Yeshua in Hanukkah All references are taken from the Complete Jewish Bible, David H. Stern, Publisher: Jewish New Testament Publishers, unless otherwise noted. Welcome/Opening Slide Welcome the children & organize as required Opening Prayer Please Remember These Rules Say: Here are the rules: Please don t talk when others are talking Please raise your hand if you would like to ask a question Please keep your hands, feet and other body parts to yourself You must ask to leave the room Title Slide - Hanukkah Say: The happy festival of Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights as it is also known, occurs at the time of the year when the days are their shortest and the nights their longest. Say: Hanukkah is a celebration marking the victory of Judah Maccabee over the Greek army in the year 165 B.C. There are lessons we can learn this holiday and we should remember that Yeshua kept this celebration as recorded in Yochanan 10:22. Yochanan 10:22, 23 Then came Hanukkah in Yerushalayim. It was winter, and Yeshua was walking around inside the Temple area, in Shlomo s Colonnade. What does Hanukkah mean in Hebrew? Question: Does anyone know what Hanukkah means in Hebrew? (Dedication) Say: The gospel account calls this holiday by yet another of its names, the Feast of Dedication. The origin of this holiday is recorded in the books of I and II Maccabees. These books are not found in the Bible. They are special books called the "Apocrypha." 1 P a g e
The Conquest Say: Here is the story: After the conquest of Alexander the Great in the 4th century B.C. Judea fell under the rule of Alexander's successors who were intent upon "Hellenizing" the Israelites and turning them away from the worship of the true God. Say: The Jewish people were forbidden to celebrate Shabbat, Festivals and Torah study. Say: They were forced to become Greek! Say: The most notable and oppressive of these Greek rulers was Antiochus Epiphanes. Say: He set up a pagan altar in the temple at Jerusalem and offered swine's flesh upon it to show his contempt for the God of Israel. Say: He commanded that all Jews offer sacrifices to the pagan gods. Say: He also forbade circumcision and other practices of Judaism. Question: Who does this person remind you of? (Hussan) The Rebellion Say: In the village of Modi'in, not far from present day Ben Gurion Airport, the representative of the king appeared and demanded that the Jews there make sacrifice. Say: An aged priest by the name of Mattathias refused and killed the king's messenger. The Battle Say: He then fled to the mountains with his five sons and began a guerrilla war against the Greeks. Say: His son Judah took command of the small band and with the help of God scored several remarkable victories against the mighty armies sent to quell the rebellion. The Victory Say: At last, the Temple was retaken and rededicated. Say: The Menorah was lit again after years of being extinguished, and the faith and nation of Israel was preserved. 2 P a g e
The Dedication Say: According to the story, when the Maccabees re-entered the Temple, they found only enough undefiled oil to fuel the great candlestick for one day. Say: Miraculously, however, it lasted for eight days, until fresh oil could be procured. In memory of this miracle, the festival still lasts for eight days. The Custom Say: Hanukkah has many happy customs associated with it. Say: We light a special holiday menorah in our homes for the eight nights of the festival to commemorate the miracle that occurred in the Temple. Say: We sing special Hanukkah songs such as "Maoz Tsur" (Rock of Ages), and delightful holiday foods are served usually including potato latkes (pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts). Say: Both of these special foods are cooked in oil as a symbol of this holiday. Say: Throughout Hanukkah, children spin their dreidels. Say: These are specially designed tops with four sides and with a Hebrew letter on each side, standing for the words, "Great...Miracle...Happened...Here (or There)." Say: Yeshua is called the light of the world, and asks believers to walk in the light. Say: The light of Yeshua is the life of men Yochanan 1:4. Believers are one with Yeshua, and He instructs them in Mattityahu 5:14 "You are the light of the world.... let your light shine before men." Say: We also must remember the parable of the ten virgins (Mattityahu 25: 1-13), Yeshua warns wise believers to keep oil in their lamps to remain spiritual for the coming of the bridegroom. Say: He provides the oil of the spirit to keep the light burning, and asks us to walk in His light. Say: His words are the light to guide our feet. What special significance to the believer is a celebration of the Light of the World! 3 P a g e
What Did We Learn Today? The Questions In Hebrew Hanukkah means Dedication Yeshua celebrated Hanukkah Let the Light of the World shine in your Life Note: Pass the handout to the children and work on the questions together. The questions are on page 1. Note: The answers will appear on the screen with a click 1. What is another name for the festival of Hanukkah? A. Passover B. Festival of Lights C. Shavuot Answer: B. Festival of Lights 2. What king conquered Israel in the 4th century B.C. A. King George B. Nebuchadnezzar C. Alexander the Great Answer: C. Alexander the Great 3. What did Antiochus Epiphanes set up in the Temple at Jerusalem? A. A pagan altar B. A new fence C. A new roof Answer: A. A pagan altar 4 P a g e
4. Who led the Jewish army to defeat the Greek army? A. Daniel B. David C. Judah Maccabees Answer: C. Judah Maccabees 5. When Maccabees re-entered the Temple, they found only enough undefiled oil to fuel the great Menorah for how many days? A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 Answer: A. 1 6. How many days did the oil last? A. 5 B. 8 C. 10 Answer: B. 8 Crossword Puzzle Note: Work on the crossword together. The questions are on page 2. Across 3. How many days did the oil last in the menorah? - EIGHT 4. What was the name of the leader of the Jewish Army? (Hint: His last name was Maccabees) - JUDAH 5. What was the name of the evil Greek ruler over Israel? (Hint: his last name was Epiphanes) - ANTIOCHUS 6. What special item holds the candle we light on Hanukkah? - MENORAH Down 1. What does Hanukkah mean in Hebrew? - DEDICATION 2. Hanukkah is also called the Festival of - LIGHT 5 P a g e
The Maze Note: Let the children work the maze and then show the solution 6 P a g e
The Word Search Puzzle Note: Let the children find the hidden words within the grid of letters then show the solution. ANTIOCHUS DEDICATION JUDAH MENORAH CANDLE EIGHT LIGHT YESHUA CHANUKKAH FESTIVAL MACCABEES Game Playing the Dreidel The dreidel is a four-sided spinning top, also called a "s'vivon," in Hebrew. On each side is a Hebrew letter: "Nun," "Gimel," "Hay" and "Shin." The letters stand for the phrase, "Nes Gadol Hayah Sham - a great miracle happened there." It is traditionally used to play a lively Chanukah game. Each player places some raisins, candies, or nuts into a kitty, and the players take turns spinning the dreidel. "Nun" means nothing, you win nothing, you lose nothing. "Gimel" means you take all. "Hay" means you win half of what is in the kitty. "Shin" means you lose, and must put more into the kitty. 2011 Shomer Ministry Project, Oklahoma City, OK All references are taken from the Jewish New Testament, David H. Stern, Publisher: Jewish New Testament Publishers and the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise noted. 7 P a g e