Eric Reece
Actor Adam Sandler wrote a song about Chanukah and performed it on television. He said he did it for Jewish children who felt left out during the Christmas season. It made people more aware of a Jewish holiday observed just before Christmas.
Chanukak (Hanukkah) is an eight-day Jewish festival that commemorates the restoration and dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus observed this festival, as we read in John 10:22-23: “At that time the Festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon.”
When Alexander the Great died in 323 B.C., his empire was divided among his generals. Seleucus I was granted West Asia, which included Syria and Judea. In time, the throne was gained by Antiochus IV. One of his goals was to spread Greek culture. While previous leaders had worked with the Jews, he persecuted and worked to destroy them and their culture.
To show them who was boss, he outlawed Jewish religious rites and the temple was converted as a place to worship the Greek god Zeus. The last straw was when a pig was sacrificed on the temple altar.
The Bible refers to this as the "Abomination of Desolation” in Daniel 11:31. One family stood up and refused to bow down to the Greeks. A priest, Mattathias Maccabee and his five sons lead a revolt. Successful, they drove the Greeks out and Judea was an independent nation again.
There was a serious problem: the temple had been defiled. It had to be cleansed; a new altar built; and new holy vessels crafted. Only one day's ritual oil was found to light the menorah lampstand. It would take eight days to press and make more oil, according to the words of Moses. They used the one-day supply of oil and miraculously, the lights burned for eight days until the new oil was available. To commemorate the re-dedication of the temple — and the miracle of the lights – Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights has been celebrated ever since.
A festive time that does not call for fasting, people are encouraged to sing, read Psalms and prayers aloud. In some homes, dairy products — especially cheeses — are eaten to recall Judith, another Jewish hero who defeated a Syrian general. Foods fried in oil — such as potato latkes and jelly donuts — are enjoyed.
For children, games using a dreidel — a four-sided top, with Hebrew letters — is played. Coins were given to children to remember the coins the Maccabee’s minted during their time of independence. In recent times, this was changed to chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil. You may have seen bags of these for sale.
One of the most important acts is to light a candle each of the eight nights and remember God’s people who persevered and God’s miracle of light that gives hope in the darkest times.
Happy Hanukkah!
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church and can be reached via email, ereece@wnccumc.net.