Happy Hanukkah !

Hanukkah is a Jewish celebration that begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month Kislev, which usually falls in December and lasts for eight days. In the Hebrew year 5781, it begins at sunset December 10 through to nightfall December 18, 2020. It is called the Feast of Dedication or Festival of Lights.

This feast was not celebrated in the Old Testament, but we see it mentioned in the New Testament. In fact, Jesus celebrated it (John 10:22-30). It is celebrated by daily adding and lighting candles on a 9-branched menorah or candelabra (hanukkiah). Blessings over the candles, singing songs, and eating foods cooked in oil commemorate the Maccabean revolt and victory which occurred in the 2nd century BCE (Before Common Era or BC – Before Christ). The Temple and the altar in the Temple in Jerusalem needed to be re-dedicated after a forced un-kosher sacrifice. There was only…