After Chanukah
 | The holy fires on the altar burnt again in the Holy Temple. Order and peace seemed established. One man, though, realized that the time for a return to normal living had not yet come...
20 Comments Posted
This true story of Chanukah is unknown to most Jews. Most Jews think it is only about Oil lasting Eight days instead of One day. Christmas has been adopted into Chanukah with the exchange of gifts. The Hellenistic Jews were the worst enemy and are still the worst enemy in Israel today! It is wrong for Chanukah to be thought of as a Minor Holiday because without Chanukah the Hellenistic Jews would have ended Judaism and we would all be Christians. So Chanukah is more important then all the other Jewish Holidays because without it Judaism would have ended! This story should be emailed to every Jew!
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I enjoyed the articles on the meaning of Chanukah. We Christians are realizing that the old customs are important to us, too. It was also good to know where the 8 days of light that I hear about so often really came from.
Thanks.
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May G-d let His face shine upon you and give you peace. From a Christian brother.
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Why do you sound so angry Mr. BMT, USA
God has love for all. Of course Chanukah should never be a minor Holiday or any Jewish Holiday for that matter, but tolerance for others as we expect tolerance for us. It is beautiful for anyone to be interested in learning.
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i have been rivited to my computer learning about Jewish customs and beliefs hoping to help a member of my family with an assignment for college, the more i learn the more i need to know. I am a Christian who needs more knowledge of my Bible, i think i shall be a regular visitor to your pages here. i like the way I can be refered on with attatchments to learn even more! ! thank you so much for making this subject easy to understand and making me 'hungry for more knowledge'
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It is about miracles. About still believing in our world of techno gadgets and media frenzy about anything and everyone- that G-d still is in control and can change our definitions of normal in an instant. History of past miracles are there to remind us and the stories ARE important and we should all WANT to know them. BUT belief in now is what fuels new miracles and we need those. We need those very badly. We have never needed them more. Invite G-d into your holidays and believe in his miracles that surround us every moment of every day if we are open to them. To the connection we cannot see but can feel, to the power of positive action and hard giving. We are what we do, give and believe--- ISN'T IT SO VERY AWESOME? ARE WE NOT SO TRUELY BLESSED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON?
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From the miracle of the survival of Judaism ( The Syrian Greeks took out all other religions in the area ) to the miracle of the oil, to the giving of Chanukah gelt or gifts. It's all good. Even the most superficial level of observance is a start. Each year a Jewish holiday comes along, a Jew cannot help but think about it. That too is a start. We are taught that the greatest ascent sometimes comes from the lowest descent.
Happy Chanukah to all no matter what your level may be !
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I have learned so much since reading your articles, initially I was only looking to help my grandson with a project on your festivals. I can tell you I have enjoyed reading and learning from you all. Thank you so much for all of your help and patience in replying to our questions.
G D Bless
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Thank you for the detailed and complete story of Chanukah. the 3500's and the 3600's were indeed two vital centuries for the preservation of our faith,
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for presenting such a clear picture of a complicated period of history. .
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As a non-Jew , all of this information is very helpful and enlightening. However, I find it odd that in you story of Chanukah, you refer to Israel. I understood Israel was created in the 1940s.
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Israel was Created 3500 years ago. As a Christian you should know this!
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No, the Land of Israel belonged to the Jewish People since it was promised to their father Abraham, and effectively became theirs with conquest of Joshua, about 3300 years ago. When the Jews were exiled from their land by the Roman persecutions, the Romans renamed the land "Palestine." However, Jews always remained there and Jews always yearned in their prayers to return to the Land of Israel.
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Thank you Rabbi Freeman for your explanation.
BMT - why do you assume I am a Christian?
I do not ascribe to any particular faith. I am open to learning about all.
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the headlines of my newspaper yesterday said that "Luck" is what has protected us from those who would destroy...
Chanukah celebrates deliverance from evil by the hand of G_d...we need to recenter our society around the reality of G_d, His mercies, His blessing and speak openly of our faith in the Holy One. Luck is all we have left if we are silenced.
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In response to Donna's perception that Israel was created after WW II. My understanding is that it was created when David united the tribes of Israel into one nation over 3000 years ago as told in the Torah.
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To Julius: Israel was established over 3500 years ago, with Joshua conquest, leading the Israelites and later under the Great king David consolidated to its Legitimate borders as clearly described the the Bible. Sadly the true History of the Land of Israel and the Holy Temples on the Holy Temple Mount are not detailed by Chabad which leads to confusion and misunderstanding. It is also sad that Chabad does not give out the factual story of Chanukah which is a lot more then the Oil lasting Eight Days when only One day Oil. Without Chanukah there would have been an extinction to the Jewish Faith! But Ritualism seems to prevail over Factual Jewish History from the Bible and supported by Archeological Discoveries! NOW we are a few days away from Chanukah 2010 (CE) and the silence on this Great Holiday is disturbing!
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I was greatly pained with tears literally flowing out after reading how much our Jewish forefathers suffered. I do not know what to say for all those who suffered so much pain and all those who lost their life’s in preserving the Torah so that we their future generations will get it exactly what it was given to Moses at Sinai. Words no doubt are “very poor” in soothing anyone's pain but the problem is we humans have nothing else other than these same medium – ‘words’ to soothe someone’s pain. The greatest things at the most I can say is……
May such a situation “NEVER” arise again.
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The story of Hanukkah always brings tears to my eyes to think of all the suffering we went through. What is something that I think we must learn and never forget is that our battle isn't over, even today. The nations of the world are turned against Jews and Israel, and we can never get too comfortable. Hanukkah inspires us to always stay united and faithful to G-d. May it be His will that we will never have such wars against us again!
A happy, health, and peaceful Hanukkah to everyone!
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So much is unknown by those that are so ingrossed in their oneness.They do not ask questions and seek out the truth of their own history. Thank you for your History of Chanukah to myself a Gentile.
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A prolific master storyteller presents another collection of narratives that span east and west and leap back and forth in time.
The title story takes place in the Warsaw ghetto and bears witness to the
courage and defiance of a very young hero. Other tales take place in diverse
locales, as menacing as the streets of Prague and as awesome as the splendid
majesty of King Solomon's palace. Along the way is a world of excitement and
adventure. |
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| |  Kehot Publication Society and Merkos Publications, the publishing divisions of the Lubavitch movement have brought Torah education to nearly every Jewish community in the world. More than 100,000,000 volumes have been disseminated to date in over 12 languages, both for newcomer as well as for those well versed in Torah knowledge. |
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