Admin
|
Hanukkah
Posted : 16 Dec, 2011 07:24 AM
Hanukkah
Dear brothers and sisters,
On December 20, 2011 we will celebrate Hanukkah (or Chanukah in Hebrew). Celebration lasts for eight days. Some say Hanukkah is nothing more than �the Jewish Christmas.�
What is Hanukkah?
Let�s consider that today.
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish observance that remembers the Jewish people's struggle for religious freedom. The first night of Hanukkah starts with special blessings at sunset the day before the 25th of Kislev. Many Jewish people light the hanukiah (or chanukkiyah), which is a type of candelabrum or a kind of menorah as you can see it on the picture above.
Every night during Hanukkah members of the family will gather around their menorahs and recite the blessings below as part of the candle lighting ceremony.
Blessing 1
�Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah.
Sephardic/Modern Israeli:
(Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam, asher kiddeshanu b�mitzvotav, vitzivanu, lehadlik ner shel Hanukkah).�
Blessing 2
This second blessing, which asks us to remember the miracles performed for our ancestors.
�Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam, she-asah nissim la-avotaynu bayamim ha-hem bazman hazeh.�
Blessing 3
This blessing is an important blessing that thanks God for sustaining us and reminds us to appreciate the goodness in our lives.
�Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who has kept us alive, and has preserved us, and enabled us to reach this time.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam, she-hekheyanu v-kiyamanu v-higgianu lazman hazeh.�
Brothers, Hanukkah is the Jewish Festival/Feast of Dedication, also known as the �Festival of Lights.� Did God command Jews to kindle the lights of Hanukkah as they recite blessings? We will return to this question a little bit later.
Although this Jewish festival in not mentioned in the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible), it is referenced in the Talmud: �On the 25th of Kislev are the days of Chanukkah, which are eight... these were appointed a Festival with Hallel [prayers of praise] and thanksgiving� (Shabbat 21b, Babylonian Talmud). So, Hanukkah is a Festival with prayers of praise and thanksgiving that remembers the Jewish people's struggle for religious freedom.
In Hebrew, the word �Hanukkah� means �dedication.� The name reminds us that this holiday commemorates the re-dedication of the holy Jewish Temple in Jerusalem following the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks in 166-164 B.C.E.
The holiday of Hanukkah celebrates the events which took place over 2,300 years ago in the land of Judea, which is now Israel. It begins in the reign of Alexander the Great, who conquered Syria, Egypt, and Palestine (Israel), but allowed the lands under his control to continue observing their own religions and retain a certain degree of autonomy. Under this rule, many Jews assimilated much of Hellenistic culture (Greek civilization), adopting the language, the customs, and the dress of the Greeks. That�s why the New Testament (Gospel) was written in Greek.
More than 100 years after Alexander, Antiochus IV (215 BC � 164 BC) rose to power in the region. Antiochus IV was the Syrian ruler. He began to oppress the Jews severely, placing a Hellenistic priest in the Jewish Temple, massacring Jews, prohibiting the practice of the Jewish religion, and desecrating the Temple by requiring the sacrifice of pigs on the altar of God. One of the Jewish groups which opposed Antiochus was led by Mattathias (Matitiyahu) the Hasmonean and his son Judah Maccabee.
During these dark times of devastation, it is said that Mattathias, an elderly priest from Modin, defied a Syrian soldier who ordered him to bow down to an idol. Instead he struck down the soldier and fled from the city to the hills of Judea. With his five sons and a few other faithful Jews, Mattathias formed a band of guerrilla fighters. They were faithful to the God of Israel and would not countenance Greek idolatry and, in zealous contempt, rejected Greek culture.
This small band of pious Jews led guerrilla warfare against the Syrian army. Antiochus sent thousands of well-armed troops to crush the rebellion, but the Maccabees succeeded in driving the foreigners from their land. According to historical accounts, Jewish fighters entered Jerusalem in December 164 BC. The Holy Temple, the Jewish religious center, was in shambles, defiled and desecrated by foreign soldiers.
History and legend seem interwoven, but as best as we can piece it together, there were three years of fighting, surprise attacks, night raids and ambushes by these tough Jewish fighters. Antiochus sent his ablest general, Lysias, to destroy the Hasmoneans. From their mountain camp, a war worn group of 3,000 Jewish fighters watched as 47,000 Syrian soldiers marched across the plain to engage them in battle. As the story goes, the faithful band of Maccabees, with God on their side, vanquished the Syrians. Judah Maccabee marched into Jerusalem and set about to purify the Temple. Idols were torn down and the altar which had been defiled with the sacrifice of pigs was dismantled and a new one built. New holy vessels were crafted.
The Maccabees cleansed the Temple and re-dedicated it to the God of Israel on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. When it came time to re-light the Menorah (the multi-branched lampstand), they searched the entire Temple, but only one small jar of oil bearing the pure seal of the High Priest could be found. Miraculously, the small jar of oil burned for eight days, until a new supply of oil could be brought. From then on, Jews everywhere have observed a holiday for eight days in honor of this historic victory and the miracle of the oil. The observance of Hanukkah features the lighting of a special Hanukkah menorah with eight branches.
In the Gospel, we learn that Jesus the Jewish Messiah was at the Holy Temple during the �feast of dedication� or Hanukkah:
The Shepherd Knows His Sheep
Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter.
And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon�s porch. Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, �How long do You keep us in doubt?
If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.�
Jesus answered them,
�I told you, and you do not believe.
The works that I do in My Father�s name, they bear witness of Me.
But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father�s hand. I and My Father are one.� John 10:22-30
Amazing.
