HappY (C)hanukkah!
Gather round friends…story time.
(Got ya popcorn?..Tis a looooooooong one. Heh) 
Once upon a time in Israel..ahem ..sorry..at that time known as “Judea” (I know, I know..so technical!)..the Jewish people, who were farmers, and shepherds (that’s right..not doctors and lawyers).. were ruled by various kings and made pilgrimages to the stunning Temple in Jerusalem on holidays.
The Temple was a magnificent sight to behold: gold crowns and gates covered with gold and silver. Imagine.
There was a light that perpertually burned, and a gold vine with gold leaves and grapes hanging from it. Imagine.
The Jews, led by the high priest, prayed to just one God, unlike others who worshipped idols and many Gods.
All were living in peace until one fellow, a Greek, by the name of Antiochus the Fourth, began to rule Judea. (You know the Sadaam, Osama type..not content unless he’s beheading…) 
He wanted the Jews to adopt Greek names, and of course Greek culture.
With his army, he stormed the city of Jerusalem.
On the holy Sabbath, they tore down the city walls. The Jews wouldn’t fight back on the day of rest, thus thousands were killed.
Homes were burned to the ground. Women and children were sold as slaves.
One fine day, the king’s men set up their idol and asked an old priest named Mattathias to worship it.
Mattathias refused. (That’s right Libs…he refused.) 
He then threw down the idol and cried out, “Whoever is for the Lord our God, follow me!” (In other words, Your’e either with us or against us!..sound familiar?)
His five sons and many other Jews followed him.
Now remember sweet friends, The Jews were farmers and shepherds, not exactly your typical warriors.
But they fought like brave soldiers under Mattathias. When Mattathias died, his son Judah became their leader.
Judah was called the Maccabee, the hammer. The people who fought with became known as the “Maccabees.”
Antiochus sent his best generals with large armies to fight the Maccabees. The armies came with bows, arrows, weilding their swords, horses, and even armored elephants. (who knew they had armored elephants.yikes)
For one battle, slave traders even came along leading empty wagons.
They had grand plans to take the beaten, frightened Maccabees and sell them as slaves as well. ( a tad presumptuous, wouldn’t ya say?)
Never happened.
In the very last battle, there were more than six of the enemy for each Maccabee. But still, the mighty army of Antiochus was beaten by the Maccabees.
The Maccabees rushed to the Holy Temple. They wished so badly to light the permanent light but found just one small jar of oil, enough to burn for only one day.
But the oil in that small jar burned and burned and kept burning. The oil that was enough for one day burned for eight days.
The stunning Holy Temple in Jerusalem was once again truly a House of God. The Jews celebrated and partied for eight days.
Judah the Maccabee declared that every year, an eight-day holiday would be celebrated. The holiday was called Hanukkah, which, in hebrew, means “dedication.” It celebrates the day the Temple was rededicated to God.
I don’t know bout y’all , but I see some eerie, striking parallels and similarities in this story.
We are fighting Evil my friends…and………..
We shall overcome.
Happy Chanukkah to one and all!
Kindly crossposted at : The War on Christmas Others shoutin and hollerin:
TheDumbOx, StiKnstein, RedStateBlue on racism, BlogBaton Russia, RightTruthon Lebanon, WakeUpAmericaon Iraq, PlancksConstanthas a carnival, RandomYakis spreading the word.
December 6th, 2006 at 1:39 am
Had the Jews fully listened to the Ole Mighty Father they would of totally erradicated those slim balls like they were blessed, and for a lack of a better word, authorized to do. They got a bunch of ‘em in biblical times but left little pockets of them to survive and repopulate.
The I-slimes only exist because of the mercy of the Jews. Their thank you’s and tokens of appreciation have been overwhelming ever since. *sarcasm*
I love the Jewish people.
December 6th, 2006 at 2:58 am
Thank you, Angel, for a very good rendition of the story of Hanuka, and its message for today.
December 6th, 2006 at 4:41 am
That was a terrific retelling! You should be a teacher :). Just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, never bow, never give up, ’cause God is good, faithful, much bigger, and wholly unimpressed by the whims of men and their idols.
If I’m busy taking exams in ten days, happy Chanukkah to you too! Sha’alu Shalom Yerushalayim.
December 6th, 2006 at 9:35 am
Good research there on the jubject Angel.
