Hanukah-Hagadah Poem by Daniel Partlow

The Partlow Family Hanukah Haggadah


I know some of you use the holidays as an opportunity to discuss scripture. My family has been blessed for the last few years with our observance of a Seder haggadah which gives us an opportunity to discuss the meaning of the Passover and it’s fulfillment on the cross from a Christian perspective. I wrote a reflection on the Passover called “Hagadahurrah! ”


Sunday evening December 21,2008 is the start of the Festival of Light and the Dedication (Hanukah) which is mentioned in John 10: 23. The event itself is described in 1st Maccabees 4: 52-59 (Apocrypha): it is prophesied in Daniel 8: 11 9: 27 11: 31 12: 11 and re-prophesied in Mark 13: 14-18; Matt.24: 15.


My family will be celebrating it this year and focusing on the God’s gift of light, paralleling one of his first acts in Genesis 1: 4. Isaiah prophesied the giving of light and the ‘Nes Gadol Haya Shem’ (a great miracle happened there) was a foreshadowing of the truly miraculous light which resulted in the expulsion of darkness, not just from the temple, but from the whole world.


History of Hanukah (from plim.org)



Father: Daniel prophesied the rise and death of the Greek king Alexander the Great and stated that his kingdom would be divided into four parts among his four generals (Dan.8th Chapter) . One of these four generals headed the Syrian Kingdom and would desecrate the temple. 'Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down (Dan.8: 11) .' Judas Maccabaeus instituted Hanukkah in 164 B.C. after defeating Syrian forces led by King Antiochus Epiphanes. The Syrian king had taken all the vessels of the temple including the veils, and emptied the secret treasures of the temple. He forbade Israel to offer their daily sacrifices according to the Law of Moses, which fulfilled Daniel's prophecies about the daily sacrifices being taken away (Dan.8: 11-13) .


King Antiochus Epiphanes offered a swine up in the temple to show his utter contempt for the Jewish faith (© 1960,1978,1981, Krugel Pub.) . 'And when the king had built an idol altar upon God's altar, he slew swine upon it, and so offered a sacrifice neither according to the law, He also compelled them to forsake the worship which they paid their own God, and adore those whom he took to be gods; made them to build temples He also commanded them not to circumcise their sons, ....' According to the Antiquities of the Jews (Book XII, chp. V) , this terror lasted for three years. Now this is all in fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy. 'And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate (Dan 11: 31) .'


After Judas Maccabees defeated Antiochus, he removed the Gentile altar and brought in new vessels and veils. The rededication of Zerrabable's temple, the lighting of the candlestick, and the burning of incense began on the 25th of Kislev (Which is tonight) .


Youngest Child: What miracle occurred during Hanukkah?


Father: The Jewish Talmud speaks of the oil that lit the candlestick during Hanukkah lasting for eight days when there was only enough oil for one day. This increase of oil was considered a miracle and now an eight branched candle stick may be lit during Hanukkah. The number eight represents a new beginning as the rededication meant the Jews could begin anew to worship Yahweh according to their laws and not after the abomination of Antiochus.


Eldest Child: What is the spiritual reality of Hanukkah?


Father: The abomination at the time of the Maccabees was the sacrifice of a pig on the altar in the temple. In this Present Age of Grace under the New Covenant, the temple is the tabernacle of men (I Cor.6: 19-20) . The 'abomination of desolation' is perhaps the world’s idolizing of sin and the influence this has in the hearts of Christians, some being misled and falling away. Mark tells of Jesus prophecy that when this happens, first there will be wars, false prophets, and lawlessness, and then the return of the Son of Man like a flash of lightning.


Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place let the reader understand, then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ, ' or 'There He is, ' do not believe him. For false christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance. So if they say to you, 'Behold, He is in the wilderness, ' do not go out, or, 'Behold, He is in the inner rooms, ' do not believe them. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.


Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.


Hanukah and Light in Scripture



Mother: Here are a few more of the words of light, so everytime we say the word “Light”, let the children say “Yeshua Owrah” meaning “Savior of Light”.


Eldest Child: Genesis begins, In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth… and God said “Let there be light, ” and there was light. He saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.


Mother: And on the fourth day of creation, God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth'; and it was so. God made the two great lights, the greater light (the sun) to govern the day, and the lesser light (the moon) to govern the night; He made the stars also. God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good.


The Gospel of John begins, In the beginning was the Word (meaning Jesus) , and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In him, (In Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not (understand or overcome) it. Then there came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens everyone.


John the Baptist said, Repent, and Make straight the way of the Lord. So too let us testify to the Light that it may enlighten everyone.


Eldest Child: It is fitting that on this occasion of light Jesus revealed to the Jews at the temple on Solomon’s Porch that He is the Father's Son (John 10) and as Paul says 'God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.' (2nd Corinthians 4)


Father: Seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah prophesied, ‘nevertheless, there will be no more darkness for those who were in distress. In the past God humbled the land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan. The people walking in darkness will see a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light dawns.’ The book of Judges tells us that Zebulun was a people that jeopardized their lives, as did Naphtali upon the high places of the battlefield. These two tribes were known for their militaristic prowess. It also prophesies that the Gospel or Good Word would proceed from Naphtali, a freed deer.


