My Hanukkah Story - Ariel Ministries

Arnold visits
the UK
Introducing
Gefen
International
How Did the
Wise Men
Know?
Fall 2011 / Volume 1 / Number 2
Testimony:
Dr. Charles Barg
My
Hanukkah
Story

Ccontents
Testimony
On The Road
Gefen
Lesson
Israel
News
Cover Story:
03
04
07
09
13
15
17
My Hanukkah Story
02
The Editor’s Desk
Welcome to the 2nd edition of Ariel Ministries Magazine. In
this issue, we have included two new sections that will become
regular departments. Our "News" section highlights Ariel
branches, partners, and missionaries worldwide. You will also
see a section titled "Israel", written by our Israel branch leaders.
Please check out this quarter's Hanukkah-themed cover story,
written by Messianic Jewish teacher Mottel Baleston. Happy
reading!
You can help.
If you are currently viewing the Magazine online, let us
know. It helps us with the high cost of mailing.
Purpose Statement
Ariel Ministries exists in order to evangelize Jewish
people and to disciple Jewish and Gentile believers
through intensive Bible teaching from a Jewish
perspective.
Board of Directors:
Jim Tour - Chairman of Board
Charles Barg
Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum
Jerry Gross
Guy Hoffman
Jake Hogue
Publications:
Publisher - Ariel Ministries
Editor - Emily Glisson
Copy Editors - Christiane
Jurek & Randy Gauthier
Contributing Writers -
Arnold F. Fruchtenbaum,
Charles Barg, Yaron, L.G.,
Mottel Baleston
Art Directors -
Jesse & Josh Gonzales
Home Office
Administration:
President and Founder -
Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum
Executive Assistant/ Office
Manager - Denise Velarde
Communications Director -
Randy Gauthier
Publications Manager -
Emily Glisson
Special Projects - Sarah Casey
Shipping Manager -
Becky Hodges
Accounting - Robin Hull
Audio Editor - Gabe Francis
Receptionist - Chelsea Brickei
Home Office Contact:
Ariel Ministries
11926 Radium Street
San Antonio, Texas
78216 -2713
(210) 344-7707
homeoffice@ariel.org
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 792507
San Antonio, Texas
78279-2507
www.ariel.org

Charles Barg
03
testimony
My time with Ariel Ministries has been nothing short of a
blessed experience. I am the former Chairman of the Board, now currently serving
on the Board of Directors. Although my experience in ministry-work spans a great many years,
there was a period in my life when I didn't know Yeshua as my Messiah. Let me back up a bit. I
am a Lithuanian-Ukranian Jew. My father, a tough Chicagoan and former Marine Corps
Sergeant, was in the new steel business in Arkansas. My mother, too, was Jewish. My father
founded a large business from scratch and eventually rose up in the ranks of rural Arkansas
B'nai B'rith to become the International Vice President of B'nai B'rith. He imparted
strength in all he did.
I experienced a briss (Yiddish word for circumcision.) at eight days, a bar
mitzvah at 13, and a confirmation from Sunday school at 16, all from the
Baron Hirsch Synagogue. About that time, I stopped believing in God and
began partying. Seven years later, I began playing lead guitar in a
couple of rockabilly bands. Meanwhile, I would occasionally drive
trucks and fabricate steel for my father, uncle, and three older
cousins. Eventually, I married the girl down the street. Linda has
been my life-partner for 43 years.
In 1972, I entered University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences where I began med-school. I met my friend, Mike Hendren, while
studying there. He was a different "cut of cloth", so to speak. I would study with him, but I remember watching him all the time. I
thought to myself, "Nobody can be this good!" He was light years ahead of me in being honorable. Yet he loved me! He never
criticized my religion, but rather listened attentively and spoke with authentic dignity. After we graduated,
there were fewer encounters, but I experienced heightened respect whenever I saw him.
Two years later, Steve Johnson, a nurse and builder back then (now a doctor in Sedona, Arizona), had read
the gospel of Jesus Christ to me through the Roman Road. So I decided to do a survey of comparative religion.
Steve eventually asked me to go to a small church with him in North Little Rock and hear Dr. Arnold
Fruchtenbaun speak. He was speaking about the Abrahamic Covenant, that all who bless Israel, on a
personal and corporate level, shall so be blessed, and all who detest Israel shall suffer the same fate.
