The Story of Chanukah - Light in the Darkness

Chapter from the book Remember, Observe, Rejoice 

@ Petra van der Zande

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CHANUKAH - THE FEAST OF DEDICATION

Chanukah falls on the 25th of Kislev (December).  Because this eight day Festival often coincides with Christmas, it is jokingly called “Chanuchristmas”.

When in 175 BC, Antiochus Epiphanes became King of Syria, all citizens had to embrace the Greek religion and culture. In Judea, Sabbath observance was outlawed, kosher* laws and circumcision forbidden and those found practicing Judaism were killed.  By sacrificing pigs on the altar and erecting a statue of Zeus, the Jerusalem Temple was desecrated.

Some Jews complied with Antiochus’ decrees. Others became secret believers or chose to become martyrs.  In 167 BC, Mattathias, the village elder and priest of Modi’in, refused to kill the Greek’s sacrificial pig and eat its flesh. When someone offered to perform the rites instead, Mattathias became so enraged that he killed the man. In the ensuing riot, the Greek soldiers were killed by Mattathias, his five sons and some villagers. Together with a group of people who were faithful to the Lord, Mattathias hid in the hills of the Judean Desert. From this area they conducted guerrilla attacks against the Greeks. After the death of Mattathias, Judah became the military leader. His nickname “Maccabee” is probably derived from the acronym: “Mi kamocha ba’elim Adonai” – “Who is like you among the gods, oh LORD”.

Even though Jerusalem’s Temple was liberated by the Maccabees in 164 BC, it was only in 142 BC that Judean independence was achieved.As sole survivor of the family, Judah’s brother Simon became the High Priest and ruler. This was the beginning of the Hasmonean dynasty, which continued until the Roman occupation of Judea in 63 BC. Chanukah (dedication) refers to the rededication and cleansing of the Second Temple in 164 BC. There was only a one-day supply of pure (kosher*) olive oil to light the Temple’s Menorah (seven-branched candelabra). The Menorah was lit, and miraculously burned for eight days.

In Jesus’ time, Chanukah was called the “Feast of Dedication”. “Then came the “Feast of Dedication” at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.” John 10:22-23 (NIV)

The Temple in Jerusalem was the Jewish religious and national symbol. After its destruction, the religious focus moved to the synagogue. Rabbis switched to the “oil legend” (the miracle that kept the Temple’s Menorah burning for eight days). As a visual and hopeful reminder that miracles still happened, people began to light oil lamps in their houses. Not wanting to irk the Roman occupiers, the Jewish military aspect of the Festival diminished.

Only in the 19th century, with the emergence of the Zionist movement and Jewish nationalism, Chanukah’s military aspect re-surfaced. The Jewish people took courage in remembering the strength and courage of the Maccabees.

The festival is observed by kindling lights of a unique candelabrum, the nine-branched Menorah or Chanukiah. It has eight branches with an additional raised branch. The extra light is called a shamash (attendant or sexton) and used to kindle the other candles. Religious neighborhoods have outdoor chanukiot placed along the streets.

On the first night of the Festival public candle lightning ceremonies are held all over the world. On each night, an additional light is kindled, until all candles burn on the eighth and final night.

After the lighting of the candles it is tradition to sing the hymn Ma'or Tzur.  The song contains six stanzas. The first and last deal with general themes of divine salvation; the middle four deal with events of persecution in Jewish history, and praise God for survival despite these tragedies: The exodus from Egypt, the Babylonian captivity, the miracle of the holiday of Purim, and the Hasmonean victory over the Greeks.

A popular (non-literal translation) is called "Rock of Ages". Based on the German version by Leopold Stein (1810–1882), it was written by Talmudic linguist Marcus Jastrow and Gustav Gottheil.

Chanukah is the time to eat sufganiot (jam-filled donuts) and latkes (potato
pancakes). The holiday is celebrated by young and old, but a favourite of families with young children.

 

The Sevivon - Dreidel (Spinning Top)

A specific Chanukah toy is the sevivon - spinning top.It is believed that the game originated in India. During the Middle-Ages it was played on Christmas Eve by German Christians. The German Jews replaced the German letters with similar sounding Hebrew ones: Nun – Gimel – Heh - and Shin, which is acronym for: “Nes Gadol Haya Sham” – a great miracle happened there. In Israel, the “sham” (there), is replaced with “poh” (here).

