Hanukkah is known by a few different names. Sometimes it's called the festival of lights or the feast of dedication, and it is often spelled with a 'ch' which reads Chanukkah and makes the phlegmy sound. The origins of this Jewish holiday are found in the '400 years of silence' between the old and new testament. The account can be located in a historical Jewish text called The Book of Maccabees. A short synopsis of the story contains that around 165 A.D. the Jews were under Syrian oppression by an evil ruler named Antiochus Epiphanes IV. Antiochus ordered that the Jewish community give up their religious practices and learning of Torah or face death. Not only were they forbidden to worship God but their temple was taken over, the sacred possessions were pulled down and replaced with an enormous statue of Zeus the Greek god along with the sacrificing of pigs on the altar, causing it to be defiled. There was a man named Matthias Maccabee who had 5 sons; the eldest son was Judah Maccabee (or the hammer). After Matthias had passed away Judah took over and led a revolt against the Syrians which ended in great victory. The Jews reclaimed their temple and when they began to reconstruct they were only able to locate one cruise of olive oil to light the menorah (golden lampstand) which YVWH had commanded to remain lit at all times to symbolize His everlasting light. When they lit the menorah it is said that the oil which was only enough to last one day had miraculously lasted for eight days! They considered it a blessing from God. This is the outlining theme of the festival of Hanukkah. Miracles and light. It is said that it used to take eight days to complete the process of making olive oil which means that it stayed lit long enough for more oil to be made and brought to the temple. This is why you see the Hebrew letters shin, nun, gimmel, and hay on a dreidle. It stands for "a great miracle happened there". Speaking of
dreidles! The origin of the dreidle is particularly intriguing. When the Jews were still under oppression they were forbidden to learn or read Torah. As the soldiers would walk by they would put away their Torah scrolls and pull out dreidles, pretending to be 'gambling'. This game is now played during Hanukkah and chocolate coins called gelt are used in place of money. Being a follower of Christ, I personally love this holiday. There are so many messages of truth you can draw from this celebration. This is not one of the seven feasts commanded by God but it is acknowledged in His Word. We find Jesus at the celebration of Hanukkah in John chapter 10. He is pictured walking in the temple teaching about the good shepherd, and is then surrounded by people who are asking Him to tell them plainly if he is the Messiah or not. Jesus responds by saying I have already told you and you do not believe me because you are not my sheep, my sheep know my voice and no one can take them from me because they have been given to me by the Father. He then proceeds to proclaim, "I and my Father are one. (the same)". Essentially the light of the world is declaring himself during this festival of lights. On the menorah you will find there is a longer candle in the middle of the lamp which is used to light all of the other candles; it is called the shamash or 'helper'. No one knows exactly where this shamash candle came from but it speaks a special message to me. Jesus is like the shamash candle, He is in the midst of all the others (just like in the book of revelation) and He is the one who lights the fire in each of our hearts to burn bright for the world. He is our help. The word Hanukkah means 'dedication', which leads me to another truth I can deduce from this account. In comparison with the temple of God which was defiled and essentially destroyed by their enemy, our bodies and lives which are now called the temple of God were once defiled and destroyed by the enemy of our souls; but Jesus came and conquered and took us back from the grasp of the enemy, cleaned us up, reconstructed our lives, and lit the menorah of our hearts to burn continually for Him. When I understood this not just as a story but as a metaphor for what Jesus did for me and my temple I began to have a much deeper connection with this celebration of rededication. So my family and I happily and eagerly await this festival every year. It's a time to reflect on the miracles God has done in us and for us, to celebrate light and joy, and to spend time with those we love. In honor of the miracle of the oil, it is customary to eat foods fried or cooked in oil such as sufganiyot (doughnuts)! It is also customary to give gifts or money (gelt) to family and friends. Though one of the most important traditions, I believe, is the mitzvah or good deed. We should always remember to do good and to help others. It not only brings joy to them but to us as well and it shines the light of Christ in a dark world. Jesus puts it this way in Mathew 5:15, "No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house." This was a concept the Jews very much understood because during Hanukkah once the menorah is lit it is placed in a window for all who pass by to see. So I encourage you to be a shamash to those around you! May you all have a blessed season full of warmth, joy and light! Shalom. 
FUN FACT** Did you know that there is biblical evidence which points to Jesus' conception during the festival of lights? We receive this because we know that he was born in September (the feast of sukkot) which is 9 months later! Coincidence? I don't think so!(:
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