Dedication
The feast of Chanukah is unique for many reasons among the other feasts of the Jewish calander. It was not commanded by G-d to be observed, and took place during the 400 years of silence, the period between Malachai and Matthew when there were no prophets and no word from the L-rd. It was a dark time for the Jews and many took hold of Greek Hellenism with vigor having lost hope or faith in G-d who brought their fathers out of exile and restored then to the land.
Chanukah is all about dedication. The rededication of the Temple after the victory over the Seleucids (A Greek division after Alexander's death) and the dedication of the Maccabees to remain faithful to G-d even in those silent years.
An article in the New York Times this year expressed concern from an assimilated Jewish father who understands that teaching his daughter why she can't celebrate Christmas has nothing to do with being Jewish but more to being not a Gentile.
Hellenism was proof of infidelity to the Law or Torah given by G-d to set His people apart from the other nations.
For being an obscure holiday in the Jewish Calendar, Chanukah is mentioned in the New Testament as well, Jesus was in Jerusalem for the feast of Dedication, which is what the Hebrew word Chanukah means: dedication.
The author of the article struck a very honest chord with the problem many American Jews have today. The question of what does it mean to be Jewish is muddled in with the culture we live and work in. But there is hatred on the rise, and as Jews have found in every place we sought to call home and belonging we remain perculiar.
No matter how assimilated or modern our thinking, how un-Jewish our beliefs, or our faces and accents, still we are hated and singled out for discrimination.
I am sure many fathers like the author of the article, thought as he did about religion, about fighting for what you believe in, and many Jewish fathers have done as he has and taught a mixed religion to his children. This is why many Jewish people practiced Hellenism or the worship of Greek gods, Greek lifestyles, and even reversed circumscision to participate in Greek sports.
With Zionism being hated and considered mercenary, how can a Jew be a good Jew in America?
When secular Jewish professors walk into work to find swastikas on their offices, how can we find our place in feilds we are passonate about?
When I hear of synagogue attacks and anti-Semitism reaching new heights in the nation that proclaims freedom and liberty to all, how do I build a future here?
What will America look like for Jews by the time my children are living here?
Will it get so bad that I and my fellow American Jews perish before our children ever take a breath of air?
Some may read my fearful questions as going too far, forgive me.
I am familiar with the many Jews who did not believe Hitler was a threat, who for love of Germany stayed. I am familiar with the statistics of the church in Germany, of the complacency of its leaders, how the variables suggest if the church had defended the Jews there would not have been a Holocaust.
Somewhere in the 20 years between WWI and WWII a change of alligence transpired. Germans who haulted war on the Christmas of 1914 in honour of the Prince of Peace, Jesus the Messiah, were under Nazi rule erasing and rewriting His identity to be like theirs.
The church that was historic for finding truth and the Reformation was silent.
Again the web of dehumanizing the Jew has been growing in the corners of our society.
It is possible to dust the house clean, but such a dusting requires the Church to be bold. Rededication of Heart, Mind, and Soul to the might of the Holy Spirit.
I am from Paradise CA, a town which was once full of memories in used book shops and antique stores. Now all is ashes. The town is in ruins, rather than a fire it looks like it has been bombed like Dresdin, everything flattened.
As I thank G-d for the safety of my family, I am amazed at how loved they have been by our friends and by strangers.
This is a Jewish family in 2018, a father who was faithful to teach his children what was said by the prophets, who has taught us to walk with the L-RD. A mother who taught us how to light the candles and raise her daughters with dignaty.
We are a family who have dedicated our lives to G-d and to Messiah Yeshua. I weep when I consider how many Jewish families are being abused by their neighbors and how cherished my family has been.
Church, arise! Do not sit waiting for Jews to be unafraid, our fears are not irrational, but founded on experience. Pray for the Salvation of Israel, especially in this time of confusion for the American Jews who want to understand what it means to be Jewish and who are lukewarm in their approach.
O' Come, O' Come Emmanuel,
And Ransom captive Israel
Who mourns in lowly exile here
Until the Son of G-d appear.
Have mercy O'L-rd on the children of Israel, be her shield and raise up for us a person such as Esther. May our story in America be as it was in Persia and not as it was in Germany. May Your Bride be a defender, not only of the Jews but of all peoples, may she be so with out compromise.
For the Maccabees You brought light in darkness. In the years of silence You proved our faithfulness was not unseen, that You were with us when we arose to dedicate our lives or deaths to You.
In these years while we groan in anticipation of Your return, when all wars shall end and Messiah will be King forevermore, prove again Your faithfulness. Prove Your might to Your enemies.
