Chanukah: It's a Tradition, Not a Commandment

My Chanukiah Menorah

Like I mentioned before, some Messianics pagan-ize everything. I was told that a guest at our Chanukah Fair was making a fuss that Chanukiahs, Dreidels, and other Jewish traditions—are pagan. But I saw this individual playing with a Dreidel, so maybe it's not that pagan? I don't know how this pagan-izing thing works because everything seems to be pagan. How do these kinds of people function in this pagan society? I do admit that some Chanukah traditions have come from other cultures, but it does not mean that they are pagan. I would say they are secular, or neutral. To quote from a previous blog post:

In case you haven’t noticed, borrowing from surrounding cultures is a very Jewish thing. Think about it; Klezmer music, the Yiddish language, gefilte fish, lox and bagels, dreidels, latkes, homentashn, kreplach, kugel – all of these are considered to be Jewish customs and traditions, however they were all influenced by the Eastern European culture that surrounded the Ashkenazi Jews. - Are Chanukah Presents Pagan? Dec 20, 2011

Chanukiahs (9-branched candelabras), Dreidels (spinning tops), Latkes (potato pancakes) and Sufganiot (donuts) are man-made Chanukah traditions. Chanukah is a man-made tradition. Because of this fact, and because of its close proximity to Christmas, you will find all kinds of gimmicks and mixtures out there in order to make a buck. Chanukah Bushes, Chrismukkah Decorations and Santa Dreidels are only a few examples. I’ve seen Chanukiah Menorahs with Sports themes, Disney themes, and even one with a Star Trek theme. I’ve seen Chanukiahs made out of Liquor Bottles, Beer Bottles, Pez Dispensers and Surfboards. I’ve seen them shaped like Automobiles, Animals and even People. But, I guarantee, you will not find a 7-branched Menorah shaped like a person in an Orthodox Synagogue. This is because the 7-branched Menorah represents the Presence of Hashem. However, observant Jews will use the ‘creatively shaped’ Chanukiah Menorahs in their homes during Chanukah. They believe these Chanukiahs are okay to use because Chanukah is not a Biblical Festival.

You typically do not find this same kind of 'mixing' with the traditions of the commanded Biblical Festivals like Pesach (Passover), Shavuot (Pentecost), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) or Shabbat (Sabbath). You may stumble upon a grocery store with a sale on ham for Passover, but that is out of total ignorance. Have you ever noticed that the other minor Jewish festival, Purim, does not get as much attention from retailers as Chanukah? Retailers can make much more money on Chanukah because it falls so close to Christmas and it’s 8-days of gift giving, for some anyway; and Purim does not have a popular, nationwide holiday that is close to it. Mardi Gras? Maybe. But we will talk about that later.

Another thing—Chanukiahs, Latkes and Sufganiot commemorate the so-called Miracle of the Oil. Did it really happen? I don’t know. And where are Dreidels mentioned in the books of the Maccabees? They’re not. These Chanukah traditions do not do justice to the real story and the real miracle, which is the Maccabees victory over the Greeks and their fight against forced assimilation. During Chanukah, I focus on the Maccabee story with my family. Yes we do the traditional stuff too, but I make sure that the Maccabee story is central.

While it is true that Hashem performed miracles for the Maccabees and delivered the mighty Greek army into their hands, it was they, the Maccabees—not Hashem, who instituted this celebration. Although we recognize it, celebrate it and participate in the traditional festivities, there is a big difference between Chanukah and the Moedim (Appointed Times). Chanukah is a man-made tradition but Hashem commands us to celebrate the Moedim.

Finally, are Dreidels pagan? No. They're secular. They're neutral. The Dreidel, or Sevivon in Hebrew, is a traditional, cultural toy. The spinning top is not unique to the Jewish people and no, the Maccabees did not invent it. Many cultures have their own version of a spinning top game and some date back to before the time of the Maccabees. Is the Dreidel holy? No. If it is, then so are Latkes, Sufganiot and all of those crazy shaped Chanukiahs. These things are only traditions and most of them are borrowed from and/or influenced by other cultures.

We should not be afraid to enjoy these traditions. However, we do need to be on the lookout for mixtures that would not be honoring to Hashem. Below are some unique Chanukiah and Dreidel ideas that I found on the Internet. Some are pretty cool, some are downright wrong.

Chanukiot

This is nice. I'd use this one. Would be a nightmare to clean though.

I don't think I'd make a Chanukiah like this in my house.

I'm not a Disney fan. Would probably pass on this one.

Very interesting.

Shoes? Really?

I love this country but I'm not too wild about the Eagle or the Lady Liberty image.

Definitely staying away from this one.

Dreidels

Eh, I don't think so.

Again, I'm not a Disney fan.

