It’s “the most wonderful time of year,” and both Christians and Jewish people enjoy the winter holiday season. This episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss is informative, personal and oh-so relevant. And we can almost guarantee that you’ll be surprised at some of the things you’ll learn.

Carly and Ezra ask each other about their holiday impressions, understandings and traditions growing up and how things changed after coming to faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Then, Carly digs deeper to understand the Jewish holiday of Chanukah and how Jewish people view Christmas, including:

• Jewish thought about when Jesus was born
• If Chanukah is in the Bible
• Why some Messianic Jews don’t celebrate Christmas now
• If Christians should celebrate Chanukah
• What about Christmas caroling at a Jewish person’s home?

Along the Way

In the course of the discussion, you’ll also hear what Chanukah is all about and how Christmas and Chanukah “have everything to do with each other.” You’ll learn some famous Christmas songs written by Jewish people. (You read that right.) Ezra reveals some perspectives, perhaps commonly but secretly held by Jewish people, about this “most wonderful time of year” and their quasi-inclusion in it.

You’ll hear how, while sensitivity is essential, apologizing for sharing the Gospel with Jewish people reaffirms a critical misunderstanding among them. Ezra and Carly also cover some questions Christians might have about the season and engaging across the divide between Jewish people and Christians, including:

• What’s the best way to engage with my Jewish neighbor during Chanukah?
• Would inviting a Jewish person to a Christmas play be offensive?
• Do Jewish people invite non-Jews over for Chanukah celebrations?

Words You Might Learn in This Episode

Chanukiah, Maccabees, the town of Modiin, shlep/shlepped, latkes, Ashkenazi, Sephardic, sufganiyot, moedim/moed

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode

John 10:22, Genesis 12:3, Matthew 25:40

On this sixth night of Chanukah, we consider the everyday miraculous gifts the Lord provides.

Messianic Jewish Chanukah Blessings

Place six candles in the chanukiah tonight, setting them in the holders from right to left. As you light the Shamash, or Servant Candle, recite the Messianic Jewish Chanukah blessings:

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has given us Yeshua the Messiah, the Light of the World.

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.

Candle Lighting

Using the Shamash, light the Chanukah candles in the opposite direction from which you placed them in the holders. Light them from left to right. Return the Shamash to its place. Let the candles go out on their own. They should burn for a least half an hour.

Devotion

Chanukah commemorates a huge miracle that took place in Jerusalem in the second century B.C.E. Not many of us are privileged to see such a mighty display when God steps in to redirect the natural way of things. Yet, every day we experience the miraculous, often without even noticing it.

Creation itself is full of miracles. There are more than a million species of animals on Earth. Snow is so varied that arctic natives have 50 words for it. There are 206 bones in the human body, more than half of them in the hands and feet alone. And when we stop to consider that the Lord involves Himself in the life of every Believer, we see that He brings the miraculous to us every day. He interacts with us through the Holy Spirit, answering prayers, prompting us toward His will, providing us opportunities to obey and trust Him every day.

In the Chanukah miracle story, we find an invitation to see that we are surrounded by the miraculous. If we have eyes to see it, we will have hearts full of wonder and joy.

From the Lord’s Word

The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. ––Psalm 118:23 NIV

He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. ––Psalm 111:4 NKJV

It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. ––Daniel 4:2 NIV

I will give thanks to You, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonderful deeds. ––Psalm 9:1 NIV

Prayer

Lord, You have done wonderful works in this world – and in my life. Through Jesus, You have redeemed me from my sin and given me new life. The fact that the God of the universe loves me and wants a relationship with me is astounding itself. Thank You! Please give me eyes to see the miraculous works of Your hand in my everyday life – both physical and spiritual – that I may be filled with joy and praise You more.

On this fifth night of Chanukah, we rejoice in our miracle-working Lord.

Messianic Jewish Chanukah Blessings

Place five candles in the chanukiah tonight, setting them in the holders from right to left. As you light the Shamash, or Servant Candle, recite the Messianic Jewish Chanukah blessings:

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has given us Yeshua the Messiah, the Light of the World.

