Showing posts with label dreidel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dreidel. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Israel: All the Feasts Tie Into the Gospel - GRANT BERRY CHARIMSA NEWS

Make no mistake: Hanukkah and Christmas are connected.

Make no mistake: Hanukkah and Christmas are connected through Yeshua.


Israel: All the Feasts Tie Into the Gospel

Standing With Israel
Hanukkah is the final feast in the Jewish calendar and tells a remarkable story of the deliverance of Israel from the control of the Ancient Greeks in 164 B.C. The Seleucid Dynasty had assumed rule of the area through a political and military struggle after Alexander the Great had died.
In their wake, they sought to assimilate the people into their Hellenistic culture (ancient Greek culture or ideals) and way of life with no exceptions, dealing ruthlessly with anyone who would oppose them. Had they been completely successful, they could have threatened the very environment that brought Messiah into the world.
Not only did they ransack the holy temple of God, desecrating all of its contents, but they actually sacrificed a pig to their Greek god Zeus on the temple altar, which naturally repulsed all of the Jews, owing to their strict dietary laws, where the pig was considered most unclean. 
The Jews were outraged, and a priest named Mattathias and his five sons took up against several of their soldiers and killed them, which sparked a revolt. Being completely outnumbered, they utilized guerilla-style warfare tactics, first in the hill country and then throughout the land, which took some time. They met with surprising success, and their faith in the God of Israel inspired the nation to take back their own country, despite the odds that were against them.
In the month of Kislev (December), they reached Jerusalem and took back the temple. In restoring the menorah, which symbolized the light of God, they only had enough oil to last for one day, as it took eight days to prepare new oil. However, the oil miraculously lasted for eight days. This event demonstrated two miracles of God: the first to deliver His people and the second to lighten His temple.
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The temple was restored and rededicated to God, and a new holiday was established called Hanukkah (Hebrew for dedication) to remind Israel of these miracles, the Festival of Lights. Hanukkah was not one of the original Jewish feasts mentioned in Leviticus 23, as it had not happened yet. However in light of its significance, its prophetic picture through Daniel, as well as God's intervention, it became part of the Jewish calendar and has been celebrated ever since by Jews and some Christians all over the world.
 Yeshua/Jesus Is Our Hanukkah
Isn't it fascinating that the very last miracle recorded in the Jewish calendar is a miracle of light to foreshadow and tell us of the great Light that was to come into the world? In fact Yeshua/Jesus celebrated Hanukkah and forever connected its significance by reflecting His own Messiahship through this celebration (John 10:22-39). Isn't it interesting that in all the feasts, we can see the character of God's love and light for mankind? What a connection for us as believers and especially toward our Jewish friends and neighbors in our witness and love towards them.
Nowhere is this clearer than through the Hanukkah celebration that we see the light of the world. Scripture tells us that God knows the beginning from the end, so don't you think He knew that the nations would also celebrate His birth and coming during this same season? So that the festival of Hanukkah, like many of the other feasts is actually a prophetic foreshadow of Yeshua/Jesus Himself and the Christmas season that celebrates His birth.
As a result, the two holidays work beautifully together in tandem to lift up God's Son upon the earth and are intricately linked, from the old to the new. And Christians everywhere, like the Jews, can enjoy this wonderful holiday.
Let's investigate this a little further and take a careful look at the three chapters in John's Gospel that surround the Hanukkah Feast. In John chapter 9, Yeshua/Jesus gives sight to a blind man that should in itself be enough testimony for the Jewish leadership to acknowledge His sovereignty. But before the miracle has even taken place see what He says, "I am the Light of the World" and here He makes a prophetic proclamation of who He is (John 9:5).
On Hanukkah in John Chapter 10, Yeshua/Jesus went into the temple area giving perhaps one of the only teachings where He actually refers to Himself as the Messiah,"I and the Father are one" (verse 30). Here He asks the Pharisees to review His credentials by acknowledging the miracles He had performed to provide authenticity as to who He said and claimed to be in the flesh.
Then in the very next chapter (11), Yeshua performs perhaps His greatest of all miracles by raising Lazarus from the dead, which also acts a prophetic picture of what He was about to do with His own life through His resurrection. "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. To the Jew first and then to the Gentile — Do you believe this?" Yeshua asked (John 11:25).
There is no greater miracle in this world than the gift of God's one and only Son, and so there is also a beautiful connection that exists between Hanukkah and Christmas, as Hanukkah truly foretells of the great Light that was to come into the world and Christmas celebrates that Light. To both Jew and Gentile alike, as believers in Yeshua/Jesus, we have liberty to celebrate these holidays that remind us of God's faithfulness and deliverance to His people.
For Jewish believers to enjoy fellowship with their Gentile family during the Christmas season and for Gentile believers to have fellowship with their Jewish family lighting the Hanukkah candles. What matters most is that Yeshua/Jesus would be lifted up that He would draw all men and women to Himself, Amen.
 How To Observe Hanukkah
Hanukkah is observed using a menorah, which is a candlestick that holds nine candles. One for each day of the miracle and the ninth, called the Shamash, which actually means attendant or servant and of course, who is the great servant, but Yeshua/Jesus Himself, who gives light to all of us.
On each of the days, the Shamash candle is lit and used to light the other candles, increasing one each day until the last day, when they are all lit. Gifts are given on each night and chocolate money is given to the children, known as Hanukkah Gelt. Special foods are eaten, usually those cooked in oil to commemorate the miracle, such as Latkes (potato pancakes), and doughnuts and a traditional game is played with a dreidel, a four sided spinning toy.
May His great light and His servant's heart lighten us and cause us to show His presence and His glory to the world that these generations would know the truth about God and that it would set them free to follow Him.
 Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas, everyone! 
Grant Berry is a Jewish believer in Yeshua/Jesus and author of The New Covenant Prophecy and The Ezekiel Generation. He has founded Reconnecting Ministries with the specific focus to help the church reconnect spiritually to Israel and considers it vital to the kingdom of God in the last days. His website is reconnectingministries.org.
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Tuesday, December 8, 2015

