Hanukkah Part 4

Hanukkah will end when the sun goes down tomorrow. Gifts are indeed given during Hanukkah, but usually these are to children, and may often be gifts of money or Hanukkah “gelt.” The gelt giving also usually extends to the needy. Because it is the miracle of the oil that the celebration recognizes, it is customary to have foods fried in oil. Some eat latkes, or fried potato pancakes, while others eat deep-fried doughnuts. The toy and game most associated with Hanukkah is the dreidel, a top with 4 sides. Each side has a letter of the Hebrew alphabet; together the letters form an acronym. There are two different forms of the top, with only the fourth letter varying. In Israel, the dreidel represents Nes gadol haya po, “A great miracle happened here.” Outside of Israel it is Nes gadol hayah sham, “A great miracle happened there.” Well, Hanukkah is almost over. It does have a significance to Christians. I like to think of it as a reminder that the Jews are God’s chosen people and while, in a spiritual sense, Christians become His chosen people (see 1 Peter 2:9), God still loves and has a plan for Israel. The Bible tells us there is coming a time when “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26). And that is how we should pray. Happy Hanukkah.