The happy festival of Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights as it is also known, occurs at the time of the year when the days are their shortest and the nights their longest. It usually falls in close proximity to Christmas. It is almost as if Hanukkah and Christmas join together with their lights and festivities to repel and overcome the encroaching winter darkness.
Hanukkah is a celebration marking the victory of Judah Maccabee over the Seleucid army and the rededication of the Temple in the year 165 B.C. The story of Hanukkah is not too familiar to Christians because it happened during the inter-testamental period. Christians, however, should find this celebration and the story behind it most interesting. There are deep lessons to be learned from the account of the holiday itself, and we should remember that Jesus (Yeshua) kept this celebration as recorded in John 10:22. The gospel account calls this holiday by yet another of its names, the Feast of Dedication.
The origin of this holiday is recorded in the books of First and Second Maccabees. Even though these books are not found in most Protestant Bibles, they are available in some translations and can be purchased in most Christian bookstores under the title “The Apocrypha.”
THE STORY OF HANUKKAH
Bust of Antiochus IV (Epiphanes) in the Altes Museum, Berlin
Here is the story: After the conquest of Alexander the Great in the fourth century B.C., Judea fell under the rule of Alexander’s successors who were intent upon “Hellenizing” the Israelites and turning them away from the worship of the true God. The most notable and oppressive of these Seleucid rulers was Antiochus IV (Epiphanes).
His nickname, “Epiphanes,” had the meaning of “illustrious” and he spelled trouble for Israel. Antiochus defiled the Temple by offering swine’s flesh upon the altar, to show his contempt for the God of Israel. He commanded that all Jews offer sacrifices to the pagan gods. He also forbade circumcision and other practices of Judaism.
In the village of Modiin, not far from present day Ben Gurion Airport, the representative of the king appeared and demanded that the Jews there make sacrifice. An aged priest by the name of Mattathias refused and killed the king’s messenger. He then fled to the mountains with his five sons and began a guerrilla war against the Seleucid Empire. After the death of Mattathias, his son, Judah, took command of the small band and with the help of God scored several remarkable victories against the mighty armies sent to quell the rebellion.
At last, the Temple was retaken and rededicated. The Menorah was lit again after years of being extinguished. The Jewish faith and the nation of Israel were preserved. According to legend, when the Maccabees (also known as Hasmoneans) re-entered the Temple, they found only enough undefiled oil to fuel the great candlestick for one day. Miraculously, however, it lasted for eight days, until fresh and purified oil could be procured. In memory of this miracle, the festival still lasts for eight days.
SOME HANUKKAH CUSTOMS
Hanukkah has many happy customs associated with it. Throughout Israel and among the Jewish people the world over, Hanukkiyot (special holiday menorahs) are lit in homes for the eight nights of the festival. In Israel, youthful runners still carry the flaming torch from the Maccabean family home in Modiin to Jerusalem. At Jerusalem, the giant Hanukkiah at the Western Wall is set ablaze. During each night of the celebration, an additional candle is lit, until the whole menorah is aflame.
In Israel and around the world, special Hanukkah songs are sung, such as “Maoz Tsur” (Rock of Ages). Festive meals are served, usually including delightful holiday foods such as potato latkes (pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts). Both of these special foods are cooked in oil as a symbol of this holiday. It is customary for the children to receive Hanukkah gelt (money) and other gifts. Children also spin their dreidels. These are specially designed tops with four sides and with a Hebrew letter on each side, standing for the words, “great…miracle…happened…there.”
PROPHETIC ANALOGY
We cannot be certain about the miracle of the oil and the candlestick, but we can be sure about the miracle of this small band of overcomers who withstood all odds to win against the enemy. There are some important lessons for us in this celebration.
The Prophet Daniel in his eighth chapter prophesied the rise of Antiochus IV and called him ” the little horn.” He spoke in detail about the difficult times that would come during the Maccabean period and of the desecration of the Temple. In connection with this, the prophet also spoke some things that are of great significance to us in our present day. Daniel uses Antiochus Epiphanes as a type of the coming Beast (Antichrist), a madman ruler who will cause great havoc to believers in the last days. The rise of this unusual person and the awful tribulation that follows in his wake are covered in Daniel,
chapter seven.
In Daniel 7:8, the Beast is also called “the little horn” (compare 7:8 and 8:9). In chapter 8, it is clearly stated that the “little horn” (Antiochus), will arise from the remnants of the Greek Empire (8:21-24), while the “little horn” of chapter 7 seems to arise from the remnants of the Roman Empire. This is cause for concern to us since we still live in the remnant of the Roman Empire, or the time of the “ten toes” of Daniel.
We gather from all this that the situation in the end times will closely parallel that of the Maccabees. There will be a similar short period of great oppression, the true worship of God will be prohibited, the people of God will be persecuted mightily with many falling from the faith (1 Tim. 4:1). In 2 Timothy 3:1 Paul says, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.” In this passage he advises believers to have nothing to do with those who fall away and turn from the Lord during this time. Daniel tells us that some will stand against this Beast or Antichrist and serve their God (Dan. 7:18). The prophet says of these overcomers, ” …the people who know their God will firmly resist him”
(Dan. 11:32).
We need to remember the events of Hanukkah and the story of the brave little band who laid down their lives to preserve the Temple and the Jewish faith. After all, had they not done so, Jesus could not have entered the Temple and taught there some generations later. Their story can be an inspiration to us to keep our lamps burning (Luke 12:35). It also can be a challenge for us to keep the temple of our own hearts cleansed as the forces of darkness close in for their final attack upon Israel and the church.
– Jim Gerrish
RECIPE FOR SUFGANIOT
Mix together 1 c. lukewarm water
1/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 pkg. dry yeast
Stir in 1 egg
1/4 c. soft shortening
Work in 3 c. flour
Stir yeast mix until dissolved. Add egg and shortening.
Mix in the flour, first with spoon, then by hand. Turn onto
floured board and knead until smooth and elastic. Place in an
oiled bowl and let rise in a warm place until double (1 1/2 – 2
hours). Punch down, turn over and let rise again until almost
double (30-45 minutes
Roll out to 1/2″ thickness on floured board and cut with
large cookie cutter. Heat 1 – 2″ of oil to 375 degrees. Drop in
each roll and hold under the oil so it will puff up. When it
reaches a golden brown, turn over and continue holding under the
oil until the other side is a golden color. It is important to
maintain 375 degrees. If the temperature is too hot, the outside
will brown and the inside will be doughy.
Let sufganiot drain on absorbent paper. After cooling, use
a cake decorator and force jelly inside each roll. Sprinkle with
confectioners sugar. Makes 12-15 medium sized sufganiot.
– Betsy Gerrish
The above updated articles are reprinted courtesy of Bridges For Peace, Jerusalem.
Picture credits Wikimedia Commons Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license.