Reminds me of my D&D days. Not for me.

I've always had a problem with snow globes. 

What is this?

I know it's not a real Dreidel, I thought it was funny.

These guys took the Dreidel game to another level.
I've never tried it but I've been told it's fun.

We bought one of these this year for our family
and we gave 3 away as prizes. This is a blast! 

Red flag. Stay away.

I thought this was a joke but you can actually buy this one—but don't.

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Chanukah and the Legacy of Mattityahu

The Rockin' 3rd Annual Front Range Messianic Chanukah Fair

Imagine what it would be like to change history, to actually make history. What would it take? Being in the right place at the right time would be a good start; but more importantly it would take courage. Enough courage to actually make history happen. Keep in mind, making history and watching history being made are two totally different things—and I'm not talking about watching.

This year as I went through the Chankuah story with my family I couldn't help but notice that Mattityahu (aka Mattathias) was a model father. As he mourned for the sins committed in Judea and Jerusalem, Mattityahu and his sons tore their clothes and donned sackcloth and ashes. He didn't mourn alone, his sons joined him. Mattityahu was a priest and a descendent of Pinchas (Phineas) the grandson of Aharon (Aaron). Because he was a priest we can conclude that he taught his children the traditions of the Jewish people and showed them how to have a close relationship with Hashem. This was the duty of the lineage of Aharon, to pass along the traditions from generation to generation. Even the officials in Antiochus' army recognize Mattityahu as an influencial leader and a man who was well respected by his family. After Antiochus' officials try to persuade him with money and recognition, he speaks up for his entire family:

19 Mattathias answered in a loud voice, "I don't care if every Gentile in this empire has obeyed the king and yielded to the command to abandon the religion of his ancestors.
20 My children, my relatives, and I will continue to keep the covenant that God made with our ancestors.
21 With God's help we will never abandon his Law or disobey his commands.
22 We will not obey the king's decree, and we will not change our way of worship in the least."
(1 Maccabees 2:19-22, GNT)

After making this statement, a Jewish man steps up to offer a sacrifice to the pagan idol but Mattityahu kills him. He then gathers those who were still faithful to the Torah and along with his sons, they flee to the wilderness and began a campaign of guerilla warfare against Antiochus and his mighty army.

When it came time for Mattityahu to die, on his deathbed he charged his sons to remain faithful to the Torah and to defend it with their very lives. He encouraged them by recounting the faithfulness of their ancestors Abraham, Joseph, Phineas, Joshua, Caleb, David, Elijah, Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael and Daniel. After his death, all of Israel mourned for the great Mattityahu.

Before he died, Mattityahu placed his son, Judah, as the new leader of the small Jewish army. Judah was also a man of great faith. He fasted and prayed with his men and consulted the Torah on how they were to conduct themselves in the absence of the Temple. He led the Jews to victory after victory, giving all the glory to Hashem. Once they captured the Temple, they cleaned it up, made new vessels and instruments, and rededicated it to Hashem. Then they celebrated for eight days, like Sukkot. This was the first Chanukah.

Once a year for two millennia Jews have celebrated the miracles that Hashem did for the Maccabees and the Maccabees are remembered for their courage and great faith to step out and actually make history. Chanukah is like a tribute to the legacy of Mattityahu. A father who diligently taught his children the Torah of Hashem and the traditions of the Jewish people. He was a father who demonstrated great faith, courage and self sacrifice. He is a father that we can all learn from.

Are you raising world changers? Are you leaving behind a legacy like Mattityahu?

Suggested Reading:
1 Maccabees 1 (GNT)
2 Maccabees 1 (GNT)



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Sej Kandelikas - Six Little Candles

Chanukah 2011
Moses (6 mo), Michaela (13), Miryam (7), Aaron (5), Isaac (9), Maya (11)

The days of celebrating Chanukah will come to a close as the sun sets this evening. This has been a very fun and fulfilling Chanukah for our family and our community. Late last night, my children began the process of flaking the multi-colored wax off of their menorahs. As I listened to them laughing and joking around in the living room, I could tell that they had a good time this year; I hope a memorable one. At dinner last night Aaron said to me, "I am so happy. Our Chanukah has made me happy. I like Chanukah, Sukkot and Shabbat; but I like Shabbat the best." He's right. The Moedim and Minor Festivals come once a year, but Shabbat is celebrated fifty two times a year - that is, once a week.

We are a Messianic family, there is no question about it. My children have been brought up in the Torah, this is all they know. I pray that they, like the Maccabees, are able to come against the allure of the world around them and the temptation to assimilate and be absorbed into secular and pagan cultures. May they walk with Messiah Yeshua all the days of their lives. May their lights shine brightly in this dark world.



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Are Chanukah Presents Pagan?