CHANUKAH GELT (Money)

The tradition of Chanukah gelt (money giving to children during Chanukah) originates from a 17th century practice of Polish Jewry to give money to their small children for distribution to their teachers. Later, children were allowed to keep the money for themselves. In the 18th century, it became custom for poor yeshiva* students to visit homes of Jewish benefactors dispensing Chanukah money. It is also possible that the custom evolved from Jews in Eastern Europe giving coins to religious teachers as a token of gratitude. (Similar to the custom of tipping service people on Christmas.) In 1958, the Bank of Israel issued commemorative coins for use as Chanukah gelt. That year, the coin bore the image of the menorah that appeared on Maccabean coins 2,000 years earlier. Children often use chocolate gelt to play dreidel with. Parents, grandparents or other relatives give older children actual money. In Chassidic communities, the rabbis continue the practice of distributing small coins to those visiting them during Chanukah. Chassidic Jews consider this to be an auspicious blessing from the Rebbe, and a segulah for success.

 

MAOZ TZUR (1st. stanza)

My Refuge, my Rock of  salvation!

'Tis pleasant to sing to your praises.

Let our house of prayer be restored.

And there we will offer You our thanks.

When You will have utterly

silenced the loud-mouthed foe.

Then we will celebrate with song and psalm the altar's dedication.

 

ROCK OF AGES

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.

 

Kindling new the holy lamps,

priests, approved in

suffering,

Purified the nation's shrine,

brought to God their offering.

And His courts surrounding,

hear, in joy abounding,

Happy throngs, singing songs

with a mighty sounding.

 

Children of the martyr race,

whether free or fettered,

Wake the echoes of the songs

where ye may be scattered.

Yours the message cheering,

that the time is nearing

Which will see, all men free,

tyrants disappearing.

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE JEWISH HOLIDAYS AND FEASTS AND HOW THEY ARE CELEBRATED IN ISRAEL? 

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Six Days of Miracles - Irene Levi’s experiences during the 1967 Six Day War

Mt. Carmel school, school bus and view of Haifa Bay

Chapter 27 from the book From McComb to Jerusalem - The Life Story of Irene (Shaloma) Levi By Petra van der Zande  

Copyright © 2017 by Petra van der Zande

“Remember how the enemy has mocked you, O Lord….  Rise up, O God, and defend your cause….” Psalm 74:18  

With war looming on the horizon, civilians began to stock up on food, which led to food and cash shortages. Bomb shelters were prepared and ditches dug to be used as emergency shelters. Along with most of the reservists in Israel, some teachers from Haifa’s Bible College and Carmel School were called up, even in the middle of the night. 

June 5, 1967 – Refusing to listen to Israel’s entreaties not to engage in war, the Jordanian king’s army attacked Jerusalem from the east. Soon, the wailing of air-raid sirens prompted civilians to run to bomb shelters.

“Would you like your child to come home, or stay at Bethel?” [Boarding school] we had to ask the parents. The only child who went home was one who had been hurt while out riding his bicycle.

For me, the war became a time of ‘triple duty’. In addition to my own tasks, I had to take on extra duties of teachers who had gone off to protect their country. Like Queen Esther had done for her people, I, too, felt the need to fast.  Israel’s future hung in the balance –again! Whenever I could, I went to the home of Dr. Churcher who lived up the hill at the Church’s Mission to the Jews (CMJ). It was a respected ministry, helping Jews who were restored to the Land.  Dr. Churcher was our school’s beloved medical doctor and I often went there to pray with other believers.

The US Consulate advised its citizens to leave Israel unless they had vital business to attend to. Even though the situation grew tenser each day, I didn’t feel I should leave the school. Eventually, believers began to meet on the school veranda for prayer, which meant cleaning up at the end of the school day. 

The first day of the war had been the beginning of many miracles. Israeli pilots had destroyed the Egyptian Air Force on the ground; the Jordanian Air Force followed suit; it took only one hour, and two-thirds of the Iraqi Air Force were in shambles. 

Schools were kept open, so every hour, our teachers opened the classroom doors for everyone to hear the latest news. “Haifa’s oil refineries are bombed,” the newsreader said. Everyone rushed to the window overlooking Haifa Bay, but from what we saw, this was not the case.

June 6 – During the afternoon English lesson, the flannel-graph story of that day happened to be of David and Goliath. I had reached the point where David defeats Goliath, when the radio news came on. All the doors were open, so everyone heard,

“Israel has turned back the enemy at the Sinai Desert and has almost reached the Suez Canal.” The children’s mouths fell open. “The West Bank is now in Israeli hands,” the announcer continued, “including Nablus, Ramallah, Jericho and Bethlehem.” 

It was a time to praise and thank the Lord for so many miracles in Israel’s past and present.

