The 12 Days of Christmas Hanukkah ~ Gift #8
Today is the first night of Hanukkah. And let’s face it, Jesus was Jewish . . . it says so in the Bible.
Jesus knew and celebrated this tradition as “The Feast of Dedication” rather than “Hanukkah.” Jesus would have been celebrating/observing this ancient Hebrew tradition during his time. So, as a Christian, I give Hanukkah a big nod. (My son’s father is Sabra from Israel BTW.)
“The Feast of Dedication also called "Feast of the Maccabees" was a Jewish festival observed for eight days from the 25th of Kislev (i.e. month of December). It was instituted by Judas Maccabeus, his brothers, and the elders of the congregation of Israel, in the year 165 B.C. in commemoration of the re-consecration of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, and especially of the altar of burnt offering, after they had been desecrated in the persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes (168 BC). The significant happenings of the festival were the illumination of houses and synagogues, a custom probably taken over from the Feast of Tabernacles, and the recitation of Psalm 30:1-12. J. Wellhausen suggests that the feast was originally connected with the winter solstice, and only afterwards with the events narrated in Maccabees.
The Feast of Dedication is also mentioned in John 10:22. (cited: Wikipedia)
In the reverent spirit of the Jewish Feast of Dedication . . . known today as Hanukkah . . . what could be more symbolic, spiritual, sanctified and observant than the pairing of dancing Rabbis with bottles on their heads (The Amazing Bottle Dancers . . . available for mitzvahs around the Nation) and America’s favorite past time . . . BASEBELL.
Please enjoy . . .
Merry Christmas . . . Happy Hanukkah . . . and HO HO HO
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