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.

Candle Lighting

Using the Shamash, light the Chanukah candles in the opposite direction from which you placed them in the holders. Light them from left to right. Return the Shamash to its place. Let the candles go out on their own. They should burn for a least half an hour.

Devotion

In the Chanukah story, we see various aspects of the Lord’s character. He is light. He is victorious. And tonight, we honor Him as our miracle-working God. After taking back the Temple from Antiochus IV, the Jewish priests yearned to cleanse and set everything right inside it. But they discovered there was not enough purified oil for the Temple menorah to burn as God had commanded. In faith, they lit the lampstand, and God did a miracle. One night’s worth of oil burned for eight nights until they could produce and consecrate more.

Nothing is impossible for the Lord (Mark 10:27), and when He interjects His supernatural power into the natural order of things in our world, it leaves us awestruck. We are amazed, grateful and honored to be a witness to His miracle. We worship Him.

And He is glorified. Eyes that didn’t care to see Him take a second look, reconsidering their relationship to His wonder-working, all-powerful Lordship.

At Chanukah, we exalt the God of miracles. We marvel at His power and humbly praise Him that He loves us enough to supernaturally intervene according to His will.

From the Lord’s Word

Who is like you, Adonai, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, awesome in praises, doing wonders? ––Exodus 15:11

Blessed be Adonai Elohim, God of Israel, who alone does wonders. ––Psalm 72:18

You are the God who performs miracles; You display your power among the peoples. ––Psalm 77:14 NIV

I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago. ––Psalm 77:11 NIV

When Yeshua came near the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began to rejoice. They praised God with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen. —Luke 19:37

Prayer

Lord, You are awesome, indeed. Your Word is filled with Your mighty wonders. We do well to remember them and praise You anew for them. Thank You for reaching into the natural order of things in this world and performing the miraculous as You see fit. May each miracle glorify You and draw all who witness to worship You through Jesus the Messiah.

On this fourth night of Chanukah, we give thanks for the everyday victories the Lord has made possible for us.

Messianic Jewish Chanukah Blessings

Place four candles in the chanukiah tonight, setting them in the holders from right to left. As you light the Shamash, or Servant Candle, recite the Messianic Jewish Chanukah blessings:

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has given us Yeshua the Messiah, the Light of the World.

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.

Candle Lighting

Using the Shamash, light the Chanukah candles in the opposite direction from which you placed them in the holders. Light them from left to right. Return the Shamash to its place. Let the candles go out on their own. They should burn for a least half an hour.

Devotion

Last night, we reflected on our victorious God, who will soon bring to fruition the ultimate victory He has already won over evil. Tonight, we praise Him for making His power available to us through His Holy Spirit. Temptations and trials of all sizes come against us every day from our spiritual enemy. In our flesh, in our own strength, we lack the power to achieve victory – just like the Maccabees were insufficient in number against Antiochus’ soldiers. But with God’s strength, we can overcome. In Messiah, when we walk in the Spirit, we have all of God’s power available to us to fight temptations and get through any trials victoriously.

Chanukah reminds us that, as believers in Jesus, we can experience victory every day, in ways small and large.

From the Lord’s Word

With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies.––Psalm 60:12 NIV

For the Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with victory. ––Psalm 149:4 NIV

But thanks be to God, who keeps giving us the victory through our Lord Yeshua Messiah! ––1 Corinthians 15:57

Who shall separate us from the love of Messiah? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger or sword? But in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ––Romans 8:35, 37

Prayer

Thank You, Lord, for giving us Your Holy Spirit to empower and encourage us in the everyday battles we face. Your Word says that we will experience troubles in this world, but we can take heart because You have overcome the world (John 16:33). Help us to walk each day in Your Spirit, living victorious lives that reveal Your power and glory to all around us.

On this third night of Chanukah, we reflect on the Chanukah story and God as the Mighty Warrior who has already won the victory over evil.

