Hanukkah - The Feast of Dedication
Hanukkah - a wonderful time of celebration in the Jewish calendar, commemorating the rededication of the Temple after it had been wrested from the hands of the Greco/Syrian army who had desecrated it (in the times in between the Old and New Testament). At this time of year, the hanukiah (think oversized menorah!) is filled with light, reminding us that even when the situation around us is dire and desperate, hope can always be found when God's purposes prevail! For the Jewish people today, it is a reminder of a time when people tried to take away their identity and faith in Elohim, the God who created the universe and called them to be a nation. They had to fight for their freedom, to practice their faith, to thrive as a people, and 2000 years later they still tell the stories today, inspiring hope once again in the next generation. Hanukkah takes place in December, and in Israel where the original events took place, December heralds the winter solstice, the shortest daylight day
