11
Dec

Hanukkah – and the Jews’ Ongoing Struggle for Survival

photo credit: Puzzler4879 via photopin cc

Ami Farkas:

The story of Hanukkah took place during the Second Temple era, when the Greek empire was at its peak and the culture of hedonism was prevalent everywhere. That is, everywhere except within the Jewish families who remained faithful to the traditions and practices passed down to them from one generation to the next, going all the way back to the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Judaism was the antithesis of Greek philosophy. The Greeks worshipped many gods, while the Jews served One. The Greeks placed humanity at the center of existence and physical pleasure as the ultimate pursuit of mankind, while Judaism placed God in the center and taught that attachment to God was humanity’s highest purpose.

The Greeks attempted to rid the world of Jewish faith in…

   
Posted in: Biblical Reflections / Jewish Holidays / 
10
Dec

A Light in the Darkness

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Seen from the outside, Hanukkah is a time when Jewish people light candles, when children get presents for a whole week, play games with a dreidel, and engage in other festivities.

Indeed, Hanukkah is a festive, celebratory time for Jewish families. But it is also much more than that. At its foundation is a moving, inspiring story of God’s protection and provision – one that is especially meaningful this year in light of recent events in Israel.

The story of Hanukkah begins more than 2,000 years ago, when a powerful Greek and Syrian army invaded and occupied Israel. They tried to impose paganism on the Jewish people by forcing them to eat non-kosher food, forbidding circumcision, and placing a pagan idol, Zeus, in the Temple. While many people tried to accommodate this powerful new regime, a small group of Jews, known as the…

   
Posted in: Biblical Reflections / Jewish FAQ's / 
10
Dec

4Zion Helps Neighbors of Those Killed by Rocket Fire

It’s not hard to find Nava’s apartment building in the small city of Kiryat Malachi, literally “city of angels.” It has been all over the news since it sustained a direct hit from a terrorist-fired rocket. The building that Nava calls home has had two households shattered within it. Three people were killed on that fateful day, marking the first casualties of Operation Pillar of Defense, Israel’s latest war on terror.

Nava, a young mother of three, is married to a man who dedicates his life to Bible study. Her apartment is on the second floor of her building, making it a safer place than the apartments on the top floor, two levels above her. Like many old and run-down buildings in Israel, Nava’s building does not have the luxury…

   
Posted in: Help / Terrorism / 
7
Dec

Pray for Israel

Despite the struggles of this world — whether personal strife or political discord — we are blessed to know that God gives the gift of His peace and healing to all those who come before Him in prayer. Today, as we join our voices in prayer, let us find hope in the promises of God’s word, and draw nearer to Him.

Prayer Points:

  • As Jews around the world prepare for the Hanukkah holiday, and Christians anticipate the coming of Christmas, let us pray that faith, joy, and love abound in both communities during this season of celebration and light. “O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!” (Isaiah 2:5)
  • Pray that the ceasefire in Israel not only continues, but leads to true and lasting peace in the region. “He remembers His mercy and faithfulness to the house of Israel, and all the ends of the earth…
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    Posted in: Pray / 
6
Dec

Technion Students light the Hanukkah Menorah – With a Twist!

The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah celebrates miracles, and in the video below you can check out yet another one. Technion students in Israel have taken on the challenge of building a machine that lights the Hanukkah menorah. Check out this incredible video! (Be sure to click on the second video link after viewing to watch how they made it!)

Posted in: Technology / 
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