Messianic Jewish Chanukah Blessings

Place three candles in the chanukiah tonight, setting them in the holders from right to left. As you light the Shamash, or Servant Candle, recite the Messianic Jewish Chanukah blessings:

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has given us Yeshua the Messiah, the Light of the World.

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.

Candle Lighting

Using the Shamash, light the Chanukah candles in the opposite direction from which you placed them in the holders. Light them from left to right. Return the Shamash to its place. Let the candles go out on their own. They should burn for a least half an hour.

Devotion

The Maccabees were a vastly outnumbered group of men facing a well-organized army of soldiers seeking to destroy the Jewish people and their faith. But they fought back anyway. They had to do something to end the brutal violence unleashed against them because they would not conform or convert to their attackers’ beliefs. The Maccabees fought, and, by God’s grace, they took back the Temple.

When the Lord engages in a battle, He is always victorious. He is the Almighty, all-powerful, sovereign Lord, after all. And Jesus rose from the dead, overcoming the power of sin and death! Though this world still suffers from evil, the Lord has foretold the day when He will put it away forever. To us, it’s in the future; to Him who is unbound by time, it’s already done. Chanukah illustrates that our God is victorious, and through Him, we are too. Praise Him for the wonderful things He has won for us!

From the Lord’s Word

For He has done marvelous things. His right hand and His holy arm have won victory for Him. ––Psalm 98:1

He will swallow up death forever, my Lord Adonai will wipe away tears from every face. ––Isaiah 25:8a

I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. ––Revelation 1:18 NIV

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we, removed from sins, might live for righteousness. “By His wounds you were healed.” ––1 Peter 2:24

Prayer

Almighty God, there is none like You. Thank You for the victory You have already won for us. Thank You for the day when You will bring to pass all that You have promised, and we will live entirely free from all sin, all oppression, persecution and evil. You are victorious! And we look forward to the day when You will receive all the glory and honor and praise that You deserve.

On this second night of Chanukah, we consider our roles as lights in the world.

Messianic Jewish Chanukah Blessings

Place two candles in the chanukiah tonight, setting them in the holders from right to left. As you light the Shamash, or Servant Candle, recite the Messianic Jewish Chanukah blessings:

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has given us Yeshua the Messiah, the Light of the World.

Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.

Candle Lighting

Using the Shamash, light the Chanukah candles in the opposite direction from which you placed them in the holders. Light them from left to right. Return the Shamash to its place. Let the candles go out on their own, and they should burn for a least half an hour.

Devotion

Setting the Temple back in order, cleansing it and restoring the Temple light was for God’s glory. It was only right that His dwelling place be pure and shining the holy light He intended to burn there.

The menorah that glowed all night was reminiscent of God’s presence in the pillar of fire each night during the Israelite’s years of wandering in the wilderness. He never left them, and His light shone for all the neighboring peoples to see as well.

Jesus told us that we are to be His lights in this dark world. When we walk by His Spirit, He shines His light into all the world. As we do, we glorify the Lord. We draw others’ attention to Him so that they might see and believe in His Messiah too. At Chanukah, we remember that as God lights our lives, we are to be diligent to see that He shines through us for all the world to see and glorify Him.

From the Lord’s Word

You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. ––Psalm 18:28 NIV

Come house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of Adonai. ––Isaiah 2:5

For once you were darkness, but now in union with the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light. ––Ephesians 5:8

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on a lampstand so it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. ––Matthew 5:14–16

Prayer

Lord, we praise You for Your light in our lives. We ask that You help us to live in such a way that shines forth Your amazing light, Your goodness and truth, Your grace and compassion. Help us to daily walk by Your Spirit so that Your presence will be evident to all we meet. And may You be glorified.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  

(John 8:12 NIV)

We’re heading into one of my favorite times of the year and I’m so excited to spend just a few minutes today writing to you! 

The Festival of Lights is a time for remembering God’s goodness and provision – throughout the history of Israel and in our own lives. 

With so much that can weigh heavy on our hearts this holiday season, as we celebrate differently than we had hoped or planned, let’s rejoice in our Messiah Jesus, the light of the world. And may we be inspired by His example to be a light for others in what can feel like a dark time. 