Admittedly so, I could identify with his message. After all, I had been a 20-year member of B'nai B'rith (Sons of
the Abrahamic Covenant). It was as though Arnold had been speaking directly to me that night.
After two years of comparative religion, I was exhausted. I knew that Yeshua was real, but I did not want to
own it. Each night, I would awaken and pace the floor. Finally, I shouted, "Prove it to me, God, and you can
have the rest of my life!" And He did. There were no lightning strikes or anything of that nature, but by
releasing my own will, I finally was releasing myself to Him. I apparently fell into His waiting arms! A month
later, my wife began reading the Bible with the intent to refute me. But after much prayer, she eventually
came to know our Messiah much in the same way. We have walked with Him since September, 1980. Since
then, we have encountered about every adverse thing in the universe, yet we are spiritually stronger than ever
and more confident day-by-day, thanks to the living God!
Finally, I
shouted,
"Prove it
to me,
God,
and you
can
have the
rest of
my life!"

Arnold’s adventures
Camp
by Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum
The 2011 Program of Messianic Jewish Studies at Camp
Shoshanah was simply fantastic! This year the summer
program began with a four-day weekend of studies followed
by the six-week program.
Co-teaching with me this year
were Jeff Gutterman, Mottel
Baleston, Michael Gabizon, and
Steven Ger. The courses taught
this year included the following:
The Jews and Arabs in Bible
Prophecy, Angelology, Satanology, Demonology, The Book of
Ezekiel, The Book of Acts, Messiah in the Tabernacle and
Temple, Israelology: the Doctrine of Israel, Ecclesiology: the
Doctrine of the Church, Discipleship, and The Life of the
Messiah from a Jewish Perspective.
We praise the Lord that after two years of lower attendance,
due to the economic situation, the numbers were up again. Not
counting camp staff or faculty, the total number of students
this year was roughly around 150. The countries represented
included the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England,
Germany, Hungary, South Africa, and Israel.
Tovyah, Mary Ann's caretaker, drove Mary Ann up to camp.
She was fortunately able to spend three full weeks on the
grounds. She was not able to rise up for most of the meetings,
but she had a steady flow of students visit her almost non-stop
every afternoon. Mary Ann was able to meet many new people,
as well as renewing contact with previous friends. Some
enjoyed revealing various jokes I would tell about her during
class when she was not there!
04
The new dining hall/fellowship hall is now about 90 percent
complete. A special donation came in from one of the campers
that allowed us to put in the new septic tank necessary for the
large building. The completion of this building will allow us to
do more than just cook and serve food. On the same level as the
kitchen and dining hall are also four classrooms, a large
bathroom, and shower facilities. The lower level will include a
room for indoor recreation, a fellowship hall, a bookstore, a
coffee house, and a library. Our goal of moving toward a one year
program in addition to the summer programs is slowly but
surely becoming a reality.
But the most important aspect about our program is the
discipleship aspect, which focuses on the people. Nothing gives
a teacher more joy in teaching than a receptive and
eager-to-learn student. Such was my experience this year, as in
previous years. Although we are located in the northeast corner
of New York State, people come to us from all over the world.
There are other places to study the Word of God, but the
uniqueness of Shoshanah is how we provide the Jewish frame of
reference in Bible teaching. For people anxiously wanting to
learn the Word, they travel to camp from places far and wide,
and this has been true now for 38 years.
Camp Shoshanah

There were special blessings as well. Michael Gabizon is the
son of Jacques and Sharon Gabizon (Ariel Canada). Last
summer Michael and his new wife, Hannah, came to camp
right after their honeymoon in order to oversee the youth
program. They came again this summer with a larger number
of youth, and they both did a superb job. In addition to the
youth program, Michael also taught a class on discipleship,
which communicated very well and demonstrated his future
potential.
Another special blessing was the attendance of Sasha, our
Israeli representative in charge of our Ariel Israel branch.
Sasha took one of my classes and explained what he wished to
Great Britain
Arnold’s adventures
Great Britain
In the past, I made several speaking tours throughout Great Britain, but it
had been a number of years since my return. I agreed to come again this
year, though it would only be two days after I returned from camp. Of all
the trips I have ever taken to England, this was by far the busiest.
Over a 20-day period, I spoke in 13 different venues and gave about
25 messages.
