Join us on December 4th for an afternoon of remembering what Hanukkah means, reading the book of Maccabees, and games. Celebration to follow the service and teaching.

We look to start with the reading of the book sometime around 3pm.

Our service commences at 11:30 am. We meet every Shabbat (saturday) at 1470 Glenora Drive.

“Chanukah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods.

The Hebrew word Chanukah means “dedication,” and is thus named because it celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple (as you’ll read below).

In the second century BCE, the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks), who tried to force the people of Israel to accept Greek culture and beliefs instead of mitzvah observance and belief in G‑d. Against all odds, a small band of faithful but poorly armed Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of G‑d.”

The rededication of the temple, and the late memorial of the 8 day Biblical Sukkot the Yehudim had missed earlier that year as a result of not having access to the temple, became a reason for celebration every year since. This is a reason to celebrate the survival of our faith, and to re-dedicate ourselves to G-d and to rid ourselves of anything that might be unpleasing to Him or cause us to be defiled.

“At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah lighting. The menorah holds nine flames, one of which is the shamash (“attendant”), which is used to kindle the other eight lights. On the first night, we light just one flame. On the second night, an additional flame is lit. By the eighth night of Chanukah, all eight lights are kindled.

On Friday afternoon, care must be taken to light the menorah before Shabbat, and the following evening they are to be kindled only after Shabbat has ended.

Special blessings are recited, often to a traditional melody, before the menorah is lit, and traditional songs are sung afterward.”

Taken from: Chabad.org

“It was winter, and the Festival of the Dedication was being held in Jerusalem. Yeshua was walking in the Temple precincts, in Solomon’s Portico.” John 10:22–23