How to Light the Hanukkah Menorah - Ariela Pelaia















How to Light the

Hanukkah Menorah


Instructions for Lighting Your Hanukkah Menorah









Ariela Pelaia
Judaism Expert


Lighting the Hanukkah menorah (also called a Hanukkiyah) is the most important part of celebrating the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The menorah reminds us of the miracle of the Hanukkah lights, when only one day worth of oil burned for eight days after the Maccabees reclaimed the holy Temple.

Below are instructions for lighting the menorah during the holiday of Hanukkah. In order to do the lighting ceremony you will need:

A Hanukkah menorah (Hanukkiyah)
Candles that will fit in your menorah’s candle slots
Matches
Lighting the Menorah on the First Night of Hanukkah

On the first night of Hanukkah and on all other nights during the holiday, the middle candle (called a shamash) is lit first. The shamash does not count as one of the Hanukkah candles, but is used to light all the other candles. You can learn more about this tradition in: What Is a Hanukkiyah?

Families usually light their Hanukkah menorah directly or soon after nightfall. If Hanukkah begins on Shabbat, the Hanukkiyah should be lit just before sundown.

Place a candle in the rightmost position on your menorah.


Now hold the shamash and recite the following blessings:


Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.

Blessed are You, O Lord Our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah.

Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, she’asah nisim l’avoteinu, b’yamim haheim bazman hazeh.

Blessed are You, O Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who made miracles for our forefathers in those days at this time.

Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, shehekheyanu, v’kiyamanu vehegianu lazman hazeh.

Blessed are You, O Lord Our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us and brought us to this season.

Note that you can see Sephardic/Modern Israeli versions of these blessings in: Hanukkah Candle Lighting Blessings.

After these blessings are said the shamash is lit and the first Hanukkah candle (the one you placed in the rightmost position of your menorah) is kindled using the flame from the shamash. Place the shamash in its place on your menorah. (Usually there will be a special spot for it in the middle of your menorah.)

