Chanukah, 2005

Shalom friends,

Chanukah is the classic Jewish holiday: Our enemies oppressed us; God delivered us; let?s eat!

The name Chanukah, of course, means ?dedication,? referring to the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem 150 years before the coming of Messiah. In those days, the land of Israel was part of an imperial system created by Alexander the Great nearly two centuries earlier. Emperor Antiochus sought to bring the Jewish people into conformity with the rest of his subjects by banning Jewish practice and the study of Torah, and finally defiling the holy temple so it could no longer be a place of worship.

A small band of pious Jews, called the Maccabees, rose up against this oppressive regime, and gathered increasing support. Through battles that were often miraculous, they regained the temple and eventually were able to establish an independent Jewish kingdom in the land.

This struggle is often described as a victory, perhaps the first victory in history, for religious freedom. But that?s not quite right. The Maccabees were not concerned with freedom to worship as they pleased, but with faithfulness to worship as God directed them. They were defending their covenant with God to follow his ways and instructions. Therefore, they did not fight for religious rights in general, but for the right to live and raise their children as faithful Jews.

The Maccabees fought against the forced assimilation that Antiochus believed would help unify his empire. But in a free country like the United States, voluntary assimilation can be a great threat as well.

Sadly, in the past, faith in Yeshua among the Jewish people has served assimilation, whether forced or voluntary. Jewish followers of Messiah generally abandoned their Jewish ways and identity, and within a generation or two were lost to their people. They may have succeeded in passing on the precious legacy of faith in Messiah to their children, but usually lost the precious legacy of Israel in the process.

The unique calling of Messianic Judaism, especially as we understand it in the UMJC, is to build a movement for Yeshua that also serves Jewish continuity. We don?t accept the centuries-old divorce between Yeshua and the people of Israel. Instead, we believe that Yeshua belongs in the midst of his people and calls us to follow him there.

During Chanukah, we read the words of the prophet Zechariah, describing his vision of a restored temple centuries before the Maccabees. The Lord tells Zechariah that this restoration comes about ?Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit.? This is also true of the restoration under the Maccabees and, I believe, of the restoration of a Yeshua movement within the house of Israel today.

It?s good to remember, though, that the phrase ?Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit,? came as a word of encouragement to the Jewish people of Zechariah?s day. Our God performs miracles, including the ultimate miracle of the life, sacrifice, and resurrection of his Son the Messiah Yeshua. But our God also works among and through his people. Restoration is the work of God?s Spirit, but it usually comes at the hands of the faithful few.

I see the same reality in the UMJC right now. The big vision of establishing a thriving community for Yeshua within the larger Jewish world is something only God can bring about. At the same time, God includes our participation in the fulfillment of this vision?our service, prayers, and financial support.

The traditional blessing for Chanukah says Blessed are you O Lord our God, king of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this season. In Messiah Yeshua, God is still performing miracles among us. Thank you for being part of the miraculous restoration of a community for Yeshua within the house of Israel. And may the One who performed miracles for our ancestors at this season be especially present for you and your loved ones during this season today.

In Messiah,
Russ Resnik,
Executive Director

Rabbi Resnik is available to speak at your congregation.
Click here for details.