the temple that was to never go out. It took 8 days to prepare the oil…and only one vessel was found unbroken. Chanuka celebrates the mighty way in which God multiplied the Light…the oil…for eight days, until the people could provide their own. What an example of Who HE is and His ways in provision!
Jesus walked in the Temple during Chanuka…the feast of the dedication in winter. THE LIGHT walked in the temple and celebrated the miracle of Light! And we continue to celebrate that today, although as a nation and a people we don’t yet understand WHO we are celebrating!
The chanukiah (special Chanuka menorah) is lit each night at sundown (we also have huge community ones lit on many street corners) – another light added each night from right to left until all 8 are lit on the last night. A prayer is recited and most of them include that we are COMMANDED to light these lights, but since we aren’t, most believers don’t say this. This is a lovely prayer that many use:
We kindle these lights [to commemorate] the saving acts, miracles and wonders which You have performed for our forefathers, in those days at this time, through Your holy priests. Throughout the eight days of Chanukah, these lights are sacred, and we are not permitted to make use of them, but only to look at them, in order to offer thanks and praise to Your great Name for Your miracles, for Your wonders and for Your salvations.
Chanuka is considered mainly a holiday for children and gifts are given to them as well as candies…there are special games played (spinning the deride being the most popular) and songs sung. Ofcourse, being a ‘Jewish’ holiday, there are tons of special foods…and being a people who love symbolism, most of the food is o-i-l-y! ‘Sofganioat’, the most popular Israeli treat, is like a filled donut without a hole. Ashkenazi Jews (eastern European in origin)eat ‘latkes’ – a deep friend potato pancake, often topped with applesauce. Everyone has their own ‘tradition’. It is a joyous holiday and everyone is happy (although SOME of us, whose children and grandchildren aren’t here might struggle… L a bit) and taking children here and there for special doings for all 8 days.
Shortly I will be leaving for our fellowship where we will light the first candle together and sing some of the traditional songs along with our own worship.
To me, this is an extraordinary season in which to be celebrating HIS miracle of multiplied Light, as darkness seems to be multiplying all around us, HIS Light still prevails, and WILL prevail! Soon, against much opposition, we who believe will ALSO, in various ways, celebrate THE LIGHT THAT CAME INTO THE WORLD…silently, so silently.
This ISN’T a very ‘anointed’ letter, but it IS The totally anointed GOD Whom I can’t but point to as we prepare to light these small lights here shortly.
I wish you…us…all…LIGHT, and the blessing of seeing Light in His Light. Happy Chanuka! Lovingly from Jerusalem, your sis
ani b’derek
taking a chance
