Winter has definitely arrived in Israel. We welcome & desperately need the rainfall, but most people don’t realize how cold it gets here, especially in Jerusalem. All of the homes in Israel are stone, with very little if any insulation. I have often wondered how they kept warm 2,000 years ago….no heat, no hooded parkas, no gloves, no woolen ski cap, no heated waterbed (guess I’m showing my age) anyway, I thought I’d give you a brief understanding of the “Feast Of Dedication” for those that might be unfamiliar with this important event in Jewish history.This year Hanukkah begins on December 7th, and ends on December 14th.

Hanukkah, or the Festival of Dedication, celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its defilement by the Syrian Greeks in 164 BCE. The eight-day festival of Hanukkah has become a beloved and joyous holiday. It is also known as the Festival of Lights and takes place in December, at the time of year when the days are shortest in the northern hemisphere.

Beginning in 167 BCE, the Jews of Judea rose up in revolt against the oppression of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Seleucid Empire. The military leader of the first phase of the revolt was Judah the Maccabee, the eldest son of the priest Mattityahu (Mattathias). In the autumn of 164 BCE, Judah and his followers were able to capture the Temple in Jerusalem, which had been turned into a pagan shrine. They cleansed it and rededicated it to Israel’s God. This event was observed in an eight-day celebration, which was patterned after Sukkot, (Tabernacles) the autumn festival of Booths. Much later rabbinic tradition ascribes the length of the festival to a miraculous small amount of oil that burned for eight days.

The account of Maimonides, the revered Rabbi, the “Rambam” records it this way:

“when the Israelites prevailed over their enemies and destroyed them, it was on the twenty fifth of the month Chisleu; and they went into the temple and could not find any pure oil in the sanctuary, but one vial; and it was not enough to light but one day only, and they lighted lamps of it for eight days, until the olives were squeezed, and they brought forth pure oil: wherefore the wise men of that generation ordered, that those eight days beginning at the twenty fifth of Chisleu, should be days of rejoicing and praise, and they lighted lamps at the doors of their houses; every night of these eight nights, to show and make known the miracle; and these days are called Hanukkah ( חנוכה) or “the dedication”. The historical account can be found in the Book of Maccabees. It is a joyous time in Israel, celebrated by the lighting of the Hanukiah, and of gift giving for each of the eight days…….Kind’a like Christmas on steroids.

I find it interesting that as Israel was getting ready to celebrate the Feast of Dedication as recorded in John 10, Yeshua was proclaiming that HE is the “Light Of The World” in John 8:12 and John 9:5. Let us never forget that as the “Darkness” continues to surround us….HE IS the Light Of The World…..”and we that follow him shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life”……Praise The Lord.

Speaking of Darkness, the streets of Paris & Jerusalem have been stained with blood. Every day in Israel people are getting injured or killed in stabbing,shooting attacks, and car rammings. The hatred of the Oslo generation of Palestinian youngsters suddenly seemed to be unleashed in a most horrible way as teenagers were stabbed and parents were shot in front of their children.

The prophet Ezekiel calls it an “ancient hatred,” (Ezekiel 35:5) which is unleashed upon Israel in the last days. This hatred takes pleasure in the shedding of blood. It is a hatred which claims the ancient land of Israel was expropriated from the Jews and “has become our possession” (Ezekiel 35:10; 36:2). This hatred is driven by demonic forces which seek to annihilate the Jewish people, and it is directed against the purposes of God.

This uprising is not just a civil unrest. Its goal is to frustrate the plans and purposes of God for Israel and the entire human race. The Palestinians have it in their hearts to continue fighting until the Palestinian State encompasses the entire Land of Israel. It is a religious war directed against the God of Israel and what He is doing in this land.

As we witness this in Israel, we understand that these forces will not be overcome by physical force alone. Paul states: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). And this is the main battle line. It is our prayers that will bring change. This is the reason we fast and intercede. Therefore, I want to encourage you to pray for Israel in these days more than ever before. Psalm 122:6

The Lord is blessed by the many individual visitors & tours that continue to come, despite the violence. We had to chance to spend some time with the Calvary Chapel Aurora tour in November…please pray for the Mission Team coming from Aurora in January that we may be a “Light” to the “Lost Sheep Of The House Of Israel”.

Come to Israel and Be Blessed & Be a Blessing.

Moses writes in Genesis 12:3 “and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed”

As 2015 comes to a close, we pray you will consider a year-end tax deductible gift.

Most of you are unaware that when we lived here in Israel from 1996-2012, one of our “tent-making” adventures was the designing and manufacturing of jewelry & other gift items. We owned & operated a small manufacturing facility as well as 2 gift shops.

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Contact us directly at: larryandbess@gmail.com

Blessings From Jerusalem

Larry & Bess Herzekow