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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">===========================================<br>
L O W L A N D S - L - 22 December 2008 - Volume 02<span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br>
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From: "wim" <<a href="mailto:wkv@home.nl">wkv@home.nl</a>><br>
Subject: Happy HANNUKAH..<br style="">
<br style="">
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">From wim
verdoold<br>
<br>
<a href="mailto:wkv@home.nl">wkv@home.nl</a><br>
<br>
netherlands<br>
<br>
Hanukkah<br>
<br>
Kislev 24th until Tevet 2nd.<br>
This year Hanukkah begins the night of December 21st.<br>
<br>
The Feast of Dedication" or Hanukkah, -- you will not find this Holiday in<br>
Lev. 23 with the seven Feasts of the Lord. But we find it in John 10:22 and<br>
other places as well. I think it may be necessary to do a little history<br>
here before going on; this will not be a history lesson, just a little<br>
background.<br>
<br>
The time was around 167 BC or, if you're Jewish--BCE. Prior to this date
a<br>
young ruler named Alexander the Great, ruled the entire ancient
world. This<br>
period of time is referred to as "the Hellenistic period" (Greeks). His<br>
untimely death caused a power struggle and four of his generals split up
the<br>
kingdom. The one that ended up with Israel
was Antiochus IV. This new<br>
Ruler of Israel commanded everyone to convert to Hellenism (Greek Metrology)<br>
and the Greek values that he held. Many did, even many of the Jews of the<br>
land because they found it to be a very civilized way of life.<br>
<br>
But, there were those Jews who held close to the Torah and God's way of<br>
worship and refused to embrace Hellenism. In fact, Antiochus gave the Jews<br>
an ultimatum, to either give up their distinctive customs, such<br>
as worshipping on the Sabbath (Saturday), Circumcision, and Kosher Laws,
or<br>
die.<br>
<br>
One of the first things Antiochus did was to desecrate the Holy Temple. He<br>
ordered the utensils, such as the Menorah, Altar, and Table to be defiled<br>
and torn down. Then to be certain that he had accomplished his job, he<br>
ordered a pig to be sacrificed on the holy altar. After doing all of that,<br>
he order that a Greek god Zeus be worshiped in the Temple.<br>
<br>
When Antiochus heard that the people were murmuring and talking about revolt<br>
against him, he marched his troops to a town in the foothills called<br>
Modi'in. His plan was to erect a false god in the city and force the
people<br>
to worship it. Modi'in was the home of a priest named Mattathias who
had<br>
five sons. He and his sons revolted and killed the soldiers and
began the<br>
revolt against this evil ruler. One of Mattathias's sons was Judah,
and he<br>
became the new leader and was quickly nicknamed "Maccabee" (the Hammer in<br>
Hebrew). To bring this piece of history to a close we will just report
that<br>
Maccabee and his men defeated the Greek armies and got rid of Antiochus.<br>
<br>
The Maccabees now faced the task of restoring the Temple
for Jewish worship<br>
to their Holy God. They cleansed the Temple
and restored the furnishings. <br>
There was special attention given to the Menorah, for it symbolized the<br>
Light of God. They restored it and when they went to light it, they found<br>
there was a problem. This Menorah could only be used with special oil,
and<br>
it took eight days to prepare such oil. They found enough of this special<br>
oil to burn only one day. To celebrate the victory of the battle fought
for<br>
their religious liberty, they decided to light the Menorah anyway and allow<br>
the light of God to shine forth with its glory, even if but for a day.
But<br>
God gave them a miracle, and the oil lasted eight days, until the new oil<br>
was made ready. So today we have the eight days of the Feast of
Dedication<br>
"Hanukkah." It is also why you will see a nine branch Menorah instead of<br>
seven in most Jewish homes. It represents the miracle of the eight days
the<br>
oil burned; the ninth branch (in the center) is the Shamash (Servant Lamp),<br>
which represents the Messiah. <br>
<br>
There are many customs and traditions that brings one closer to God and<br>
understanding of His greatness associated with this holiday, but I want to<br>
keep this as short as possible. Each night for eight nights a candle is<br>
lighted. The Shamash (the center) is always lit first, for it is from the<br>
Messiah that all light flows. It is then used to light each
candle for the<br>
eight nights. Blessing is said and songs about Hanukkah sung. Gifts are<br>
given to the children each of the eight nights. During the lighting of
the<br>
Shamash and the other candles are lit with the Shamash, the following<br>
blessings are said. I will try to write the Hebrew in English letters for<br>
you, I hope I do it correctly.<br>
<br>
A little advice in lighting the candles, you place them in the Menorah from<br>
right to left, but you light them with the Shamash from left to
right.<br>
<br>
BARUCH ATAH ADONAI ELOHENU MELECKH HA-OLAM, ASHER KIDSHANU B'MITZVOHTAV<br>
L'HADLEEK NER, SHEL CHANUKKAH.<br>
<br>
Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has set us apart<br>
by your commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of Hanukkah.<br>
<br>
So after lichting the candles and singing the Hanukkah songs, you set down<br>
for a festive meal, each night for eight nights.<br>
<br>
So I will conclude with one Jewish recipe for "Latkes" or to put it more<br>
simply "Potato Pancakes."<br>
<br>
Ingredients:<br>
2 Eggs<br>
3 Cups grated, drained potatoes<br>
4 Tbls. Grated onion<br>
¼ tsp. Pepper<br>
2 Tbls. Cracker or matzah meal<br>
½ cup oil or butter<br>
<br>
Directions:<br>
<br>
Beat the eggs and add the potatoes, onions, salt (to taste), pepper, and<br>
meal. Heat half the oil or butter in a frying pan and drop the potato<br>
mixture into it by tablespoon. Fry until browned on both sides. Keep<br>
pancakes hot until all are fried and add more oil or butter as required.<br>
Serve with Applesauce or sour cream. Serves 8.<br>
<br>
Shalom, and Hag Same'ach, (Happy Holiday) Jerry Golden<br>
<br>
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never<br>
suffer the righteous to be moved.<br>
Psalms 55:22 KJV</span></p>
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