Note from the Editor:
I remember a story about two school age friends that, as December approached,
were looking forward to the year-end holidays. For them it meant,
fun, games, lots of food, no school and, most importantly, gifts.
As they engaged in lively conversation, the Christian boy, John, told his
Jewish friend, Samuel, that he was sorry that, because he was Jewish, he
would not enjoy all the good things that come with the celebration of Christmas.
Saddened by the fact that he would not have gifts waiting for him under
the tree on Christmas morning, Samuel asked his mother, why they couldn’t
celebrate Christmas like the Christian boys. His mother replied by
saying that about the same time that Christians celebrate Christmas, Jews
celebrate Hanukkah. And the best part was the fact that while John
would have only one day of festivities, Hanukkah lasted eight days! The
following day Samuel could not contain his excitement as he was looking
forward to telling John about Hanukkah. To his dismay, when Samuel
found John, he was rehearsing Christmas carols with the school choir, and
at that moment they were singing, none other than, The Twelve Days of Christmas.
Samuel turned and left feeling defeated without even speaking to his friend
John.
This innocent story speaks volumes to the fact that both Christians
and Jews have little understanding of the true nature of Christmas and
what Hanukkah is all about.
In this issue of Messianic Jewish LIFE you will find in an article
by Ruth Fleischer on the history and meaning of Hanukkah. Dr. Fleischer,
a second generation Messianic Jew, has a doctorate in Ecclesiastical History
from Kings College, University of London, and is presently the spiritual
leader of the London Messianic Congregation in England. In addition,
by tracing the roots of this Jewish holiday, Rabbi Bruce Cohen explains
why Hanukkah is not the Jewish Christmas but it has meaning and importance
all on its own.
In the same manner, Jewish people should not be afraid to look into
the meaning of Christmas. It is easy to loose the true meaning of Christmas
when we are bombarded by Christmas sales, and the focal point seems to
have shifted from the birth of Yeshua in Bethlehem to having a picture
taken with Santa Claus at the shopping mall. Do you know why the
carol says “Born is the King of Israel?” The answer can be found
in Rabbi Robert Cohen’s article on the messiahship of Yeshua. Robert
Cohen, a Rabbi of a congregation in Florida, is the Chairman of the International
Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues. Noam Hendren discusses
how Yeshua is the Messiah of the Christian and the Jew.
I am happy to introduce our readers to one of the most relevant Jewish
writers of our time, Dan Cohn-Sherbok, professor of Judaism in University
of Wales. His article on messianic expectations throughout the centuries
helps us to understand how important this topic has been for the Jewish
nation.
Messianic Jewish LIFE continues to expand thanks to our publisher
Lederer Messianic Ministries and our own marketing department. Now
in addition to subscribing to it, Messianic Jewish LIFE is available throughout
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make this publication possible. Please continue to send your opinions
and comments, and if you have any doubts, remember to Ask the Rabbi.
David Sedaca,
Editor