Hanukkah

Hanukkah is the next Biblical Holiday on the calendar. Also known as the Feast of Dedication, and celebrated by Yeshua, it is the holiday that marks the miracle in the Temple after the Maccabean Revolt. The Temple had been desecrated with the sacrifice of a pig on the altar of God and taken over by pagan worship. Judah Maccabee and his family rose up against their oppressors and took back the Temple. When they went to light the Menorah in the Temple they found only enough oil to burn for one night, while it would take a week to make new oil. They lit the oil in faith and were amazed that it burned for 8 nights instead of 1 and they had time to consecrate the new oil.

Every year this miracle is celebrated at Hanukkah (a special Menorah with a shamash candle that is higher or set apart from the others and 8 regular candle holders) with the lighting of a Hannukiah adding a candle each night for 8 nights–moving from right to left, the same direction you read Hebrew. The shamash, or helper candle is lit each night and used to light the appropriate number of candles in the Hanukkiah.

For the Messianic believer it’s an exciting time of the year. Not only did Yeshua celebrate Hanukkah, but many Messianic scholars believe that Yeshua was conceived at Hanukkah–that the light of the world came into the world at Hanukkah–the festival of lights. What a wonderful time to celebrate so many miracles in our lives!

additional information including the blessings can be found at:
http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Winter_Holidays/Chanukah/chanukah.html