The story behind Hannukah is very interesting and it is an epic story of miracles as the miracles we read in the Torah, the first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament in Christian’s Bible). The story is for Israel as it is the 4th of July for the United States of America.
But where can we find this piece of history recorded. For that, if you are a Catholic Christian or an Orthodox Christian, is right there in your Bibles. If you are a Protestant, then you need to look for the books of Maccabees.
Is not this a heretical text?
No, far from it. It is not in the traditional Protestant Canon because it was not included in the Jewish Canon, and the forefathers of modern Protestantism wanted to get back to the origins, to a certain point, —they missed going back a little further.
The Maccabees is not a story full of Hebrew Mythology as is the book of Enoch. If you would start reading the Maccabees right after the Chronicles (1st and 2nd Chronicles) you wouldn’t even notice that it did not belong.
Why didn’t it make it into the Canon of either Jews or Christians? I’m not sure, I let the scholar debate that.
Interesting overview related to Hannukah
About the Deuterocanon: What is it? Check This Video
The Maccabees Story (Israel Independence Day – 2 Videos)
What is then Hanukkah and why I, as a follower of Yeshua should celebrate it?
There are many reasons as believers and followers of Yeshua we should celebrate Hanukkah but keep this in mind. Hanukkah is not a replacement for Christmas, and you should not treat it as such. But as Christmas, if you want to celebrate it in a way that does not defiles the name of Yahweh, you should only practice the customs that honors Him.
Hannukah is celebrated as a festival. It is called the Festival of Dedication or the Festival of Lights, depending to whom you ask. In our English translations of the Bible, the celebration is mentioned in the gospel of the apostle Yohanan (John) chapter ten. (John 10:22-33)
Then came Hanukkah; it was winter in Jerusalem. Yeshua was walking in the Temple around Solomon’s Colonnade. Then the Judean leaders surrounded Him, saying, “How long will You hold us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us outright!”
Yeshua answered them, “I told you, but you don’t believe! The works I do in My Father’s name testify concerning Me. But you don’t believe, because you are not My sheep. My sheep hear My voice. I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life! They will never perish, and no one will 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 the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Again the Judean leaders picked up stones to stone Him. Yeshua answered them, “I’ve shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone Me?” The Judean leaders answered, “We aren’t stoning you for a good work, but for blasphemy. Though You are a man, You make Yourself God!”
John 10:22-33 •Tree of Life Version (TLV)
Ha-Shem used and choose Hanukkah to reveal His true identity as the Son the Messiah to the world. And Yeshua used imagery and symbols from Hanukkah to do so.
But I will expand on this some other time… here are some graphics our family use to commemorate Hanukkah in our home.
What we do in Hanukkah?
- We gather the family together to light up the candles. Keep in mind that the Hanukkiah is not a Menora. The Hanukkiah is especially made for the feast of dedication, and instead of 7 branches, it has 8 branches. And you can find candle packages specifically for Hanukkah, a total of 42 candles. Unless you experience a miracle and eight candles last you 8 days.
- The Hanukkiah lamp normally consists of 8 branches and a stand-out branch, called the servant, symbolizing the coming servant Messiah, the suffering servant, or even the promised Ruach Ha-Kodesh, who was imparted in the upper room as fire in each of the attendant heads during Shavuot (Pentecost).
- On the First Day of Hanukkah, you will light the servant candle, and with the servant candle, light the first of the eight candles, then recite the fourth blessings associated with the festival. But only in the first day you will recite the fourth blessings, the other days you only need to recite the first two. But again, that’s based on rabbinic tradition. Feel free to recite them all if your heart like to.
- The main purpose of the gathering is to remember all the miracles Yahweh has done for the people of Israel, but again, after remembering these miracles, you can also encourage your family that are gathered to share their miracles with each other.
- Each day you will read passages from the Bible that are related to light, hence why the festival is also called the Festival of Lights.
Hanukkah is celebrated with food and friends… lots of fried foods and sweets.
Yahweh love traditions that bring family together that do not conflict with Torah.
- Traditions that do not use pagan customs.
