Somewhere Over the Hanukkah Rainbow

Hanukkah is early this year, making my inter-cultural holiday keeping somewhat complicated. For instance, I hold a monthly Shabbat service on the third Friday of each month in my congregation to teach the church about the Jewish roots of our faith. December would naturally be the time to share about Hanukkah. Three years ago I gathered a cast and we did the Hanukkah play that I had written and done with my grandchildren some years before. It now included Judah Maccabee wielding a Star Wars light saber to drive nasty Antiochus out of the Temple. Afterwards, we feasted on sufganiote which is Hebrew for jelly donuts which for some reason are traditional for Hanukkah. I think it has to do with the oil they are fried in. One year I flew to Israel during Hanukkah and the El Al ticket counter had a HUGE plate of sufganiote for all to share. Yum.

This year, Hanukkah being early, starts at sundown on December 1st and ends eight days later. Therefore, Hanukkah will be over by the third Friday of December when our Second Annual Hanukkah Talent Show will take place. Not to worry, the spirit is always there. And so will the jelly donuts.

Last year I had this idea to expand the play to whatever wonderful talents others have. It was a raving success and so we are now preparing for the Second Annual. The diversity of skits, songs and whatevers reveal the creativity among us. This year The Women's Bible Study Choir will be singing a rewritten rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" relating said place to heaven where troubles will have long since melted away like lemon drops, and a reading of The Night Before Hanukkah will, no doubt, enthrall the hearts of all. Plus we do have some beautiful voices who will surely move at least some of us to tears with the meaningful songs they will be singing. Whether silly or serious, the joy of the Lord will undoubtedly fill our hearts.

Hanukkah is the time to celebrate how God kept the light in the Temple menorah lit for eight days on only one day's worth of oil while they made more. Yeshua (Jesus) observed Hanukkah. John 10:22-39 records Him having been at the Temple for the winter occasion. Since He is the Light of the world, as I light my candles each night of Hanukkah, I light them in recognition that He is the Light of my own life and that in so many ways, life is a giant talent show for which He is the Supreme Director and Producer and it is His joy that floods it all. Happy Hanukkah to you, each and every one, Jewish or not. The Light of the World is available to everyone. May His light be your light always.