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Chanukkah (or Hanukkah) is the Jewish Festival/Feast of Dedication, also known as the "Festival of Lights." It is an eight-day festival beginning on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, whic...
Michael's answer is accurate on the historical context and facts of Hanukkah and the fact that it is not included in the 7 Festivals ordained by ALHYM in Leviticus 23 plus the Sabbath Day for His people Yshral (Israel). He is also correct to say that followers of iEsou christou (Mt 1:1 Greek) need not observe Yehudi (Jewish) feasts (Col 2:16-17), and that followers of Christ are the light to the world. We must be as "lighthouses" to the world shining bright to steer people away from dangerous rocks and to keep in the arrow beam which preserves life and leads all to the safety of the destination - Heaven. I personally would not keep this because of its proximity to the pagan festival of Christmas, but if a person focused on the immense richness of the history and spiritual meaning the festival to Yshral of old and the New Yshral which includes a remnant of old Yshral (12 Tribes) plus gentiles who are called and willingly follow iEsou who could possibly object? (Ro Chapter 11). The Holy Spirit gives to each of iEsou's disciples/followers a freedom which liberates from Legalism. IEsou says " And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (Jo 8:32) "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (Jo 8:36). I believe that if we all focus on iEsou and allow Him to manifest His life within our temples we won't lose this wonderful freedom which is found in Him! Lawrence NZ
Hanukkah (Chanukah) though it does have interesting history was not God ordained like the Biblical feasts. Many call these feasts (Jewish) but they were commanded to (His people) which now all who are in Jesus are His people, there is now no distinction (Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11), and they were commanded for all generations. It's not because of the law, for we were redeemed from the curse of the law according to Galatians 3:13. The curse was having to become righteous through the perfect keeping of the law. We are now righteous because of Jesus, and everything is all about Him. The feasts are all about Jesus, and they were and will all be fulfilled by Jesus. Hanukkah is not about Jesus, today it is more like Christmas which also is not really about Jesus. It is said that christmas is the honoring of the birthday of Jesus, which was never commanded to be celebrated, only pagans or those ignorant of God's perspective celebrated their days of birth in ancient times. Christmas is a pagan festival with pagan customs that had a "Christian title" put on it to convert pagans. Jesus was not even born in December anyway, He was born around September during a God ordained feast, the feast of tabernacles. Jesus was born six months after John the Baptist who was born on another feast, Passover. Even though Hanukkah is not biblical, I would celebrate Hanukkah before I would ever celebrate Christmas because it is much closer to being God-honoring.
I think that Hanukkah is the celebration of a THING (the miracle of the lights), so it should NOT be celebrated. Rather we should celebrate Christmas, which is the celebration of Jesus' birth. As early as we can teach our children, we should teach them that we are celebrating Jesus' birth, and what He did for us. TOO many times, children think of Christmas as "gift-giving season".
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