Last night was the first night of Hanukkah 2024, and this year, Israelis continue to live in fear of terrorist attacks or of the news that a loved one has been brutally killed. Everyone, Jewish, Christian, or otherwise, should remember Israelis and persecuted Jews this Hanukkah.
Global anti-Semitism shot up ever since the heinous Hamas massacre of Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023, launched the ongoing war. There are still Israeli hostages more than a year later in Gaza, and hundreds of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers have been killed on top of the 1,200+ victims of the initial Oct. 7 attack. Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the Old Testament Jewish Maccabees over sacrilegious, murderous pagans and the cleansing of the Temple in Jerusalem. This Hanukkah, let us pray that God will again grant His people victory over the blasphemous and bloody Islamic terrorists who wish to destroy Israel (and whose mosque desecrates the Temple Mount).
The Biblical books of 1 and 2 Maccabees chronicle the setbacks and victories of the Jews under the Maccabee family against Greco pagans in the 2nd century BC. Judas Maccabeus or Judah was a particularly great general who led a successful revolt against the invaders and rededicated the Jerusalem Temple. The holiday of Hanukkah, also called the Festival of Lights, lasts for eight days because that is how long the last little bit of pure oil burned in the rededicated Temple miraculously until new oil could be found.
This year, there are many Jews who face hatred and persecution. Far too many governments around the world, including the Biden administration and other supposedly democratic nations in the West, have constantly undermined Israel and sided with the jihad-loving, Jew-hating Gazans. Throughout much of this year, Israeli civilians had to live in constant fear of rocket attacks and other terrorism from Hamas, Hezbollah, and their backers (including Iran).
Flashback: Exclusive: Israeli Emergency Responder Describes Realities of Israel at War
Tragically, over 90 hostages were still in Gaza as of October, whether dead or alive we do not know (some of the original hostages were rescued, some were killed). And in Oct. 2024 The Times of Israel reported: “A year of war: IDF data shows 728 troops killed, over 26,000 rockets fired at Israel.” Another soldier, IDF Maj. Hod Shriebman, was just killed in Gaza, and two soldiers were seriously injured in two separate incidents.
Last night at the Western Wall - the families of the hostages lit the first candle of Hanukkah and prayed for the safe return of their loved ones.
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) December 26, 2024
May the light of Hanukkah bring hope, strength, and the swift reunification of the hostages with their families.
Let them go… pic.twitter.com/Ja1BYLmpcz
God promised Abraham, father of the Israelite people (Gen.12:1-3), “Go forth out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and out of thy father's house, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and magnify thy name, and thou shalt be blessed. I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee, and IN THEE shall all the kindred of the earth be blessed.” May God bless Israel this Hanukkah.