Jesus said here that He was the Messiah of Israel. Jews have waited for the Messiah and they are waiting for Him even today. But He came to them and revealed them His own divine power in many miracles which testified that He was NOT a man. But God Himself who lived in the human flesh among people. He raised people, healed people and cast out demons and made many other miracles too.
He even forgave sins to people.
ONLY God could do all that.
God�s divine power casts out demons and raises them if they die.
Jesus says here in this verse above that He is ONE with His Father. By saying this, He stated that He was God. Moreover, Jesus says that there are people who refuse to BELIEVE in Him and His words. Jesus says to them that they are not of His Sheep. They do not have eternal life and they will perish.
I said to my brother Ibrahim Rashid:
We cannot change the situation....We cannot stop Hamas leaders and Muslim preachers...and Iran from their future attack against Israel.
The Muslim world is waiting for this Third World War.
The Christians know about this war too and try to change the situation, saving their beloved Palestinians, friends and Arab brothers. Their hearts mourn about the future loss of their family members- the sons of their father Abraham. But it moves their hearts to act more actively, bringing salvation to EVERY Arab and Muslim because the day is drawing to the end and the reign of darkness will cover the world soon.
We can save souls of Hamas fighters and then some of them could escape God�s Wrath against their sins.
Other people among them will perish.
Other people among Palestinians will perish.
Other people among Egyptians will perish.
��
Do you remember why?
God will judge Jews and Muslims and even some Christians if they violate His laws:
�All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.� Romans 2:12
Go and read the Bible, may be you will get something....so I cant help you if you fail to understand what I say. If you fail to understand what God says then HOW are you going to GET to the Kingdom of God?
We all are sinners and have committed adultery and countless number of other sins, and blood is on our hands. We have committed adultery with our idols, kissing stone in our idol worship because we did not worship the God of Israel. WE ALL shall repay you our lewdness, and we shall pay for our idolatrous sins. �Then you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.��
God is going to JUDGE everyone of us for our sins and He is offering us FORGIVENESS. Because He said:
John 3:16-21
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
�He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.�
Thus, we belong to Ibn Allah and His Father (Allah-Al-Ab) only of we believe that Jesus is Ibn Allah/the Son of God. God offers us salvation through FAITH in Ibn Allah/the Son of God and REPENTANCE when we abandon our sins, crimes, lovers�
During this great season of remembering of God�s miracles, Jesus pointed out to His listeners that the miracles He had done authenticated His claim that He was, indeed, the long-awaited Jewish Messiah and moreover God Himself. His works and His true character clearly demonstrated who He was- the God of Israel- the King of Israel- the Savior of the world- the savior of EVERY Arab and Muslim.
HIS people will NEVER perish.
God forgives their sins.
God gives them His Kingdom.
God calls them �MY INHERITANCE�.
They are heirs.
Who are you?
A slave of your false god in Islam?
Let me remind you:
When it came time to re-light the Menorah (the multi-branched lampstand), Jews searched the entire Temple.
The Menorah is described in the Bible as the seven-branched ancient lampstand made of gold and used in the portable sanctuary set up by Moses in the wilderness and later in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Fresh olive oil of the purest quality was burned daily to light its lamps. The Menorah has been a symbol of Jews since ancient times and is the emblem of Israel.
Why?
Jews searched the entire Temple, but only one small jar of oil bearing the pure seal of the High Priest could be found. Miraculously, the small jar of oil burned for eight days, until a new supply of oil could be brought.
There is only ONE God.
He is the God of Israel.
He is Ibn Allah/the Son of God.
God is Light.
And His LIGHT is shining to gentiles and Jews today as a few thousand years ago in the wilderness when they were protected by the God of Israel. Jews were led out of Egypt- the house of their bondage.
�And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.
He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.�
Exodus 13:21-22
�Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the LORD looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians. And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty;
and the Egyptians said, �Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians.�
(Exodus 14:24-25)
The Torah states that God revealed the design for the Menorah to Moses (Exodus 25:31-40).
The Menorah symbolized that God is universal enlightenment.
The Menorah also symbolizes the creation in seven days, with the center light representing the Sabbath.
God is the Light of the world.
The God of Israel is God is the Light of Israel.
Jesus is our God.
He is our LIGHT giving salvation to every one who walks in His LIGHT. They will be able to reach the Kingdom of God in the darkness of the desert of our life.
Jesus said, �I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life� (John 8:12).
The Lord Jesus gives all of us, Jew and Gentile, the �light of life.�
And He COMMANDED us to �Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven� (Matthew 5:16).
We are celebrating the �True Light� of this world Jesus/the Son of God.
It reminds us of God's protection throughout our lives.
It reminds us to remain true to the God of Israel even when the world around us kills us and tries to destroy us.
Did God command Jews and all of us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah as they recite blessings?
Matthew 25
The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins
1 �Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 �And at midnight a cry was heard: �Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!� 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, �Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.� 9 But the wise answered, saying, �No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.� 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
11 �Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, �Lord, Lord, open to us!� 12 But he answered and said, �Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.�
13 �Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
The Parable of the Talents
14 �For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord�s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 �So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, �Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.� 21 His lord said to him, �Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.� 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, �Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.� 23 His lord said to him, �Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.�
24 �Then he who had received the one talent came and said, �Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.�
26 �But his lord answered and said to him, �You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 �For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.�
The Son of Man Will Judge the Nations
31 �When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, �Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.�
37 �Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, �Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?� 40 And the King will answer and say to them, �Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.�
41 �Then He will also say to those on the left hand, �Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.�
44 �Then they also will answer Him, saying, �Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?� 45 Then He will answer them, saying, �Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.� 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.�
Post Reply
|
