CHRISTMASTIDE WITH THE JEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17223, 14 December 1923, Page 11 (Supplement)

CHRISTMASTIDE WITH THE JEWS.

THE GREAT “ HANUKAH ” FESTIVAL About, the time when Christians celebrated tlie Christmas season the Jew celebrates his “ Hanukah Festival.” the date oi which is determined by the Jewish (lunar) calendar. This year the festival will fall on December 12, while last year it fell on December 23. The synagogue and home are illuminated ; religious songs of joy resound everywhere. - Sabbath schools have their festivals; young folks hold their special entertainments ; the old freely mingle with the young in the joys of the synagogue and home. But while the spirit of rejoicing is largely the same with Christian and

Jew, the inspiring cause of ii is held |to he widely different. The ( hristiau i celebrated the anniversary of the birth of Him whom lie proclaims and worj ships as the Son of God. The Jew j celebrates the anniversary of the vie- ! tories ol : the Maccabees. Tlie Syrian : enemy has desecrated the Temple, j Desolate and stood the altar. The ! courts, where formerly the people had gathered for worship, had become overgrown with thorns and thistles. Within the Sanctuary the heartless foe had erected an idol and bad commanded Israel. to worship it. The faithful liad refused to comply and had suffered the death of martyrs. This cruelty had at last aroused a valiant family, called tlie Maccabees. They had gathered the faithful around their banner and, although few in number, they had gone forth against the enemy, and. after several brilliant battles, bad utterly routed the mighty foe. Into the Temple they proceeded,

cleansed it of its pollution, built the altar anew, and restored the Sanctuary. Amidst song and music they illumined and rodedieated the House of God. For eight days there was great jejoicing among the people. And Judas, the head of the Maccabees, ordained that for all the generations to come the days of the Rededication (Hanukah) of the Temple should be remembered with gladness and delight.