I arrived and spent the first night at a hotel near the airport so I
could sleep and get over my jet lag. I generally try to spend two
nights for that purpose, but the schedule this year would not
allow for that. I was picked up the next day and gave my first
talk to a church that night. Then it was time for a youth
conference. After that, I would be driving for hours from one city
to another and speaking on the day of my arrival. Sometimes I
would not even have time to check in and change clothes before
speaking. Spending two or three nights was rare on this trip, and for the
most part it was one night here and one night there. It was a mixture of
both churches and conference grounds of one sort or another.
05
accomplish in his ministry. Sasha was able to raise a small
amount of support for Ariel Israel. We hope and pray to see
him and his wife come for a much longer period of time in
the near future.
There is also a future blessing. A Hungarian couple who
attended camp 13 years ago came again with their daughter.
I have had on-and-off contact with them for a number of
years, and she became a worker for the Holocaust Museum
in Budapest. We discussed the possibility of starting a
Hungarian Branch of Ariel Ministries, which may become a
reality by the end of the year. Please pray as we discuss this
further.
During the last week at camp, someone sent me an item that
appeared on the Internet. Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister
of the United Kingdom had written an article listing nine
books he would like to have if he were marooned on a desert
island. One of them was Jesus was a Jew. When I arrived into
London and checked in, I picked up a paper called The

Arnold’s adventures
Guardian, which I was led to believe is the second largest
newspaper in the UK. Inside the newspaper was an article on
Tony Blair and the books he recommended. Mine was
included. So that became the subject of talk in many of the
churches I spoke in. It was amazing to see how my writings
have spread amongst believers in England. It was also good to
renew fellowship with so many believers that I had met in the
past.
Two events stood out in particular. First, I got to speak to a
Messianic Congregation in England, which turned out to be a
solid teaching congregation. The
founding pastor is a Camp
Shoshanah graduate who moved
to England to begin this work,
which has grown well.
Furthermore, not only are they providing a market for Ariel
books, but they have the complete collection of all Ariel
manuscripts, which they use in the discipleship program. In
England, it is harder to find a Bible teaching Messianic
Congregation than in the U.S., but I was delighted to find this
one and will promote it amongst British believers living in the
London area.
The second event was an experience in York (the old one, not
the new one). The meetings were held in the middle of a
cemetery, obviously a very unique setting. The leader who
organized the meetings in York is married to a handicapped
wife as I am. I had dinner at a restaurant with the leader and
his wife and their very active and talkative young daughter. I
was able to observe how much he loved his wife and aided her
in every way. His dedication to her was very obvious and his
actions were prime examples of biblical love; the love a
husband expresses for his wife. I walked away praising God
for such a beautiful example.
As busy as it was, it was very enjoyable to be in England again,
and I promised to return in the future.
06
itinerary
United
States
Date: October 14-16
Venue: Strickland Baptist
Address: 10023 S. Green Road
Location: Shepherd, MI
Contact: 989-828-5522
Email:
stricklandbaptist@gmail.com
Topic: TBA
Date: October 16-19
Venue: New Hope Church
Address: 1340 Haslett Road
Location: Haslett, MI
Contact: 517-339-9000
Topic: TBA
Date: October 21-23
Venue: Lickley Corners
Baptist Church
Address: 10000 Tamarack Road
at the corner of Lickley and
Tamarack Roads.
Location: Pittsford, MI
Contact: 517-523-3434
Email: dartriley@yahoo.com
thepooles@thekingsmail.net
Topic: TBA
Date: December 4
Venue: Cross Community
Fellowship
Address: 8770 Dietz Elkhorn Rd.
Location: Boerne, TX
Contact:
Pastor Gary McCarron
gary@thegroupdivision.com
Topic: TBA
Germany
Tour
Date: October 27-30
Venue: KfG Autumn Conference
held at: Christliches
Erholungsheim "Westerwald"
Address: 56479 Rehe
Contact: Konferenz für
Gemeindegründung e.V. Postfach
13 22 D-36082 Hünfeld
49 (0) 66 52 91 8187
Email: service@kfg.org
October 30-31
Topic: The Arab States in prophecy
Time: 8:00 PM
Location:
Christliche Versammlung
Am Koenigshof 33-35
40822 Mettmann.
Contact: Klaus Velleuer
Email: velleuer@googlemail.com
Phone: ++49 2104 82893 or Mobile
++49 176 914 84 689
Date: November 1-4
Venue: Api-Gemeinschaftszentrum
Hüttenbühl
Address: 73553 Alfdorf-Hüttenbühl
Host: die Apis - Evangelischer
Gemeinschaftsverband
Württemberg e.V. - Bezirk
Gschwend Hüttenbühlstrasse 32
Contact: Joachim and Martina
Stütz TPhone
++49(0)7176 90470
Email: buch-stuetz@t-online.de
Michael Kroner
++49(0)7182 929727
Date: November 5-12
Venue: Bible Week in Zavelstein
Address: Bibel-nd Erholungsheim
Haus Felsengrund e. V.
Location: Weltenschwanner STr.
26, D-75385 Bad Teinach-
Zavestein
Contact: 49 (0) 7053-9266 0
Email: info@haus-felsengrund.de
Time: 9:45am -and- 7:30pm
Topic: Isaiah

Gefen’s International Israeli Outreach
A vision that became a reality
By Yaron
“By now, I understood
that all of these friends
of mine were travelling
after having finished
their Israeli army
service.”
My name is Yaron. I was born in England in 1967
- just before Israel regained control over the whole
city of Jerusalem. My birth year is a constant
reminder that God is faithful to fulfill all that He
purposes concerning Israel.
My parents are both believers and despite my own, sometimes rebellious
character as a teenager and into my twenties, I did grow up with a real
awareness of a living Jesus. Eventually, I realized that He, Himself, is the
source of love; the way, the truth, and the life. There is nothing as vital,
beautiful, and true as Jesus and being in His presence. At the age of eighteen,
I felt a stirring to do some overseas volunteer service. So where did I end up?
Israel, of course! I had a friend who was a volunteer in Israel and he
recommended I visit him. So in 1985, along with another friend, I found
myself volunteering in a Kibbutz (Hebrew for "gathering" or "clustering") on
the Lebanon border.
A month later, on my first day outside the Kibbutz, I was sitting on a rock in
the Naphtali mountains looking over to the Golan Heights. Suddenly, the
name of Abraham literally dropped into my mind. I began to think of him
coming into the land from Haran. As I looked over to what is today called
Banyas, (Caesarea Philippi in Jesus' time), my thoughts turned to Jesus and
His ministry. For the next couple of hours, I knew that I just needed to sit
quietly and be a vessel as God gently worked in my heart showing me many
things. I knew that the Bible was not only true, but that most Biblical events
occurred in this special land. I went back into the Kibbutz completely
transformed, with my eyes opened much wider. I had a deeper love for the
people and for the land of Israel. That was when the first seed was planted.
In 1991, I was in Tokyo teaching English where I met several Israelis. I ended
up opening a business with an Israeli venture partner. During 1993, I left
Japan with some Israeli friends and travelled with them through the
Philippines, Thailand, and India. Early one morning on the beach of Koh
Phangan Island, we all met for coffee. My friends said they were going to
attend various Buddhist and Hindu meditation classes. They were looking
everywhere for answers, except toward Yeshua, for all the reasons I’m sure
you are aware of. I felt a great sorrow in my heart for them. Later, I heard
these words in my thoughts: “The Israelis should know their Messiah.”
Eventually, I would see how this tied in with Romans 1:16.
07

Gefen’s International Israeli Outreach
By now, I understood that all of these
friends of mine were travelling after
having finished their Israeli army
service. The Lord planted a second
seed. I realized that instead of having
new age courses, materials, and gurus
during their travels, they needed to be
exposed to the truth of the Gospel.
They needed to meet other Jews and
Gentiles who followed Yeshua, their
Messiah. This would need to happen
in such a way that many of them
would choose to be around this witness. My head and my heart
ached, as I believed the Lord wanted to accomplish this goal
through me, but I didn’t have the answer then. It wasn’t the
time.
I spent the next several years in training, beginning with a
membership at a Hebrew-speaking congregation in Israel. I
did a biblical studies and
discipleship course in the UK,
followed by a Jewish studies
course in the US. Next, I studied
Hebrew in Israel through a
government program, and
eventually attended Tel Aviv
University. During this time, I
commenced studying the Bible
in Hebrew and started to serve
in my local congregation. I also
helped the pastor teach a discipleship course in Hebrew and
being involved with local evangelism and other practical
service. The Lord had provided finances for me to do all of this
from the business I had in Japan.
