Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-12-12
CELEBRATION Of
A JEWISH FEAST
BEGINS DEC. A
Chanukah, to Jews Of the
Present Era, CorroborateS
Their Abiding Faith in
Gods Justice


The feast of dedication, or feast
Of lights, as the festival known in
the synagogue as Chanukah is
called, will be observed in Jewish
circles for eight days, beginning
the evening of December IA.
Chanukah is a minor festival Of
the synagogal calendar. No spe-
cial ritual service is now followed
in its observance. In connection
with the Sabbath Of the Chanukah
week there are special prayers re-
cited to commemorate the festi-
val, while in the home candles are
lighted, beginning with one can
die on the first night, two on the
second, three on the third and so
on.
The festival has, however, an in
creasing value on the affection Of
the Jewish people. who read in it.
a verification OF their hope and
age-long idealism.
Overlapping very, ancient cere-
monial in connection with tho win
ter solstice was the celebration of
tho Maccabees in their battle
dBdlHSL Lut lIlpGI ltiilSllL OL lD9Llds
These epochal events In the STIR
ring years of 16S-165 Il. G. E., re-
count the valor and heroism of al
few Palestinlan Jews who rose in
revolt against the tyrannies Of
King Antiochus of Syria, also
known as "Epiphanes," the mad
man. This tyrant sought to com
pei his subjects TO forswear their
native language and abandon their
religion, which had even at that
day been an inheritance OF CEN
turies.
Submissive subjects and weak
lings yielded to the royal DEGREES
and bowed before the images made
by mans hand and offered up sac
rifice in abominations forbidden
by the stern religion of their faith
era. The faith OF Israel was
Threatened with extinction. The
idols of heathenism had displaced
the altar dedicated to God on
Mount Moriah (Jerusalem). and
the national existence of Israel was
doomed, when priest of Modin, !
named Mattathias, rallied a few
of his countrymen to his side and !
by the aid of his sons, notably Ju-
dah, defled the aggression Of the
Syrian tyrant.
With death-defyinG zeal these re-
roic Maccabeans successfully con-
Quoted series of military cum
paigns against various Syrian gen
era. s sent to subdue them, and as
a result, drove the invaders from
the country. The temple that had
been desecrated by the idols of
heathenism was reconsecrated to !
the One God, Father Of all mcr-
cies.
The significance of the Chanu-
kah is evidenced by the fascina-
ton Of tho story OF Judah and his
heroic brothers has on the imagi-
nation Of every generation. His
exploits, as well as the en- |
tire epoch in which these men and
their followers figure, arc the
themes of many legends. Tho mar
tyrdom OF Hannah and her seven |
sons is the most popular OF these
legends. This story relates the
heroism of devoted mother, who,
rather than submit to the defile-
ment of paganism, is herself I'm
ally put to death, together with her
sens. All stories recount the 10y
atty of the Palestinian Jews 70
their religious covenant and set an
example to future generations OF
heroic devotion to their religious
heritage.
To the Jewish people OF this
present era Chanukah corroborates
their abiding faith in Gods JUS
tice, Who proves by history that
Justice eventually triumphs. NO
matter how charged with peril
were the lives of the Jewish peo-
pie, they have obtained ample tes-
timony to the prophetic promise:
mot by might, nor by power, but
by My Spirit, saith the Lord" the
Jewish people realize, as q result
of their long contact with man
kind. that there is no king saved
by a multitude of his host on
the contrary, Chanukah voices the
hope that the day will come when
racial hatreds and national sell
will yield to the appeals
of humanity and brotherhood, and
all peoples be banded together In
a covenant Of love and righteous
ness,
In the religious schools there
are usually entertainments in
which plays or recitatlons COM
the valor Of the Mac
-.