June 7 – At the Carmel School, classes continued as usual, with an hourly break to listen to the latest radio announcements. I was surprised to see Mr. Ben Meir, one of the Bible school teachers, enter the building. His face beamed when he announced, “All of Jerusalem is now united under Israeli rule!”  

He told us that on that very morning, Motta Gur and his paratroopers had been able to break through the Old City’s Lion’s Gate and liberate the Western Wall and the Temple Mount. “The Temple Mount is OURS!” Israelis would never forget Motta Gur’s words coming over the radio. Shlomo Goren, the Army’s Chief Rabbi, had blown the Shofar. With tears in their eyes, the weary, dust covered soldiers, for the first time in their lives, had reverently touched the ancient stones of The Wall. Many had stood with their heads bowed, reciting psalms. “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand lose its cunning.”

The rest of the country still found it hard to believe that after nineteen long years, all of Jerusalem was back in Israeli hands! 

Israeli flag at the school - Irene 2nd from right

Two weeks before the war, during Israel’s nineteenth Independence Day, Naomi Shemer’s song had touched many hearts. Now, it could be heard everywhere, “Yerushaliyim shel zahav, veshel nechoshet veshel or…”, “Jerusalem of Gold’ was heard from cars, shops, and people around us singing it. When the songwriter heard that Jerusalem had been united, she immediately added another verse. The song, set in a beautiful melody, became a kind of second national anthem.

Naomi Shemer sings (click on the link) 

Naomi Shemer

This excerpt was part of the original song:

“The wells are dry, and the market place empty. No one visits the Temple Mount in the Old City. Through the caves in the rocks, the winds howl and no one goes down to the Dead Sea by way of Jericho.”

This was added now:

“We’ve returned now to the wells, the market and the square; and the ram’s horn from the Temple Mount in the Old City. And through the caves in the rocks, a thousand suns do shine. We can go once more to the Dead Sea by way of Jericho. Jerusalem of gold….” 

I was thrilled and awed, when I realized that prophecies had been fulfilled right before our eyes. Israelis walked with a new spring in their steps and contagious joy spread over the country. 

But the war wasn’t over yet, and because of their wounded pride, the enemy fool-heartedly continued to fight. Israeli soldiers were still risking their lives up on the Golan.

I continued to fast, though I had begun drinking water after three days. 

While reading my Bible, I was amazed how many times I came across the words “Adonai Tzva’ot” - The Lord of Hosts - the Armies. The prolonged fasting (with all the extra work) had weakened me. When I began to proclaim God’s promises, “The Heavenly host fights alongside Israel,” I felt revived. “Lord, I can feel it – You’re strengthening the Israeli soldiers on the Golan!”

June 8 –The Syrian positions on the Golan, which for so many years made life a living hell for the people in the valley below, because of their constant rocket barrages, had now been taken over by Israeli soldiers.

June 9 – After the ceasefire with Jordan, from all over the country people rushed to Jerusalem.

June 12 - That Saturday night, because their hall was being renovated, believers from the Bethesda fellowship were meeting on the veranda of Carmel School. During the communion service we sang a fitting hymn, about Jesus the Savior, who died on the cross. Then came the part, “’It is finished’, was His cry…” 

It is finished! A shock went through me. The war is over! I knew it in my heart, as if the Lord of the armies had announced it. Feeling weak from fasting, I leaned against the wall. And I’ll be able to break my fast after the meeting, I thought.

Later, I learned that the last cease fire had come into effect exactly at that hour. When Jesus cried out “It is finished.” while hanging on the cross, He accomplished my salvation, as the Spirit had shown me years ago, and I had believed. That same Jesus was also the “Captain of the Hosts”.  Yeshua is alive today!

“We’re able to travel to the Golan Heights again!” we realized. “Oh! And all the other areas Israel set free!”

Messianic believers visiting the Garden Tomb in united Jerusalem

It had taken six days of heavy fighting, and gradually, the magnitude of the Israeli victory dawned upon Israel and the rest of the world.

 The “Six Day War”, as it has come to be known, surely was a miracle from beginning to end. 

After this war, I began to share my spiritual insight and experiences with every hitchhiking soldier I took along. “The sooner we ‘see’ Him, the Savior Soldier who died in our place,” I felt led to tell the soldiers, “the fewer soldiers here need to die in today’s armies. He’s alive, the Captain of Hosts!”  