Lighting the Menorah on All Other Nights of Hanukkah

During all other nights of Hanukkah begin by placing your candles in your menorah from right to left. Not counting the shamash, the number of Hanukkah candles in your menorah should match the night of Hanukkah.

For instance, if it is the 5th night of Hanukkah you would place 5 Hanukkah candles in your menorah.

Light the shamash first, then kindle the remaining candles from left to right. This is the reverse order of how the candles were placed in your Hanukkiyah, so the last candle you put in the menorah should be lit first. Learn more about this custom of lighting from left to right in: What Is a Hanukkiyah?

As you light the candles recite the following two blessings:


Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.

Blessed are You, O Lord Our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah.

Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, she’asah nisim l’avoteinu, b’yamim haheim bazman hazeh.

Blessed are You, O Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who made miracles for our forefathers in those days at this time.


After the candles are lit place the shamash in its place on your menorah.

Singing Songs and Playing Dreidel After Lighting the Menorah

Many families like to sing Hanukkah songs after lighting their menorah. You can find many Hanukkah songs along with their lyrics and sample melodies in: Favorite Hanukkah Songs.

Another favorite tradition is playing the dreidel game after lighting the Hanukkah candles. You can learn more about the dreidel and how to play this game in: How to Play the Dreidel Game.

References: "Celebrate! The Complete Jewish Holidays Handbook" by Lesli Koppelman Ross. Jason Aronson, Inc.: Northvale, 1994.

Source: About Religion


Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Get a Menorah in Time for Chanukah! ✡ "Seven Lamps Are Upon It" - ISRAEL365,

I see and behold - there is a menorah of gold with its bowl on its top; its seven lamps are upon it, and there are seven ducts for the lamps on its top.

ZECHARIAH (4:2)
 

רָאִיתִי וְהִנֵּה מְנוֹרַת זָהָב כֻּלָּהּ וְגֻלָּהּ עַל רֹאשָׁהּ וְשִׁבְעָה נֵרֹתֶיהָ עָלֶיהָ-שִׁבְעָה וְשִׁבְעָה מוּצָקוֹת לַנֵּרוֹת אֲשֶׁר עַל רֹאשָׁהּ

זְכַרְיָה ד:ב

ra-ee-tee v'-hi-nay m'-no-rat za-hav ku-la v'-gu-la al ro-sha v'-shiv-a nay-ro-te-ha a-le-ha - shiv-a v'-shiv-a mu-tza-kot la-nay-rot a-sher al ro-sha

Today's Israel Inspiration

Our Sages in the Talmud refer to Jerusalem as "the light of the world." The symbol of this holy spiritual light was the Menorah (Temple lamp) which emanated light through the unusual windows of the Sanctuary. The windows were made narrower on the inside - bringing less sunlight into the Sanctuary, but maximizing the spiritual light that burst forth to the world. Enlighten yourself this season with a beautiful Menorah from the Land of Israel.
 

This Israeli Arab Woman Deserves a Standing Ovation!

We're spellbound by this speech before the Israeli Knesset by Sara Zoabi, a proud Muslim ISRAELI who urges her fellow Israeli Arabs to wake up and realize that Israel is a paradise with equal rights, freedom of speech and worship.
 

Christians Stand Up for Rachel's Tomb as a Jewish, not Muslim, Holy Site

Last week, UNESCO approved a Palestinian resolution to change the status of Rachel’s Tomb and the Cave of the Patriarchs from Jewish to Muslim sites. A Christian group is fighting this "disinformation that attempts to destroy the Israelite connection to these holy sites."

Bronze Dreidel

This beautiful bronze dreidel is decorated with colorful jewels and engraved with a skyline of Jerusalem. It is decorated on all four sides with the four Hebrew letters corresponding to the phrase “a great miracle happened here.”

Today's Israel Photo

Today's photo shows the golden Menorah which sits at the top of the steps leading down to the Western Wall. Incredibly, this Menorah is biblically-accurate, made of pure gold according to all the specifications of the Torah, ready and waiting to be used in the future Temple!
 

