Evening journal., 1922-12-11
FEAST OF CHANUKAH

lnELAwAHE Jews preparing to celebrat
~ the Feast OF chanukah, also known the Feast o
Dedication and by other appropriate titles which oc
curs this year December is. will be observed II
Jewish homes and in the House OF God for eight day.
thereafter starting from the evening of December IA.
This festival is minor holiday and is reminiscent Of
the Maccabean victory in the battle for 1sraels faith
when the prophetic promise was verhed Not by
might, by power, but by My Spirit saith tho Lord
of Hosts"
recalls particular the eventful years OF 16S to
les b. c. E. in Palestine. During period Anto-
chus Eplphanes tho mad man." King of Syria, had
resolved quench the lamp OF religious liberty and re-
the crude tyrannies OF mperaiss to compel
all subject peoples speak language and worship
according ritual approved by the appointed priests
his empire their religious heads who naturally
followed the poythestlc liturgy OF Greeks then in
state of decadence
The enforcement Of this royal decree mandatory
all peoples including the Palestinian Jews In com
pance with this tyrannlcal edict the Temple Mount
AIorah (Jerusalem) desecrated and the altar of
the high priest displaced by a hdeous idol, the
work OF mans hands. and abomination OF human
shame and selfdegradation. Throughout country,
many wea1ings. fearing the mandates OF Antiochus,
yielded the promptings OF their afrghted hearts and
listened the tempting voices counseing treason 10
the God of their fathers. These towards submitted to
the blasphemiee of the monarch apd worshipped the
sacred heritage doomed to be swept by the
rising tide OF heathenism.
The enforced obedience these idoatrous practices
Of paganism which were an sbominaton the Jew
Of irritation factor in tanning the
flames revolt that broke when imperalstic
tyranny added oppression to violence The hatred
minated in the hearts the Palestinan Jews against
Antiochus resulted in revolt that instantly
against Syria
This insurrection was headed by a priest of Modin
by name member of a princely family who
rallied a of loyal followers defy the king
freedom for his countrymen from the tyran-
nes and blasphemies of the mad emperor.
Supported by Judah, his SON. 10 whom tradition has
given the Maccabee and his four heroic brothers
the Asmoneans triumph the handful of embattled
Palestinian who. by their invncble strength
and death-defying their God and country de-
'eated all the Syrian generals against them IN
,essive campaigns covering period of four years
The final victory OF the nsurgent Maccabeans hap
pened according the Hebrew calendar the twenty
fifth day OF Kisev, corresponding the OF De-
,ember in the year 165 b. C. f. Following tho vio-
ory the Temple at Jerusalem renovated the dola
rous images the altar rededicated the
Worship OF the and only God.
The sanctuary thus rededicated from the of
is desecraton in greater beauty. now became
endowed with new strength the spiritual contest
through the against and superstition. In the
Jewish religious school and in many jewish homes the
celebration OF Chanukah with its lights symbols OF
cheer hope. these historical events and
emphasizes the firm conviction that the day will
when jusI.-c and mercy will be exalted selfish
hatred between and religions laid low
This festival voices the hope ssat all will
lily be banded together in Gegenant OF love and
righteousness and all mankind will turn 20 God alone
IS Ruler Of the World.