After these studies, I felt reminded by the Lord of my earlier
experiences. I still had a burden for the thousands of Israelis
travelling around the world. In 1997, I spent a few weeks with
a couple in their house in Bolivia where thousands of Israelis
had visited since 1982. There, I had the privilege to share the
Gospel with Israelis day after day from the Hebrew Scriptures.
In 1999, I was asked to join a team from Israel to help lay the
foundation for outreach to Israelis in India. In that year alone,
Please visit www.ariel.org and click on “about us”. Look for Gefen International in the tab menu.
For those who wish to support Gefen as hosts, we are not currently looking for hosts in the U.S., unless you live near a National Park.
If the Lord leads you to support Gefen, please visit the website provided above.
Be sure and select “Gefen – Israeli Outreach International” in the fund box menu located on the donations page.
To contact Gefen, please send an email to: gefen@ariel.org
08
there were 60,000 Israelis who requested
visas for India. Almost all Israelis serve in the
army. Since most of the Israelis travel
overseas at some point after their army
service for this ‘time out’, you can see that I
am talking about the majority of the nation of
Israel that has travelled, is travelling, or will
travel.
Later in 1999, I started a simple network
where Israelis could be hosted for a few days
or more by believers in Scotland. I put the
network information in some relevant places
in Israel and prayed the following: “Lord, if 10 Israelis will
contact me by spring 2000 and ask to come and stay in the
western highlands of Scotland in one Christian home, then I
will take it that you are in this, and I will follow if you lead the
way in how I should move forward”. By March of 2000, I had
received my answer! Exactly ten inquiries from Israelis came in.
I believed the Lord wanted me to move forward with this
ministry, and that the "host home" outreach to Israelis would
grow and bear fruit because He was surely in it.
My main undertaking has been
the development and execution
of Gefen’s International Israeli
Outreach around the world. This
outreach is designed so that
thousands of Israelis will be
genuinely encouraged by the love
of God as believing hosts warmly
received them into their homes in
accordance with the biblical ministry of hospitality. To date,
well over 14,000 Israelis have used Gefen’s network and have
heard the gospel in a loving manner. Many seeds have been
sown into Israeli hearts to consider the person whom every
host gives as the reason for their hope, Yeshua the Messiah,
first to the Jewish people and then to all. Hebrew Bibles and
Messianic literature are supplied, and this literature is then
distributed to the host homes so that all Israeli guests have easy
access to freely take and read the message of hope and salvation
in Yeshua.
I rejoice and thank God that He has drawn Israelis to Himself,
as they use the network. Quite a few have already come to trust
Yeshua as their Lord.

How Did The Wise Men Know?
fruit from the frucht
T
09
he account of the visit of the wise men to the infant Yeshua
(Jesus) is recorded in Matthew 2:1-12.
1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod
the king, behold, Wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 2Where is
he that is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4And gathering
together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should
be born. 5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written through the
prophet,
6And you Bethlehem, land of Judah,
Are in no wise least among the princes of Judah:
For out of you shall come forth a governor,
Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel.
7Then Herod privately called the Wise men, and learned of them
exactly what time the star appeared. 8And he sent them to
Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out exactly concerning the
young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also
may come and worship him. 9And they, having heard the king, went their
way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came
and stood over where the young child was. 10And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with
exceeding great joy. 11And they came into the house and saw the young child with
Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their
treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod,
they departed into their own country another way.
I. Christmas Misconceptions
Each year around Christmas time, nativity sets are erected. These nativity sets all
appear to look alike. You have a baby Jesus in some type of manger or in the lap of

fruit from the frucht
His mother Mary, with Joseph standing close by. On one side
of the family, you have shepherds, and on the other side you
have three kings. Let's explore what the Bible has to say
about the birth of Jesus.
A. Wise-men and Shepherds
Together?
The story of the shepherds and the story of the wise men are
separated by approximately two years. The shepherds were
there soon after Jesus was born. They found Him in a stable
lying in a manger (Lk. 2:12, 16). The wise men only saw the
star when Yeshua was born and it took them some time to get
to Jerusalem. When they finally found Him, according to
verse 11 they found Him in a house, not in a stable. So the
wise men and the shepherds never even met. The Matthew
account makes it rather clear that Yeshua was approximately
two years old by the time these wise men appear.