Nothing on earth would grow without the light of the heavens God gave us, neither can our hearts grow without the light of truth. Therefore Matthew writes about the very first sermon of Jesus being the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. (chapter 4)


Mother: “Repent! For the Kingdom of God is at Hand”
Was the first sermon He gave, that we might understand.
Light had arisen, where before death overshadowed land.
The kingdom of God is God’s presence, understand.


He went to the lands of Zebulon and Naphtali
To Capernaum on the coasts of the sea of Galilee
To fulfill the words of Isaiah’s prophecy
That those there in darkness would be given light to see.


For darkness and light cannot co-exist in the same space:
When the light arrives, the darkness then has lost its place.
But it is still up to each of us to embrace,
To catch His pouring rays and bask in His lighted grace.


Father: John then (in chapter 3) tells us that although light has come to the world. It is not something that everyone automatically embraces.


And this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.


Because since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, out hearts have rebelled against our creator. It is only in our recognition of this – by seeing how far we fall short of the law, that we realize the need for a Messiah, a savior, who can deliver – not just from physical persecution, but from the slavery to sin, from our own imperfections and the consequence of the law.

Light One Candle

Mother: Let us sing as (eldest child) lights the first four candles of the menorah with a shamus:


Light one candle to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness.

He shall bring salvation to Israel, God fulfills the promise.


Light two candles to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness.

He shall feed the flock like a shepherd, gently lead them homeward.


Light three candles to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness.

Lift your heads and lift high the gateway for the King of glory.


Light four candles to watch for Messiah: let the light banish darkness.

He is coming, tell the glad tidings. Let your lights be shining.


The Chanukah and Christmas Carol

Father: Here are the lyrics to a carol which illuminates the true meaning of the two winter festivals of light. We will recite this as (second oldest child) lights the rest of the menorah/advent wreath.


All: Chanukah and Christmas – Let's celebrate the light
The Grace of God Eternal dispels the dark of night.

Daniel had prophesied the Desolation
False idols in the temple: 'twas the Desecration
Little lamp oil remained for the altar dedication
So God provided the light to this and every earthly nation.

Chanukah and Christmas – Let's celebrate the light
The Grace of the Father dispels the dark of night.

Nes Gadol Hayah Shem – A Great Miracle Happened there
The star of Bethlehem lit the way to a little manger where
The miracle of Jesus birth in the crèche of a mare.
Hosanna, Alleluia, the Angel Chorus does declare.

Chanukah and Christmas – Let's celebrate the light
The Light of the Messiah dispels the dark of night.

At the time of Chanukah on the porch of Solomon
The Messiah was revealed, Jesus is the Father's son.
Sheep follow the shepherd and unto him ye run,
And recognize the works which show that He and God are one.

Chanukah and Christmas – Let's celebrate the light
The Light of the Good Shepherd dispels the dark of night.

The rededication lacked the glory of the Ark
But when Immanuel came, He dispelled the dark.
So worship not in a building cold and stark.
But in Spirit and in Truth – Jesus the eternal bulwark.

Chanukah and Christmas – Let's celebrate the light
The Light of the Holy Spirit dispels the dark of night.

The eternal sacrifice, His body: temple stones and bricks.
Like the shamus which lights all menorah wicks.
Jesus, the servant-king, lights our spirit-candle sticks
That we may be His beacons, His light our hearts affix.

Chanukah and Christmas – Let's celebrate the light
The Light of the World dispels the dark of night.






Maoz Tzur



Mother: Jews pray the Maoz Tzur at this time asking for the restoration of the temple. Let us remember it with them and also the light of the true temple which was destroyed and restored in three days: the body of our good shepherd, Jesus Christ. In the first line of this prayer, we hear the name of our savior transliterated Yeshua(ti) . Because He lives, so we too shall live.


Hebrew Transliteration Literal Translation
O mighty stronghold of my salvation, to praise You is a delight.
Restore my House of Prayer and there we will bring a thanksgiving offering.
When You will have prepared the slaughter for the blaspheming foe,
Then I shall complete with a song of hymn the dedication of the Altar.

…And it Concludes
Greeks gathered against me then in Hasmonean days.
They breached the walls of my towers and they defiled all the oils;
And from the one remnant of the flasks a miracle was wrought for the roses.
Men of insight - eight days established for song and jubilation

Bare Your holy arm and hasten the End for salvation -
Avenge the vengeance of Your servants' blood from the wicked nation.
For the triumph is too long delayed for us, and there is no end to days of evil,
Repel the Red One in the nethermost shadow and establish for us the seven shepherds.

Father: With this Christian Addendum: Just as Antiochus Epiphanes profaned your temple in Hasmonean days with statues of false idols and profane sacrifice, so now does the world’s love of darkness profane your great gifts and blessings with its own idols. We thank you Jesus for coming into the world to shine the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in you. Strengthen us in our resolve to be your shamus, lighting the candlesticks of faith in the hearts of all our neighbors. As you commanded us, we no longer worship you in the temple in Jerusalem, but in spirit and in truth. Make us the beacon on a hill, a light and a trumpet, for your gifts and blessings that you pour out on all who call on your holy name: Jesus. As we await your return which will be like a flash of lightning on the sky, we pray in your holy name, Amen.


Dinner



Mother: Now thank you Lord for this traditional meal of Latka/Potato Pancakes and Suffangiot/Donuts which are cooked in oil, to remind us of the miraculous lamp oil and the gift of light. Amen.