Dedication, the promise that we belong to You.
Light of the World, reign in our hearts and may we not hide Your light from the world but stand and push back the growing darkness until You return like the dawn.
Death's dark shadows put to flight!
Chanukah is all about dedication. The rededication of the Temple after the victory over the Seleucids (A Greek division after Alexander's death) and the dedication of the Maccabees to remain faithful to G-d even in those silent years.
An article in the New York Times this year expressed concern from an assimilated Jewish father who understands that teaching his daughter why she can't celebrate Christmas has nothing to do with being Jewish but more to being not a Gentile.
Hellenism was proof of infidelity to the Law or Torah given by G-d to set His people apart from the other nations.
For being an obscure holiday in the Jewish Calendar, Chanukah is mentioned in the New Testament as well, Jesus was in Jerusalem for the feast of Dedication, which is what the Hebrew word Chanukah means: dedication.
The author of the article struck a very honest chord with the problem many American Jews have today. The question of what does it mean to be Jewish is muddled in with the culture we live and work in. But there is hatred on the rise, and as Jews have found in every place we sought to call home and belonging we remain perculiar.
No matter how assimilated or modern our thinking, how un-Jewish our beliefs, or our faces and accents, still we are hated and singled out for discrimination.
I am sure many fathers like the author of the article, thought as he did about religion, about fighting for what you believe in, and many Jewish fathers have done as he has and taught a mixed religion to his children. This is why many Jewish people practiced Hellenism or the worship of Greek gods, Greek lifestyles, and even reversed circumscision to participate in Greek sports.
With Zionism being hated and considered mercenary, how can a Jew be a good Jew in America?
When secular Jewish professors walk into work to find swastikas on their offices, how can we find our place in feilds we are passonate about?
When I hear of synagogue attacks and anti-Semitism reaching new heights in the nation that proclaims freedom and liberty to all, how do I build a future here?
What will America look like for Jews by the time my children are living here?
Will it get so bad that I and my fellow American Jews perish before our children ever take a breath of air?
Some may read my fearful questions as going too far, forgive me.
I am familiar with the many Jews who did not believe Hitler was a threat, who for love of Germany stayed. I am familiar with the statistics of the church in Germany, of the complacency of its leaders, how the variables suggest if the church had defended the Jews there would not have been a Holocaust.
Somewhere in the 20 years between WWI and WWII a change of alligence transpired. Germans who haulted war on the Christmas of 1914 in honour of the Prince of Peace, Jesus the Messiah, were under Nazi rule erasing and rewriting His identity to be like theirs.
The church that was historic for finding truth and the Reformation was silent.
Again the web of dehumanizing the Jew has been growing in the corners of our society.
It is possible to dust the house clean, but such a dusting requires the Church to be bold. Rededication of Heart, Mind, and Soul to the might of the Holy Spirit.
I am from Paradise CA, a town which was once full of memories in used book shops and antique stores. Now all is ashes. The town is in ruins, rather than a fire it looks like it has been bombed like Dresdin, everything flattened.
As I thank G-d for the safety of my family, I am amazed at how loved they have been by our friends and by strangers.
This is a Jewish family in 2018, a father who was faithful to teach his children what was said by the prophets, who has taught us to walk with the L-RD. A mother who taught us how to light the candles and raise her daughters with dignaty.
We are a family who have dedicated our lives to G-d and to Messiah Yeshua. I weep when I consider how many Jewish families are being abused by their neighbors and how cherished my family has been.
Church, arise! Do not sit waiting for Jews to be unafraid, our fears are not irrational, but founded on experience. Pray for the Salvation of Israel, especially in this time of confusion for the American Jews who want to understand what it means to be Jewish and who are lukewarm in their approach.
O' Come, O' Come Emmanuel,
And Ransom captive Israel
Who mourns in lowly exile here
Until the Son of G-d appear.
Have mercy O'L-rd on the children of Israel, be her shield and raise up for us a person such as Esther. May our story in America be as it was in Persia and not as it was in Germany. May Your Bride be a defender, not only of the Jews but of all peoples, may she be so with out compromise.
For the Maccabees You brought light in darkness. In the years of silence You proved our faithfulness was not unseen, that You were with us when we arose to dedicate our lives or deaths to You.
In these years while we groan in anticipation of Your return, when all wars shall end and Messiah will be King forevermore, prove again Your faithfulness. Prove Your might to Your enemies.
Dedication, the promise that we belong to You.
Light of the World, reign in our hearts and may we not hide Your light from the world but stand and push back the growing darkness until You return like the dawn.
Death's dark shadows put to flight!
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