One day the Jews eyes will be opened and they will see their Heavenly King!
The earthly Temple is a ‘type’ of the Heavenly Temple…Imagine.
Chanukah; also known as Festival Of Lights or festival of dedication, reminds us of the deliverance we have is through “the Light of the world.
Happy Chanukah..
FTGF!
December 6th, 2006 at 9:43 am
Thanks y’all …holiday season is upon us..YaY! :))
December 6th, 2006 at 10:14 am
An absolutely wonderful post, Angel! We Americans have a lot to learn from the Maccabees, don’t you agree?
December 6th, 2006 at 10:24 am
Iraq Study Group Releases Report…
It seems I was correct in my thinking that the Iraq Study Group would call for a retreat, they have done so, but they are trying to use slick words to cover up their true meaning and pull the blind over the eyes of the American people….
December 6th, 2006 at 10:25 am
Great post hun!
December 6th, 2006 at 10:51 am
Thanks for the lesson.There are parallels. We are fighting evil, but we are also fighting apathy/lethargy/stupidity/cowardice right here at home.
BTW This reminded me of a Jewish comic who used this story in her act. Can’t remember her name, but it was so funny.
“Oy, that was some oil.” Imagine that in a yiddish accent.
December 6th, 2006 at 11:52 am
Teheran Plans To Dump The Dollar…
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December 6th, 2006 at 12:16 pm
Congrats on a great job, Angel. I must tell you from personal experience, that seeing the Old City walls of Jerusalem at night is a breathtaking sight. It’s a sight that Momo and his donkey never saw.
December 6th, 2006 at 2:31 pm
Thanks for the lesson, Angel!
December 6th, 2006 at 3:16 pm
Happy (c)Hanukkah!…
Woman Honor Thyself has a wonderful Hanukkah tribute. Here’s a sample, Once upon a time in Israel..ahem ..sorry..at that time known as “Judea” (I know, I know..so technical!)..the Jewish people, who were farmers, and shepherds (that’s right..not…
December 6th, 2006 at 3:20 pm
Thanks alls for the wondreful additions and links!
December 6th, 2006 at 4:07 pm
You sure do excellent work, Angel. She is a teacher, Martin! Who that reads her blog can say that they have not learned many things?
December 6th, 2006 at 7:30 pm
Aren’t those who do not learn from history doomed to repeat it?????…the great story/miracle of the festival of 8 lights, know as hanuka..is a glaring reminder that we must protect ourselves from those that scheme and plot our demise….
as Sgt. Phil Esterhaus of Hill Street Blues fame would warn…DO IT TO THEM BEFORE THEY DO IT TO YOU…and BE CAREFUL OUT THERE….
December 6th, 2006 at 7:32 pm
Sergeant Stan Jablonski: “Let’s do it to them before they do it to us”…sorry…credit where credit is due….
December 6th, 2006 at 7:58 pm
I have my doubts about complete validity of this story as I have seen no evidence that the Jews believe in not fighting to defend themselves on the Sabbath. That sounds more like the beliefs of an extremist sect.
In 2 Kings 11 it states there are guards at the temple on the Sabbath and they would hardly do that if they were willing to protect the temple. In fact I believe the whole situation in chapter 11 including an execution took place on the Sabbath and was at the behest of a priest.
December 6th, 2006 at 11:06 pm
Great history lesson. We need to be reminded of the strength of those who have gone before us and use it as an example.
December 6th, 2006 at 11:29 pm
Thanks again everyone…!
December 7th, 2006 at 12:21 am
White Supremacist — Open Trackbacks…
The latest episode of Boston Legal with James Spader and William Shatner playing Alan Shore and Denny Crane. The story line had a family raising their children to be racist, and their aunt wants to get them out of that…
December 7th, 2006 at 11:00 am
Shalom and L’Chaim! Happy Hannukah to all!
December 7th, 2006 at 3:51 pm
I will be linking your post to my Carnival of Lights. If other bloggers would like to contribute see my guidelines.
December 16th, 2006 at 2:43 am
Chanukah 2006 - The Carnival of Lights…
In a moment I will tell my non-Jewish friends what Chanukah celebrates, but first I have to tell you that no Jewish Holiday is possible without Jewish mothers. My mother made potato latkes so delicious you could eat them plain, but even better when top…
August 9th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
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