B. Were There Three Kings?
It is often thought that there were just three kings. A famous
Christmas song begins with the words, “We three kings of
orient are.” Notice that the Bible does not say specifically
how many there were. There had to be at least two because
the word “wise men” is plural. There may have been two;
there may have been twenty; there may have been two
hundred or two thousand. There is no real knowledge that
there were only three. The reason people think there were
only three is because Yeshua was given three different types of
gifts in verse 11: gold and frankincense and myrrh. This is hardly
evidence at all. There could have been ten people giving gold
or twenty giving frankincense or thirty giving myrrh. The
number of gifts does not prove that there were only three
wise men.
10
C. Were These Men Kings?
Matthew never says that these men were “kings.” What is
known for certain is that they were not kings because the
specific title they are given in the Greek text is Magoi or
“Magi,” which means “wise men,” or more specifically,
“astrologers.” In Matthew’s account, there is an unknown
number of astrologers from the east. In the Bible, the east is
always the area of Mesopotamia, so there are at least two
astrologers from Babylon. These astrologers suddenly arrive in
Jerusalem asking the question in verse 2: Where is he that is born
King of the Jews? Did they gain this knowledge through
astrology? This incident raises a number of additional
questions. First, how did these men know anything about the
birth of a Jewish king? And secondly, even knowing about the
birth of a Jewish king, why would Babylonian astrologers
want to come and worship Him? After all, Babylonian
astrologers did not worship other Jewish kings; why would
they want to worship this particular king? The real question
is, “How did the Magi know?”
II. How Did the Magi
Know?
In order to begin looking at the passage seriously, it will need
to be broken down point by point to see if they really learned
it all from astrology or if something else was happening.
A. The Golden Rule of
Interpretation
The Golden Rule of Interpretation, formulated by Dr. David L.
Cooper, is the key to understanding the prophetic Word. The
rule is as follows:
“When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek
no other sense. Therefore, take every word at its primary,
ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the
immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and
axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly
otherwise.”
This rule simply states that the Bible should be taken exactly
as it reads, unless there is something in the text and in the
context that indicates it cannot be taken literally.

B. The Star in the Sky
With this in mind, attention should be focused on the issue of
the star. To begin with, this was no ordinary star as was
evident by the actions of this star. This star is referred to as his
star or “the King of the Jews’ star” in a way that the other stars
simply cannot be. This star appears and disappears. This star
moves from east to west. This star moves from north to south.
And, this star hovers over one single house in Bethlehem,
pointing to the place where the Messiah is. Any literal star that
would hover over only one house in Bethlehem would destroy
this entire planet. It is very evident that this cannot be a literal
star. Again, five things about this star make it obvious that it
cannot be a real star. First, it is the personal star of
the King of the Jews. Secondly, it appears and
disappears. Thirdly, it moves from east to
west. Fourthly, it moves from north to
south. And the fifth thing is that it
literally hovers over one single house in
Bethlehem. Obviously, this must be
something other than a star, but what is it?
The root for the Greek word "star" simply means “radiance” or
“brilliance.” This brilliant light that the astrologers were
witnessing was not an ordinary star, but rather the appearance
of the Shechinah Glory of God. In the Old Testament, the
Shechinah Glory is the visible manifestation of God’s presence.
In most cases, the Shechinah Glory came in the form of a light,
fire, cloud or some combination of these three things. In
Babylon, when this light, a brilliance, a radiance, first appeared,
it may have looked like an ordinary star from a distance, yet its
actions demonstrated that it was no ordinary star. What these
Magi actually saw was the Shechinah Glory. When they saw this
Shechinah Glory, this unusual brilliance, they deduced that it
was a signal that the King of the Jews, the Messiah, had finally
been born.
C. How Did the Magi Know
About the Birth of a Jewish king?
Having determined that this was not a literal star but the
Shechinah Glory still does not answer all the questions. One
unanswered question is, “How did the Magi know anything
about the birth of a Jewish king?” How could Gentile
Babylonian astrologers know anything about the birth of a
Messianic Jewish king? Even if they did know something about
fruit from the frucht
11
births of Jewish kings, why would they want to come and
worship this particular one?