- Traditions that do not conflicts with Yahweh’s appointed times. We are not to replace them, neither celebrate them as we pleased, they need to be celebrated at their appointed time.
- Traditions that do not forces you to break clean food laws.
Hanukkah is not an appointed time, but do not conflict with any of the appointed times, nor uses symbolisms that violate Torah. Even Yeshua went to the Temple to participate in this festival, and it was at the time that He proclaimed to be the expected Messiah and the Son of Yahweh, a very important part of our faith.
The Blessings
During the lighting of the candles, it is tradition to recite 4 prayers or blessings over the event to remind us of the purpose of Hanukkah.
The first prayer, we slightly modified to reflect our faith in the Messiah. Still following the rabbinic traditions, to honor the root of the celebration. Here I’m including the Hebrew blessings with the transliteration, followed by the translation.
First Blessing / Prayer
ברוך אתה יהוה אלהינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו להיות אורות לגוים, דרך ישוע המשיח מקור אורנו
Baruch Atah Yahweh Eloheinu Melech ha‑olam, asher kiddeshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu lihyot orot la‑goyim, derekh Yeshua HaMashiach mekor orenu
Blessed are you Yahweh, our God, King of the universe, who sanctified us with Your commandements and commanded us to be lights to the nations through Yeshua the Messiah, our source of light.
Second Blessing / Prayer
ברוך אתה יהוה אלהינו מלך העולם שעשה נסים לאבותינו בימים ההם בזמן הזה
Baruch Atah Yahweh Eloheinu Melech ha‑olam, she‑asah nisim la‑avoteinu ba‑yamim ha‑hem ba‑zman ha‑zeh
Blessed are You, Yahweh our Elohim, King of the universe, who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.
Third Blessing (only the first night)
ברוך אתה יהוה אלהינו מלך העולם שהחינו וקימנו והגיענו לזמן הזה
Baruch Atah Yahweh Eloheinu Melech ha‑olam, shehecheyanu v’kiyemanu v’higianu la‑zman ha‑zeh
Blessed are You, Yahweh our Elohim, King of the universe, who has kept us alive and has preserved us and enabled us to reach this time
Forth Blessing (only first night)
אנו מדליקים את הנרות הללו על הנסים ועל הנפלאות ועל התשועות ועל המלחמות שעשית לאבותינו בימים ההם בזמן הזה על ידי כהניך הקדושים. כל שמונת ימי חנוכה הנרות הללו קדש הם ואין לנו רשות להשתמש בהם אלא לראותם בלבד כדי להודות ולהלל לשמך הגדול על נסיך ועל נפלאותיך ועל תשועותיך.
Anu madlikim et hanerot ha‑lalu al ha‑nisim v’al ha‑nifla’ot v’al ha‑teshu’ot v’al ha‑milhamot she’asita la‑avoteinu ba‑yamim ha‑hem ba‑zman ha‑zeh al yedei kohanecha ha‑kedoshim. Kol shmonat yemei Chanukah hanerot ha‑lalu kodesh hem v’ein lanu reshut lehishtamesh bahem ela lirotam bilvad kedei lehodot u’lehalel l’shimcha ha‑gadol al nisecha v’al nifla’otecha v’al teshu’otecha.
We light these lights for the miracle and the wonders, for the redemption and the battles that You made for our forefathers, in those days at this season, through Your holy priests. During eight days of Hannukah these lights are sacred, and we are not permitted to make ordinary used of them except for to look at them in order to express thanks and praise to Your great name for Your miracles, Your wonders, and Your salvation.
Closing Blessing
This one is what we declare at the end of all the blessings, throughout the 8 days of Hanukkah as a reminder to us to whom these nights and blessings are pointing to:
הנס הגדול מכל שהובא על ידי ישוע המשיח אור העולם
Ha‑nes ha‑gadol mikol she‑huva al yedei Yeshua HaMashiach or ha‑olam
The greatest miracle of all, brought through Yeshua the Messiah, the Light of the world.
This is just a quick overview; I will be adding more information the more we mature in our walk with Yahweh.
Shalom
Happy Hanukkah
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