Rabbi Daniel Robitshek

The Story of Hanukkah

BY RABBI DANIEL ROBITSHEK

I still can hear the voice of comedian Alan King barking, “A short summary of every Jewish holiday: They tried to kill us … we won … let’s eat!”

Although humorous indeed, there also is much truth behind it. The miracle is, we have survived. Hanukkah, the Hebrew word for dedication, certainly is symbolic of that sentiment. More than two millennia ago, a series of miracles took place in the land of Judea, the homeland of the Jewish nation.

The most well known of these miracles centers around the hanukkiah (a nine-branched candelabra) and the tradition of lighting candles commemorating the eight days the Temple menorah burned continuously after its rededication, with only one day of priestly oil available. But, the real miracle of Hanukkah is much more profound.

Antiochus Epiphanes, the emperor of Syria, set out to destroy the religion of the Hebrews and replace the worship of the one true God with that of the gods of Hellenism. He sent his army to Jerusalem to eradicate any semblance of Judaism. In the space of three days, much of the city was destroyed, and 80,000 Jewish men, women and children either were slaughtered or sold into slavery. Epiphanes’ army defiled the Jewish Temple, raised a bearded statue of Zeus, offered a pig on the altar to his gods and sprinkled its blood in the Holy of Holies (the inner sanctuary within the Tabernacle and Temple in Jerusalem). The swine’s broth was poured on the scrolls of the Torah, which were then ripped into pieces and burned.

Epiphanes ordered all to bow to his gods and eat the flesh of pigs to prove their rejection of their Jewish faith. The alternative was death. He forbade all Sabbath worship, reading of Torah and circumcision. His goal was to humiliate the Jews’ God, thereby fully assimilating them into Greek culture.

Hanukkah, the feast of dedication, celebrates the rededication of the Jewish Temple and the valor of Judah and the Maccabees, a tribe of Torahobservant Jews who, against all odds, raised a small army to defend the Jewish people and our God. The powerful and verifiable miracle was not man-made, though. It had happened before. Madmen and nations, such as Pharaoh, Haman, the Assyrians and the Babylonians, had been hell-bent on eradicating the Jewish people, and the list continues into the modern era. Our survival declares in the face of irreconcilable odds that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob “keeps his covenant to a thousand generations” (Deuteronomy 7:9).

The invaders from Syria were driven from the land, and the focus of the Maccabees changed to the cleansing of the Temple. On the 25th day of Kislev, in 164 B.C., exactly three years to the day after its desecration, the Temple and the altar were rededicated. The image of Zeus was torn down, and the rebuilding began (1 Maccabees 4:26-61). From then on, commemorating Hanukkah yearly was established.

Since the events marked by Hanukkah occurred during the so-called intertestamental times, the one biblical allusion to this celebration actually occurs in the New Testament: “Then came the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking around inside the Temple area, in Solomon’s Colonnade” (John 10:22-23).

Yes, even Jesus, arguably the most well-known Jew in history, went to Jerusalem during Hanukkah. From a Messianic Jewish perspective, the Messiah never would have been born had Epiphanes accomplished his goal. Of course, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had other plans, and his blueprint of redemption for mankind was not going to be denied.

Robitshek and his wife Tracey serve at Sar Shalom Messianic Fellowship in Woodstock.

Lend a Helping Hand

As Christmas approaches, the needs among local nonprofits have increased as the directors and volunteers are working to make sure everyone has a great holiday season. Here’s a list of organizations devoted to helping others. Please do what you can to pitch in, whether it’s donating money or time. While you’re at it, consider bringing a basket of homemade goodies, fresh fruit or colorful flowers to show your appreciation for the staff and volunteers at these nonprofits. Acworth Police Department Christmas Shoppe

www.acworthpolice.org

Every year, the Acworth Police Department invites parents in need to come and select holiday gifts for their children at the station’s Christmas Shoppe. The community can assist the Christmas Shoppe by donating new, unwrapped toys and clothes for school-aged children. Donations can be dropped off at the police department anytime before Dec. 15. 770-974-1232, Ext. 1115. Cobb Christmas Stuff-A-Bus

www.cobbchristmas.net/stuff-a-bus

Help the Stuff-A-Bus program brighten the holidays for local children in need by donating new toys, food or monetary contributions to Cobb Christmas, a nonprofit, nondenominational organization that helps low-income families during the holidays. It is 100% run by volunteers, so all donations go directly to help the community. Cobb Christmas provides a minimum of three age-appropriate toys to each child, ages infant-15. Families go through a qualification process. Check the website to find a donation location near you, or drop off donations 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 8-10 at the IAM Lodge 709 (1032 S. Marietta Parkway, Marietta). Cobb Senior Services

www.cobbcounty.org

There are several opportunities to contribute to the Cobb Senior Services programs. Financial donations are accepted year-round for the Senior Care or Meals on Wheels programs, in addition to the Senior Santa program. Tax-deductible donations are used to assist Cobb County seniors in need of meals, transportation, emergency assistance, utilities and more. There is an ongoing need for grocery gift cards for seniors, and volunteers always are needed for Meals on Wheels and in the senior centers. 770-528-5355. Family Promise Cobb County

www.familypromisecobbcounty.org

Family Promise serves housing insecure families with children, by providing shelter through community faith partnerships. While the family has shelter, the day center staff stays busy working to help the adults find jobs, learn budgeting, connect with benefits and services that will help them. Donations of gas cards and Walmart, Publix, Kroger or Target gift cards are requested to help the families being served. Donations of new bed pillows, laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, paper towels and toilet paper are always needed. The Hope Box

www.TheHopeBox.org

The Hope Box, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing abandoned babies and toddlers, needs donations via gift cards to Walmart, CVS and Target to cover the costs of car seats and other needs of mothers and infants in crisis. Mail gift cards to 3330 Cobb Parkway, Suite 324/180, Acworth, GA 30101. For more information, call 770-765-6301. Jerry Worthan Memorial Christmas Fund

www.facebook.com/KennPD

Each year, Kennesaw Police Department hosts the Jerry Worthan Memorial Christmas Fund, which ensures Kennesaw children don’t go without Christmas gifts. The KPD is accepting monetary and toy donations. Drop off all donations at the police department by Dec. 14. To adopt a family for Christmas, contact KPD_PIO@kennesaw-ga.gov or 770-429-4532.

MUST Ministries www.mustministries.org

MUST Ministries long has been a source of help and hope to those living in poverty. To help your neighbors in need, MUST always is in need of donations of nonperishable food items. Visit the website for the most current list of needed items. The Donation Center accepts donations of non-perishable items TuesdaySaturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at the MUST Ministries Donation Center located at 1280 Field Parkway, Marietta, GA 30066. For more information, email Gabe Fleming at gfleming@mustministries.org. Simple Needs GA

www.simpleneedsga.org

The Spirit of Christmas program helps school- and agency-referred families who were unable to register for other local programs, such as the MUST Toy Shop, Cobb Christmas and Toys for Tots. Volunteer opportunities include buying requested presents, wrapping gifts, making deliveries, sorting and organizing and more. For more information, email brenda@simpleneedsga.org.