In the Messianic Movement we tend to ‘pagan-ize’ everything about all of the traditions we have forsaken. We link the gifts given at Christmas to ancient pagan child sacrifices; therefore giving gifts during this season is typically avoided by some Messianics. I never made this connection growing up in a Roman Catholic home. I was taught that the gifts were connected to our gift of the baby Jesus and/or the gifts given by the three wise men. However, as I got older I began to despise the gift-giving part of Christmas. The gifts became more and more the central part of Christmas overshadowing the birth of Jesus. It is common knowledge that the song ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’ and Christmas advertisements by Coca-Cola helped to create the image of Santa Claus in the US. Since then, the commercialization of Christmas (i.e, gift-giving) took off. The biggest money making season for the US retail market begins on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) and ends on Christmas. Christmas is now a huge money making machine and a bona fide American tradition.

Just because pagans practice gift giving doesn’t make gift-giving pagan. Pagans do a lot of things that believers do. They light candles, they sing, they dance, they offer sacrifices and they hold communal meals. The practice of these things is not bad, but who, what, when, where, why, and how they are done is the important part.

Keep in mind that Chanukah is not a commanded festival (Leviticus 23). Did Yeshua recognize it? Yes (John 10:22), and He took advantage of it’s significance; but Chanukah is more like a ‘civil’ celebration than a Moed (Appointed Time) of Hashem. Therefore, the celebration of it is all tradition. Who makes the traditions? We do. In case you haven’t noticed, borrowing from surrounding cultures is a very Jewish thing. Think about it; Klezmer music, the Yiddish language, gefilte fish, lox and bagels, dreidels, latkes, homentashn, kreplach, kugel – all of these are considered to be Jewish customs and traditions, however they were all influenced by the Eastern European culture that surrounded the Ashkenazi Jews.

I’ve heard that there was a Jewish tradition to give roaming Torah Teachers gelt at the end of the year, around wintertime. This tradition evolved into giving the gelt to children, which has now evolved into giving gifts during Chanukah. Is this true? I’m not sure, but I have also heard that gift giving during Chanukah is an American Jewish tradition and not done so much in Israel.

So, when American Jews give gifts during Chanukah, are they borrowing from American culture or are they offering ancient pagan child sacrifices to Hashem? All the Jewish folks that I’ve talked to admit that gift giving during Chanukah is only a concession because of Christmas. It is an attempt to make Chanukah more appealing in order keep their children connected to the Jewish faith while living in a materialistic culture. Is that really a bad thing? I wouldn’t recommend going into debt to give gifts to your children, but spending a couple of dollars might be worth it.

If giving gifts during this ‘civil’ holiday bugs you, the next ‘civil’ holiday, Purim, is another opportunity for you to give gifts. In fact, Esther and Mordechai actually recommended that during Purim, everyone should give “gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor.” (Esther 9:19, 22)

Look at it all with a ‘grain of discernment’ and during Chanukah, give gifts as you feel led. My only caveat is to be careful not to make the gifts the central theme of your celebrations.

Related Articles:
Hanukkah, American Style, (MyJewishLearning.com)
Re-inventing Chanukah in America (Washington Post, by David Saperstein, December 24, 2011)

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Gearing Up For Chanukah

Chanukah 2010
Michaela (12), Aaron (4), Miryam (6), Isaac (8),  Maya (10)

It seems like the Moedim ended just yesterday and now Chanukah is right around the corner. It will be here before we know it. Time goes by so fast nowadays. I can’t believe we’ve been walking in Torah for 11 years now. My oldest is now 13 years old. We began our Torah journey when she was two. My children only know and remember a Torah lifestyle. Baruch Hashem. You could say that we are pioneers in our family. We are starting a new way of life and set of traditions for our children. Can we pull it off?

All of the ‘adult’ Israelites that Adonai brought out of Egypt, died in the wilderness. They never saw the Promised Land because of their sin. Their children, however, who came out of Egypt and those born in the wilderness, were able to enter the Promised Land with Joshua. However, once Joshua and this generation died, the next generation fell away from Adonai. The Scriptures say that they “did not know the LORD or the work that He had done for Israel.” (Judges 2:10) How could they not know Adonai or His work? Because they did not witness the wonders that Adonai did in Egypt or in the wilderness; and their parents must not have taught them.

This fact inspires me to continue to diligently teach our children about Adonai and His Son, Yeshua. I pray that our children walk in His ways all of the days of their lives. I pray that they continue these traditions and pass them along to their children and their children’s children. We’ve been given a multigenerational faith. We’ve got to live it if we are going to pass it on and keep it alive.

“For I have chosen him,

that he may command his children and his household after him

to keep the way of the LORD

by doing righteousness and justice…”

- Genesis 18:19 (ESV)

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