What has been said about the star so far has failed to answer
the real issue. If it was not by means of astrology that the Magi
knew about the birth of a Jewish king, then how did they
know?
From the New Testament account, all that can be deduced is
the fact that Gentile Babylonian astrologers somehow knew
that the birth of the King of the Jews had taken place by means
of a star like shining brilliance in the heavens that moved from
east to west and hovered over the very house where Yeshua was.
For the answer to this question, one must look to the Old
Testament. To begin with, the only place in the entire Old
Testament that dates the Messiah’s coming is the famous
Seventy Sevens or weeks of Daniel, found in Daniel 9:24-27.
The Book of Daniel was not written in Israel, but in the city of
Babylon. Much of it was written in Aramaic, the language of
the Babylonian Empire. So it was in the city of Babylon that a
book was written that prophesied when the Messiah was to
come. Furthermore, Daniel was closely associated with
Babylonian astrologers (Daniel 1:19-20; 2:12-13, 47; 4:7-9; 5:11- 12).
When King Nebuchadnezzar had an unusual dream, his
astrologers were unable to interpret his dream. He sentenced
every one of them to execution. Among those arrested were
Daniel and his three friends because, from the viewpoint of the
Babylonians, these four Hebrews were part of the Babylonian
School of Astrology and, therefore, were to be executed.
However, Daniel was able to request and receive an audience
with the king. After the audience, Daniel did interpret King
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. By interpreting that dream, he saved
the lives of all the other astrologers.
Nebuchadnezzar, not having much spiritual discernment, did
not realize that the source of Daniel’s ability was not the stars
of the heavens, but the God who created the stars of the
heavens. Nevertheless, Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel head of
all the astrologers of Babylon. It was in this environment and in
this company that Daniel penned his book, revealing the time
of the Messiah’s coming. Since Daniel saved their lives as well
as becoming their head, there is little doubt that he was able to
lead many of them to a saving knowledge of the God of Israel.
A number of these astrologers turned away from the worship
of the stars to the worship of the God of Israel who made the
stars.

fruit from the frucht
So a line of Babylonian astrologers from generation to
generation worshiped the true God and, having Daniel’s
prophecy, and looked forward to the coming of the King of the
Jews. From the Book of Daniel, then, one can conclude that
Babylonian astrologers did know about what time the Messiah
was to be born. However, the Book of Daniel says nothing
about a star that would in some way announce the Messiah’s
birth. So how, then, did the astrologers know anything about
a star?
D. The Prophecy of the Star
For the answer to this question, one must go back even
earlier in the Old Testament to the prophecies of Balaam,
who was hired by the king of Moab to curse the Jews. Four
times he tried to curse them, but each time God took over his
mouth. Instead of cursing the Jews, he ended up blessing them.
In the course of his blessings of the Jews, he came forth with
four key Messianic prophecies. One of these prophecies is
found in Numbers 24:17:
I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not nigh:
There shall come forth a star out of Jacob,
And a sceptre shall rise out of Israel,
And shall smite through the corners of Moab,
And break down all the sons of tumult.
Balaam, much to his own reluctance and regret, was forced by
God to prophesy of the coming of the Jewish Messiah and he
related that to a star. This is not a literal star because this
passage further states concerning this star: And a sceptre shall rise
out of Israel. The “star” and the “sceptre” are one and the same.
Remember that the term “sceptre” is a symbol of royalty or
kingship. This star that would rise out of Jacob is a king.
Furthermore, Balaam was an astrologer. Even more significant
was the fact that he came from the city of Pethor, a city on the
banks of the Euphrates River in Babylonia (Num. 22:5; Deut.
23:4). So there is a double Babylonian connection here. There is,
of course, the Book of Daniel, which spelled out how many
years would transpire before the birth of the King of the Jews;
but then there is the prophecy of Balaam concerning the star
and, again, Balaam was part of the Babylonian School of
Astrology. Hence, the revelation of a star in relation to the
Messiah’s birth came by way of a Babylonian astrologer who, no
doubt, passed the information down to his colleagues.
Centuries later, Daniel was able to expound to the Babylonian
astrologers as to the time that a star out of Jacob would come.
