by Joan Masterson Hanukkah has many names: “The Festival of the Dedication of the Altar, “The Memorial of the Purification of the Temple” and “The Festival of the Lights.” Each name has historical and spiritual implications in our lives today. To fully present to you all that I have learned from my studies, I have decided to release a series of three articles. [...]
by Joan Masterson Daniel 11:31-32 [31] “Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation. [32] By smooth words, he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action. The spirit of [...]
by Joan Masterson It was 250 years after the Maccabees first took back the temple, that Josephus, a Jewish historian, first called the holiday The Festival of Lights. The Festival of Lights because of the lighting of lamps in Jewish homes. He writes, “Giving this name to it, I think, is from the fact that the right to worship appeared to us at [...]
Hanukkah has many names: “The Festival of the Dedication of the Altar, “The Memorial of the Purification of the Temple” and “The Festival of the Lights.” Each name has historical and spiritual implications in our life today. Most see Hanukkah as simply the story of a time in history for the Jewish people. However the more I study their history I gain insight to [...]
by Joan Masterson On some level, most people know the story of Chanukah. Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Biblical calendar and lasts for eight days. Chanukah is a Hebrew word that means “dedication.” This Feast is celebrated in memory of the rededication of the Temple unto God, after the miraculous victory of the small Maccabee [...]
by Valerie van den Bergh The battle was raging. Sword struck shield. Sword struck sword. My band of warriors and I were tired and did not know how long we could hold on. I, Judah Maccabee, must be strong, and encourage my comrades to continue the fight. We were so close to defeating the evil Antiochus. I and my brothers – John, Eleazar, [...]
