For the Love of Us All

HANUKKAH---what is it?

(a brief explanation for us Christians

And HAPPY HANUKKAH! to my Jewish friends)

Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday

Commemorating the rededication

Of the Holy Temple ( the Second Temple)

In Jerusalem

At the time

Of the Maccabean Revolt-second century BCE

It is also known

As Chanukah-Chanukkah-Chanuka

Or the FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

The story of Hanukkah

Is preserved

In the books of the First and Second Maccabees

And are NOT part of the Hebrew Bible

The festival is observed

By the kindling of the lights

Of a unique candelabrum

The nine-branched-Menorah

Adding one additional light

On each night of the holiday

Progressing to eight on the final night

The typical Menorah

Consists of eight branches

With an additional raised branch

The extra light

Is called a shamash

And is given a distinct location

Usually above or below the rest

The purpose of the shamash

Is to have a light available for use

As using the Hanukkah lights themselves

Is forbidden

The historical significance

Of the Maccabees

Is the MIRACLE

Of the ONE-DAY supply of oil

Miraculously lasting eight days

And allowing the Maccabees

To successfully rebel

Against Antiochus IV

So a BIG HAPPY HANUKKAH

To BOTH my Jewish and Christian friends

Robert P. Wallman

12-10-12