The month of December and the Hebrew month Kislev contain the two festivals Chanukah-The Feast of Dedication and Christmas. Often these two holidays overlap since Chanukah lasts for eight days. In the West with all the commercialism for Christmas, and the proximity of the two festivals, Chanukah has been dubbed the Jewish Christmas. The old joke I remember hearing as a youngster was how lucky we Jews were to have "our Christmas" for eight days. This envy was usually based on the giving of presents to the children regardless of the fact that we did not necessarily receive gifts eight days if we received any at all. The more spiritual analysis of both these festivals can reveal some interesting insights into the events both festivals commemorate beyond their immediate import.

Chanukah commemorates the victory of the Hashmoneans (a group of priestly warriors and their supporters) against the despotic Greek king Antiochus who ruled Israel at that time and who, in accordance with the Greek mentality, strove to hellenize the country by prohibiting Jewish religious practice. Antiochus entered the Temple in Jerusalem and placed statues of the Greek deities on the altar. When the Jewish forces prevailed and exiled the Greek rulers, they entered the Temple and found it polluted by idols. They immediately began to purify it from the idols and before the rededication they wanted to kindle the Candelabra. They discovered that they had only one small flask of the special olive oil required for the candelabra. Extending their faith they lit the oil, which was sufficient for only one day. The oil miraculously burned for eight days enabling the Jews to process the new oil that was ritually pure for the candelabra .The holiday was then instituted to commemorate the victory over the Greek rulers and the subsequent miracle of he oil. Chanukah the Festival of Dedication slowly gained acceptance among the Jewish people. Each night of the eight nights, candles were lit to commemorate the light that burned miraculously for eight days.

Chanukah is not a Biblical festival nor is Christmas established in the New Testament as a feast. It is also improbable that Yeshua was born in December the middle of Israeli winter. The events surrounding His birth point to the spring or fall as the time of birth; possibly coinciding with the festival of Tabernacles. The commonality of both festivals is the lack of scriptural authority establishing them as holidays. Although they both mark miraculous events, they were originally accepted and celebrated by custom and eventually evolved into universally accepted feasts.

December / Kislev is the winter solstice the shortest days of winter and the darkest times. Critics like to point this out with Christmas and show the pagan connection between it and old Greco/Roman festivals. True as it may be concerning the winter solstice Christmas should not be disregarded since it contains deep spiritual lessons.

Chanukah is not a scriptural holiday; it falls between the two festivals of Tabernacles and Passover. Chanukah is a holiday of lights. In the middle of the deepest darkness of winter we learn that the light of the candelabra shines and lights the world. The candelabra represents the light of Torah, G-d's word that illuminates the dark world around us. This lesson helps us to rededicate ourselves to the Lord .The great Biblical festivals with all the various ceremonies allows us to see G-d's greatness. Through all the elements we use during the festivals (four species, Succah, shofar, matzah, the Passover Seder) we can experience G-d and rejoice easily but in a time of darkness it may be a problem to see G-d and His miracles. Chanukah shows us that G-d is with us even in the time of darkness"...In His light we see light" (psalm 36; 9.)

During the holocaust in Auschwitz when the inmates were starving and every scrap of food meant life, people hoarded their miniscule margarine rations so that during the festival of Chanukah they could kindle the Chanukah candles and make the blessing".... He did miracles in those days and in our times." Imagine being able to see in such oppressive darkness that G-d still does miracles!

I remember hearing from a holocaust survivor how he was so despondent that he decided to commit suicide by throwing himself onto the electric fence surrounding the camp. On his way to the fence he heard a small group of people singing the old Chanukah Hymn-Maoz Zur (Rock of Ages-not the traditional hymn of Christianity)-which describes the great national salvation of the Jewish people .It gave him strength and hope. He went back and survived the camp; he came to Israel and rebuilt his life. Truly, in the greatest darkness we can see the light of G-d's presence.

Yeshua made a point of coming to the Temple on the Feast of Dedication (Chanukah)(John 10:22). It was winter and yet He was in Jerusalem during Chanukah. Possibly He stayed in Jerusalem from Tabernacles or (even more difficult) he took the journey from the Galilee to Jerusalem. In those days Chanukah was not very favorably accepted by the descendants of the Davidic house since after the war against the Greeks, the leaders of the revolt who were of the priestly family, assumed the royal throne which was the inheritance of the Davidic House (the tribe of Judah). Despite this prejudice Yeshua still made a point of coming to the Temple on that festival. He proclaimed then how He and His father were one. He proclaimed His Messianic role publicly and gave the Jew and ultimately the world that hope--that light to lighten the darkness of sin and suffering that pervades the world. He is truly the light of the world. (John 8:12).

Indeed, although Yeshua was probably born in the spring or late fall, it is symbolical that we celebrate His birth in the darkest time of the year since He is born within us in the darkness of our sinful lives and brings us the light of salvation through Him. Thus the tradition of Christmas in December is a commemoration that actually points to the reality of Yeshua and His redemptive office.

Truly Chanukah is a time when the Jews have "light, and gladness and joy..."(Esther 8:16) Christmas is a time when all mankind can attain that same blessing and more so, to receive "the light to them that are in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace (Luke 1:79) through the birth of Yeshua into the world and in the soul of each individual who accepts Him.

May this season bring true peace, that which surpasses all understanding, and may we all cleanse ourselves of the spiritual pollution from the world around and rededicate ourselves to Him who was born a light to lighten the gentiles and the Glory of his people Israel (Luke 2:32). May the Jewish people gain the knowledge of salvation (Luke 1:77) and may mankind through Yeshua find that true peace the angels sang of - the peace that surpasses all understanding.