“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
Please note: Our Shabbat service commences at 1:00 pm on December 20th.
Please join us December 20th Sabbath following our regular Sabbath service to commemorate the story of Hanukkah, and to learn about how this important event in Jewish history is relevant for our times. Included are a special teaching regarding the history of Hanukkah, the call to dedicate ourselves to our Almighty Father, the significance of this historical occurrence before the first coming of our master Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus) , and how modern believers (Christian and Jewish alike) would benefit from taking the time to study this minor albeit spiritually significant feast (this feast is optional in our view as it is not commanded to be kept in the Torah).
Following the teaching please join us for fellowship time as we will share a meal together (feel free to bring dishes to share), light the hannukiah following sunset and have our Judaica marketplace open us well (following sunset).
From our Hanukkah article:
“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.
“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———
We meet every Shabbat (Saturday). Typically, after the service we share and enjoy "Oneg" (Shabbat Delight meal), whether that be at the our place of meeting or at each other’s homes. Following service and Oneg we turn our hearts to "Shabbat Tish" in a Bible study gathering where we look into our weekly Parashah (Torah portion) and during the winter months, we conclude our gathering with the Havdalah service.