Chanukah season is upon us, and many are excited to tell us “Happy Chanukah!”… only to find out that we as a family or congregation don’t celebrate the holiday. As we grow and walk with Yehovah, we must be humble enough to leave room for change when convicted of new things, like the origins of holidays which we thought were harmless or just part of Jewish or Biblical History. We must allow Yehovah to continually mold us and shape us into His image, no matter what we may have to give up or how uncomfortable that might make us feel. Our family was convicted about Chanukah back in 2014, and we decided, that we would no longer be celebrating nor participating in the holiday.

 

Here is a brief overview of why we don’t celebrate Chanukah as a family or as a Congregation.

 

Chanukah is not a Torah-mandated festival, nor is it found within the Tanach. The renewed testament scriptures do however make “reference” to a Feast of Dedication in John 10:22-39. Yet, it is merely a reference to a “feast of the dedication”. Nowhere does it imply that Yeshua nor His disciples actually celebrated or kept this feast mentioned in this passage of scripture.

 

It’s it important to note, that there are only three sources that make mention of the story of Chanukah; the book of Maccabees, which is part of the Catholic Canon of the Bible, the Babylonian Talmud, and the works of Josephus, which makes reference to “The Festival of Lights”. There are many problems and contradictions with all three references to Chanukah, as they all do not agree with each other. Whether or not they do or do not agree is besides the point, as neither of them are Biblically founded. The First Book of Maccabees tells of the rededication of the Temple. Scriptures tells us that the dedication offerings of the altar was twelve days in Numbers chapter 7, and seven days long for the anointing and dedication of the altar in Leviticus 8 and 2 Chronicles 7. The book of First Maccabees however, tells us they dedicated the altar for eight days and that Judas Maccabee decreed a law that the dedication should be observed every year.

 

 

 

This seems innocent at best as many call it a civil or memorial holiday, which according to most makes it acceptable to observe. Yet scripture is emphatic about adding to His word. This is also made evident in the sin of Jeroboam, found in 1 Kings 12:32-33, where Jeroboam tried to institute a feast which was to be like the one of Tabernacles, but to be observed on the eighth month, rather than on the seventh as Yehovah had commanded. Later on in 1 Kings 13:33-34, Jeroboam appoints and ordains his own priests. If scripture calls Jeroboam’s actions sinful, why then are we so quick to accept the appointing of the same holiday of tabernacles on the ninth month, by a man-made decree? This clearly gives weight as to why the book of Maccabees wouldn’t have been accepted as part of the Jewish Biblical Canon by Rabbis.

 

The Babylonian Talmud and Mishnah on the other hand, further add to the story, and make reference to a story of a miracle of oil which lasted for eight days (an account which is not found in the book of Maccabees). They also make reference to the fact that Saturnalia was celebrated eight days before the Winter Solstice, and followed eight days later by the feast of Kalenda, which also marked the re-dedication of the Temple to Saturn. It also references a legend of how Adam kept an eight day winter solstice feast (Avodah Zarah 8a), yet the Talmud tries to justify the feast by saying it was later paganized. Now keep in mind, “The Feast of Dedication”, occurred during The Feast of Saturnalia in the First Century. The temple of Saturn (Zeus) was dedicated on the first day of Saturnalia (December 17 or Kislev 25). Originally Saturnalia was celebrated from December 17-23 on the Julian calendar, it was later extended to the 25th. During this time, they had a hollow statue of Saturn, which they filled with Olive Oil. While Josephus makes mention of the Festival of Lights (Jewish Antiquities, XII, 324, 325 [vii, 7]), it is interesting to note that Saturnalia was also known as The Festival of Lights… just something to think about. This is merely a brief overview of Chanukah, and much more can be expounded.

 

As believers in Yeshua Messiah, it is our responsibility to abide by His word and His word alone. Scripture reminds us not to add or take away from His word (Deuteronomy 4:2). We shouldn’t be celebrating a feast that is not part of our Scriptures. Yet that is exactly what we have done by adding celebrations and artifacts, which He did not condone nor mandate, whether it be Chanukah or any other secular or civil holiday. We are also told not to take on the ways of the nations (Jeremiah 10:2), which clearly we as Jews, Christians and former Gentiles have done.

 

Yehovah gave us Seven Holy Days, seven Set Apart Days in which to honor Him. Seven represents completeness and perfection in scripture. Why is it then that we are not content with His given days for us? Why do we feel that they are somehow incomplete or not enough? If we read our bibles, as we should, we should know what we should be celebrating. It is our duty to convey what Yehovah states in His word regarding such holidays, so there is not misunderstanding as to where we stand or why we don’t celebrate Chanukah as a congregation. Many of you have also come to us expressing your similar concerns and convictions. Remember, if we have any doubt or don’t feel a peace about a matter, it’s probably the Ruach HaKodesh nudging us in His direction. We only pray and urge you to study further for yourselves, and ask that the Ruach HaKodesh to show you His truth.