The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-12-14
FEAST OF CHANUKAH WILL BEGIN
DECEMBER Is AND LAST EIGHT DAYS:
TO BE OBSERVED BY EVERY JEW

Ine feast OF h0mukah. also known
as the Feast of Dedication. and by
other appropriate titles, occurs this
year on December 18th, and will be Oh
served in Jewish homes and in the
House Of God for eight days there
after, starting from the evening of De
cember II.
This festival is a MINOR holiday and
is reminiscent, of the Maccabean vic
tory in the battle for Israols faith
when the prophetic promise was veri-
fled: mot by might. nor by power.
but by My Spirit. saith the Lord Of
Hosts"
1t recalls in particular the eventful
years of les TO 165 b. c. E., in Pales-
tine. During that period Antochus
Epiphanes or the mad man." king of
Syria. had resolved TO quench the lamp
OF religious liberty and resorted 10 the
crude tyrannia of imperialists to com.
pei all subject peoples to speak one
language and worship according to a
ritual approved by the appointed priests
of his empire ana their religious heads,
who naturally followed the poNtheistic
liturgy Of the Greeks. then in 4 state
of decadence.
Temple Desecrated
The enforcement Of this royal decree
was mandatory on all peoples. includ-
ing the Palestinian Jews. In compli-
ance with this tyranncal edict the
Temple on Mount Moriah (Jerusalem)
was desecrated and the altar of the
high priest was displaced by hdeous
IDOL, the work of mans hanus, and an
abomination OF human shame and self
degradation. Throughout the country
many wsaklings, fearing the mandates
OF Antiochus. yielded 10 the prompt
ings of their affrighted hearts and lis
tened 10 the tempting voices counsel
ing treason tC the God of their fathers.
These towards submitted to the bias
phemies of the monarch and worship
ped the idolatrous images. 1t seemed
as if Israel and his sacred heritage
Were doomed TO be swept away by the
rising tide Of heathenism.
The enforced obedience TO these idol.
atrous practices of pagansm which
were an abomination TO the Jew and
a source of irritation was. factor in
tanning the flames Of revolt that soon
broke out when imperialistic tyranny
added oppression TO violence The ha.
tred terminated in the hearts of the
Palestinian Jews against Antiochus re.
suited in a revolt that instantly led to
war against Syria.
Headed by Priest.
The insurrection was headed by a
priest Of Modin, Mattathias by name.
a member of a princely family, who
rallied a small band of loyal followers
10 defy the king and wrest freedom for
his countrymen from the tyrannies
and blasphemies of the mad emperor.
supported by Judah. his son, to whom
tradition has given the name Maccabee.
and his four heroic brothers, the AS
moneans led TO triumph the handful of
embattled Palestinian farmers who. by
their invincible strength and death
defying zeal for their God and country
defeated all the Syrian generals sent
against them In successive campaigns
covering period Of four years.
The final victory of the insurgent
Maccabees happened according to the
Hebrew calendar on the 25th day OF
kislev. corresponding 10 the month of
December, in the year l6j b. {. T..
Following the victory the Temple at
Jerusalem was renovated, the idola.
trous images removed and the altar re-
dedicated TO the worship OF the one
and only God.
The sanctuary thus rededicated rose
from the dust of its desecration in
greater beauty. Israel now became
endowed with new strength for the
spiritual contest through the ages
against error and superstition. In the
Jewish religious school and in many
Jewish homes. the celebrations OF
Chanukah with its lights, symbols OF
cheer and hope. recounts these histor.
cal events and emphasizes the firm
conviction that the day. will come when
justice, love and mercy will be exalted
and selfishness and hatred between
races and religions laid low. This fes-
tival voices the hope that all men will
eventually be banded together in one
covenant OF love and righteousness and
all mankind will turn 10 God alone as
Ruler of the World.
Germany sent Russia ESQ locomotives