The headlines this week are split between the ongoing efforts for peace between Israel and her neighbors and Iran’s response to the assassination of their top nuclear scientist. 

In coronavirus news, Israel began a nightly curfew on Wednesday as new case numbers have been increasing. And the first shipment of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine is expected to arrive in Israel in the coming days, according to their Health Ministry. 

Israel and UAE set fast pace with normalization process 

The UAE was the first of the three Arab nations to normalize relations with Israel in 2020 and the process is moving quickly and with apparent great enthusiasm on both sides. It even appears that the UAE has dropped, in practical terms, the usual propaganda about Israel’s “occupation of Arab lands,” CNN reported. 

Last month, the UAE hosted a group of Israeli settler leaders from the West Bank. And in October, the country imported wine produced by Israeli companies in the Golan Heights.  

In addition, the UAE, the U.S. and Israel will finance a project to modernize Israeli checkpoints in the West Bank used to monitor the movement of Palestinians. 

Mutual concern about Iranian influence in the region also brings these two countries together. 

Saudi Arabia to allow Israeli commercial planes to cross its airspace 

Early last week, after talks between Saudi officials and White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, Saudi Arabia agreed to let Israeli airliners cross its airspace en route to the UAE, a senior Trump administration official said. 

The agreement was reached just in time – hours before Israel’s first commercial flight to the UAE was planned, Reuters reported. 

Tourist visas will be granted for Israelis traveling to the UAE  

While the mutual visa waiver agreement is being finalized, the UAE launched tourist visas for Israeli citizens who plan to travel to their country. The same will apply to Emiratis visiting the Jewish state. 

Abu Dhabi’s foreign ministry “announced the activation of tourist entry visas through airlines and travel and tourism offices for Israeli passport holders,” the Emirates News Agency reported. 

This is the latest move in the normalization of ties between the two countries. They have already signed treaties on direct flights and visa-free travel as well as accords on investment protection, science and technology, according to The Times of Israel. 

Iran plans to ramp up uranium enrichment and bar nuclear inspectors 

In response to the assassination of its top nuclear scientist, Iran enacted a law ordering an immediate increase of its enrichment of uranium to levels closer to weapons-grade fuel. The law also requires the expulsion of international nuclear inspectors if U.S. oil and banking sanctions are not lifted by early February. 

The level of uranium enrichment would give Iran the ability to convert its entire stockpile to bomb-grade levels within six months, The New York Times reported. 

It’s not clear if this is the full retaliation of Iran in response to the killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. He was regarded by U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies as the guiding force of previous Iranian efforts to design a nuclear weapon. Iranian officials have vowed to avenge his death. 

U.S. issues new Iran-related sanctions 

According to a statement released by the U.S. Treasury Department, fresh sanctions have been imposed on Shahid Meisami Group and its director, The Jerusalem Post reported. 

The entity is accused of being involved in Iran’s chemical weapons research and being linked to the Iranian Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research, which is blacklisted by the U.S. and formerly headed by Iran’s top nuclear scientist who was killed on November 27. 

The move comes days after the assassination of Fakhrizadeh. On Saturday, Iran’s supreme leader promised to retaliate for the killing. This raises the threat of a new confrontation with the West and Israel in the final weeks of Donald Trump’s presidency, Yahoo News reported. 

“Iran’s development of weapons of mass destruction is a threat to the security of its neighbors and the world,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in the statement. “The United States will continue to counter any efforts by the Iranian regime to develop chemical weapons that may be used by the regime or its proxy groups to advance their malign agenda.” 

Let us pray together 

Please pray with me for:  

• Additional countries to normalize ties with Israel and for those that have to work together to an even greater degree, like the UAE 

• Protection for Israel from any potential attacks by Iran in retaliation for the assassination of their top nuclear scientist 

• Wisdom and protection for the people of Israel as the number of new coronavirus cases are rising 

• Continued success of clinical trials to produce effective vaccines and for Israel to get access to the necessary vaccines when they are available 

• Jewish people to recognize Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah and the light of the world during Chanukah