What is Chanukuh?

Q. What is Chanukah?

A. Chanukah is a remembrance of a historical event. Chanukah means "dedication" and it is a time to recall the vents that happened long ago in Israel. What will be given here will be a nutshell version, but it will give you an idea of what this is all about.

Alexander the Great died, and his empire was divided among his 4 main generals. Seleucus ruled over Syria and Israel. As time went on, the Seleucid kings became worse and worse. In 163 BCE, a group of priests led a 3 year revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes IV.

Antiochus set up false images in the Temple, commanded the people to turn to Hellenism, to depart from the Torah, basically turn from the Commandments on the penalty of death. He would force people to eat pork to show their contempt for G-d. Many complied to save their lives, but an old priest named Matthew refused, and along with his sons, led a revolt against Antiochus.

They went into the wilderness and was considered outlaws rather than turn to paganism. Afetr 3 years of fighting, the Greeks gave up and the Temple was rededicated back to G-d. The people missed the 8 day festival of Sukkot a few months earlier, so they decided to have a "delayed Sukkot" and pray for rain. The 1st Temple of Solomon was dedicated at Sukkot, so much of the liturgy and prayers were similar. Chanukah is a minor festival and not found in the Tanach ("old" testament) but is predicted prophetically in Dan. 8. 9-14,11-21-25, Hag. 2.18-23.

Yeshua celebrated it in Jn 10.22 and used the occasion to teach about the light of the world and the Good Shepherd. He was, by all accounts, conceived around Chanukah and born around Sukkot. One of the things attached to this festival is the story of the miracle of the oil. This is a myth and was developed in the 1st century to downplay the victory because they were afraid of the Romans. So, instead of celebrating a victory over their enemies as a delayed Sukkot, the Rabbis manufactured the "oil burning for eight days" story to account for the celebration.

But, historical acccounts in 1st and 2nd Maccabess and Josehus do not mention this "miracle" and probably did not happen. How is this for us today? We have Hellenism all around us today. Christianity is a hellenistic religion that teaches the people the same things Antiochus forced people to do, turn from the Torah. The people are told that the Law has been "done away with" which is a lie, but the majority of the people believe it and are glad about it. But, there are some who decide not to go along with this.

They have been given insight by G-d about this and would rather go into the wilderness and be outcasts than to get involved in the paganism around them. This is the choice we have today, illumination or elimination. Chanukah teaches that we must stand up against Hellenism all around us. One of the biggest lies of the year is Christmas, it is neither of G-d or even true, and yet pressure is put on those who don't want to participate to jion in.

It is the greatest time of the year to tell people the truth, and like the Maccabees of old, stand up for the L-rd against tremendous pressure and overwelming odds. I close with the words of Matthew the priest to those who were of the same mind. "Those who are the L-rd's side come and follow me."