  

ISBN  978 965 91615 4 6

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The Hebrew translation of this book can be ordered by writing to email: tsurtsinapublications@gmail.com

Jerusalem Day and Six Days of Miracles

"Remember how the enemy has mocked you, O Lord… 

Rise up, O God, and defend your cause…" 

Psalm 74:18

In 1967, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Iraq signed military alliances with each other. Egypt closed the Strait of Tiran to Israeli shipping, and told UN troops stationed in Gaza to get out. The young nation of Israel then knew it had to prepare and brace itself to fight another war.

June 5, 1967 – Deaf to Israel's entreaties not to engage in war, Jordan attacked Jerusalem from the east. At this time, Irene Levi (then Duce), was head mistress of the Carmel school in Haifa. She took on extra duties of teachers who had been called up by the IDF. Many believers flocked to the school to pray for God's intervention.

That first day was the beginning of many miracles: Israeli pilots destroyed the Egyptian air force on the ground; the Jordanian air force followed suit and two-thirds of the Iraqi Air Force were in shambles.

June 6: Irene kept the school open, and while telling the flannel graph story of David and Goliath, the radio news came on. 

""Israel has turned back the enemy at the Sinai Desert and has almost reached the Suez Canal". 

The children's mouths fell open. "The West Bank is now in Israeli hands", the announcer continued, "including Nablus, Ramallah, Jericho and Bethlehem."

June 7: With beaming face, a Bible School teacher hurried to the school to tell the great news: "All of Jerusalem is now united under Israel's rule!"

That morning, Motta Gur and his paratroopers broke through the Lion's Gate and liberated the Western Wall and the Temple Mount.

 "The Temple Mount is OURS!" Israelis would never forget those words coming over the radio. IDF Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren had blown the Shofar. With tears in their eyes, the dust covered soldiers, for the firs time in their lives, touched the ancient walls. 

Many stood with head bowed, reciting Psalm 122,  "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand lose its cunning".

At the Haifa School, Irene (2nd from right) put up the Israeli flag with
"Jerusalem of Gold" -
 Naomi Shemer's song that became famous. 

Israelis found it hard to believe that after 19 years, all of Jerusalem was back in Israeli hands.

Irene knew that the war wasn't over yet, and continued to fast. She knew in her spirit that Adonai Tzva'ot (The Lord of Hosts) was fighting alongside and strengthening the soldiers on the Golan Heights.

June 8 – The Syrian positions on the Golan, which for so many years made life a living hell for the Israelis, because of their constant rocket barrages, had been conquered by Israeli soldiers.

June 9 – After the cease fire with Jordan, from all over the country people rushed to Jerusalem.

June 12 – After taken six days of heavy fighting, the war was over! Slowly, the magnitude of the Israeli victory dawned upon Israel and the rest of the world.

The "Six Day War" as it became known, had been a miracle from beginning to end.

Haya and Menahem Ben Haim had moved to Eilat in 1963, only to discover they were the first American couple to settle there. Despite the primitive living conditions, and the fact that in summer it felt like hell (as described in the Bible), they lived there for 14 years. With war imminent, the people in Eilat were also ordered to cover their windows (blackout) every night. Men prepared to be call up, and medics stocked up their supplies. The atmosphere was so tense you could cut it with a knife.

"Are we to live? Are we to die?" Haya and Menachem wondered.

Because most of the bomb shelters in Eilat were not yet finished, many left the town. All the hotels emptied out of tourists. The international press drove around in their vans, interviewing people at the airport and in the cities, Menahem one of them. Haya and Menahem decided to stay put in Eilat. It had been a wise decision, as those who fled to Jerusalem had to spend three days in a bomb shelter.

"A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation. 

I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time." 

Isaiah 60:22

Little Israel had become a strong nation, as the Lord had promised.

"I will hasten" – achishana could be two Hebrew words: shana (year) and achi (my brother). The numerical value of these letters is nineteen – the years from Independence (1948) to 1967. It happened swiftly (in His time, in six days). Jerusalem had been united on June 6 and 7. Even the newspapers spoke about the meaning of that amazing date: 6-7-'67 and 'achishana'.

Yom Yerushalayim – Jerusalem Day.

Throughout the world, (including the USA), Zionist Jews mark Yom Yerushalayim - Jerusalem's reunification, with a range of events. These include: recitations of the Hallel prayer for praise and thanksgiving in synagogues; street parades, parties, singing and dancing; special meals; and lectures on the history and future of Jerusalem and Zionism. In Jerusalem, a public reception by the mayor of Jerusalem, state ceremonies and memorial services for those who died in the Six-Day War are also held.

The so-called "Parade of the Flags" usually begins at Sacher Park. Happy participants (mostly religious young people) sing and dance their way to the Old City, where the parade ends at the Kotel (Western Wall).