Yesterday's Photo Trivia

You got it! Yesterday's photo showed an Israeli soldier who just finished his beret march at the top of Masada. In Hebrew, "Masada" means "fortress." This is one of Israel's most popular tourist destinations!

Thank You

Today's Scenes and Inspiration is sponsored by Nancy Blank of Germantown, Maryland. Todah rabah!
 

“I LOVE Your Website”

It’s great to hear from so many of you - stay in touch and let us know where in the world you are enjoying Israel365!
 
Shalom, I LOVE your website and look forward to reading it everyday. Thank you for all your hard work pulling together the news and life of Israel. - Debbie and David Brant

Israel 365 has and continues to be a blessing to me everyday. I think of and pray for Israel continually and am assured from God's Word that He will protect and keep this blessed nation always... Dale and Ethel Baker
Shalom,
Rabbi Tuly Weisz
RabbiTuly@Israel365.com
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Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Fantastic Jerusalem Scene Dreidel ✡ "A Reflective Person Who Seeks God Out" - JERUSALEM365

From heaven God gazes down upon mankind, to see if there exists a reflective person who seeks out God.

PSALMS (14:2)

יְ-הוָה מִשָּׁמַיִם הִשְׁקִיף עַל בְּנֵי אָדָם
לִרְאוֹת הֲיֵשׁ מַשְׂכִּיל דֹּרֵשׁ אֶת אֱ-לֹהִים

תְּהִלִּים יד:ב

a-do-nai mi-sha-ma-yeem hish-keef al b'-nay a-dam lir-ot ha-yaysh mas-keel do-raysh et e-lo-heem

Jerusalem Inspiration

In King David’s beautiful words, God looks down from His heavenly abode to find a ‘reflective person’ amongst mankind. The Lord is looking for those who challenge the conventional wisdom and defend what is right, even if it is unpopular. A truly ‘reflective person’ is one who supports Israel when she is attacked, defends her against discrimination and studies the facts to know how to respond to unwarranted criticism leveled against the Jewish State. The city of Hebron was the crucial location in which the Patriarchs sojourned during their revolutionary start of monotheism and formation of the Jewish Nation; it is also a highly contested and controversial city that receives undue attention and criticism from the media and protesters of Israeli sovereignty.  The Hebron Fund supports those who live in the city of our forefathers, enabling the Jewish presence there to continue.

Fulfilling the Commandments in the City of the Patriarchs

Witness the joy and excitement as new mezuzot are affixed to the doorposts of the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron.

What Will Change When Obama's Term is Up

Is opposition to Israeli construction in sensitive locations a function of the Obama administration or a general sentiment of America's feelings towards Israel's land expansion rights.

Wooden Dreidel with Old City Design

This fun and functional dreidel features beautiful illustrations of Jerusalem’s Old City walls, under a blue night sky highlighted with touches of color.

Jerusalem Photo Trivia

Today's photo features a tranquil Jerusalem at the start of evening; an optimal time for reflection! The Holiday of Hanukkah starts tonight. Do you know when the optimal time to kindle the Hanukkah lights is? Send me your answer or post it on Facebook.

Thank You

Today's Jerusalem Scenes and Inspiration is sponsored by Victor Koros from Brooklyn, New York.  Toda Raba!

“Thanks For Keeping Us Informed

It’s great to hear from you and make new friends from all over the world. Please send mean email and let me know how you are enjoying Jerusalem365 (don’t forget to say where you are from!).

From Ontario Canada, thanks for keeping us informed about news in Israel and Jerusalem.  Thanks also for the wonderful photos.  It warms my heart to be allowed to be able to see the land of my heart daily.  AM YISRAEL CHAI.


God bless Israel and I pray for the peace of Jeruasalem, I pray for the people there, for their safety and for the children. I love Israel and will pray for them daily. God bless you -Faye D.
Blessing from Jerusalem,
Rabbi Tuly Weisz
RabbiTuly@Israel365.com

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