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What is Hanukkah?
Is there anything wrong with Christians celebrating Hanukkah? |
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Q. What does Hanukkah celebrate? Is there anything wrong with a Christian celebrating
Hanukkah?
(Submitted by: A. J. )
A. Hanukkah is also known as the Feast of Dedication and was mentioned in John
10:22. This reference came right after Jesus' parable of the good shepherd (referring to Himself) and how He was willing to lay His life down for the sheep (those who repent and obey God):
" I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the
sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not
for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep
I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay
down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I
received of my Father.
" . . . And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter." (
John 10:11-18,
22)
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Hanukkah celebrates the Maccabees' rededication of the temple after its defilement by the Syrian leader Epiphanies around 162 BCE.
Hanukkah is also known as the feast of lights, a reference to the menorah that burned for eight days even though there was only enough
consecrated oil for one day. God kept the menorah burning long enough for the pressing of more olive oil and consecration of it for temple worship.
To the Jews Hanukkah is a beautiful time. Many years ago I copied the following from a letter to the editor of one of the Toronto, Canada newspapers:
" It strikes me as odd, how quickly the Christmas spirit turns on just after Halloween, and turns off on January 2nd. Perhaps Christmas
has just become an excuse to do, once a year, what we should be doing all year round: be charitable, connect with friends, and live life -- have a good time. I guess I'm saying that I do
enjoy the fringe benefits of Christmas without participating. The lights are lovely, the music joyous, the giving admirable. But it is nice to come home to the simplicity of the Chanukah
candles. " (Neilia Sherman / Psychiatric social worker, North York, Ontario, Canada)
There is nothing wrong with celebrating Hanukkah, any more than it is wrong for us to celebrate thanksgiving day. In fact, Hanukkah might be
considered a Jewish thanksgiving festival. And if you want to celebrate it, find a Jewish family who would be willing to share their festival with you. I'm certain you would find it very
impressive and enjoyable.
Answer Given By: Les Turvey
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