Herman Wouk wrote a book called “This is my God” and one of my friends who is an Orthodox Jew suggested I read the book to get a good feel on what Judaism is about.
I thought the book had a lot of insights to help me learn, but the one thing that really caught my attention was Wouk’s comments on why Christian’s should celebrate Hanukkah. This book was orthodox in his views on Judaism, and still Wouk was inviting Christians to celebrate Hanukkah.
His reasoning was that without the celebration of Hanukkah, there could be no Christmas. Hanukkah celebrates the revolt of the Maccabees in 165 BCE against the Syrian-Greek forces that had been occupying the Jewish temple in Jerusalem.
The king over the Jews, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, wanted to have the Jews assimilate into the Syrian culture. Had he succeeded, there would no longer have been a people known as the Jews. All their rich history from God calling Abram and delivering them from Egypt and giving them a good and prosperous land and promising a Messiah would have been for nothing.
Then Wouk added his thoughts on why Christian’s should celebrate. If Antiochus IV Epiphanes had succeeded in assimilating the Jews into his culture, there would have been no Jews around for when Jesus, the Christian Messiah arrived. He would have no people or culture to relate to that would have understood his coming.
This really struck me, that I was reading this book on an orthodox view of Judaism and the author gave me material on how to celebrate a Jewish holiday because without it, the Messiah would not have a people to save…
So as a Christian, I celebrate the holiday of Hanukkah, giving thanksgiving that God is able to save His people, and make His history, all for His purposes.
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survivormom
Dec 6, 2007 | 12:10 PM |
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Ellak
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Ellak
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gorbash81
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Ellak
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HybridTalk
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girlscout
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Ellak
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Ellak
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Ellak
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girlscout
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Ellak
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Ellak
Dec 6, 2007 | 6:09 PM |
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girlscout
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girlscout
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gorbash81
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Ellak
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Ellak
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girlscout
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Ellak
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Just your average guy. Likes Cleveland sports. Married 25 years now. Positive outlook for our future. Believe that Rush Limbaugh is a National Treasure and Bill Martin is a Cleveland Treasure. Quote: "People who want something for nothing will eventually end up with Nothing." Favorite Bible Verse: Prov 3:5,6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." *** I still do all my own stunts. ***
Member Since: 6/5/2007