12
E. By the Revelation of God
So, how then did the wise men know? Not by gazing at the
stars in the pseudo science of astrology, but by revelation of
God as contained in the Scriptures by means of the prophecies
of Balaam and Daniel. Hence, the story of the Magi
gives no validity to astrology whatsoever.
III. The Gifts of the
Magi
The wise men gave Yeshua three types of gifts in verse 11: gold
and frankincense and myrrh. All of these are full of Old
Testament symbolism. Gold is the symbol of royalty or
kingship, emphasizing that Yeshua is a king. Frankincense was
the symbol of deity because it was part of the special incense
burned on the Altar of Incense within the Holy Place, and the
smoke penetrated into God’s presence in the Holy of Holies
itself. Frankincense emphasizes that Yeshua is God. Myrrh was
associated in the Old Testament with death and embalming,
emphasizing his sacrifice for our sin.
While the first line of that famous Christmas song, “We Three
Kings of Orient Are,” is not biblically accurate, the last line that
says, “King and God and Sacrifice” certainly is. By giving these
gifts to the family of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, the Magi provided
the income for the family to be able to escape to Egypt, live
there for approximately two years, and to have the income to
finance their trip back to Nazareth after the death of Herod the
Great.
Other Messianic Bible Studies relating to the life of the
Messiah available from Ariel Ministries are: #9, #16, #28,
#31, #32, #35, #36, #40, #43, #44, #48, #49, #56, #60, #61,
#69, #70, #75, #76, #94, #99, #127, #134, and #185. The
“Life of the Messiah” is also available in both DVD and
audio.

Report 02 from Israel
Essays and Subjective Notes ... Taken in the Shadow of my Savior
By L.G.
“You will get to know
their trials, their
questions, their
approaches, their
stumbling blocks, their
interests, their fears,
and their hearts.”
I was asked to introduce you to modern-day Israel . It would be my privilege to meet
you and give you the tour, allowing you to fully experience Israel, even though
you did not make it here ... YET! Of course, it will be absolutely a
subjective impression. But who can really be fully objective?
An important detail about your “tour-guide” is that I am not
originally from Israel. I have lived in Israel since 1990, and yet,
21 years in the Land gave me an opportunity to voice some
reflections, some thoughts, some views, even though they
are very subjective.
We were recently in the U.S., and one common remark
was made to us by several different Americans. In a
nutshell, that comment went a little something like
this:
“We were excited about going into the Land of God and
meeting the people of God. We wanted to see places
where Jesus had walked, where He had preached, and
where He had discipled His chosen twelve. But we were
surprised to see that what we had imagined or expected
was not actually the reality we had witnessed. We discovered
that the people are not as holy as we had predicted. They were
just like us. Even the Messianic believers! You struggle with the
same things we do! You are very real!”
We do live in the Land ... the Land of God. And we are the Nation of God...
His people. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of Noah, Elijah,
David, and Solomon is our God. Does this immune us from the power of sin? No! The
theology of our faith shall yet be learned in the secret hidden place.
We've been called to live here, in Israel, and to walk where Jesus walked, to visit places
that are mentioned in the Bible, but like you - we live and experience the same things that
every other believer does. I want to share with you some personal stories that will
introduce you to modern-day Israel. You will read about people, whom God has brought
into our life. You will get to know their trials, their questions, their approaches, their
stumbling blocks, their interests, their fears, and their hearts.
13
Israel

Israel
NTI
N
There are
anti-missionary
organizations that are
VERY actively
functioning against
those who share the
Gospel with the Jewish
people. Posting our real
names, pictures and
pictures of people we
minister to on websites
puts our work at-risk.
Please do not post this
on any Internet sites
without first
contacting us and
asking permission. We
don't want people to be
persecuted. The names
are changed for that
purpose. For the same
reason, let's call me,
your tour-guide, L.G.
One afternoon, L.G. went for her quiet time to the Sea of Galilee shore next to the hotel we
stayed in. She had with her a book titled God's Front Door by Jill Briscoe. While sitting on the
bench reading, two homeless men had approached her with a question. “What are you
reading? Can I look at the book,” one man asked. Of course, she obliged. After flipping through
the book, he asked, "Are you a Messianic Jew?" The conversation went something like this ...
“Yes, I am a Messianic Jew.”
“We are coming from Eilat. I am a foreigner from Holland, but my friend is an Israeli Arab. If
you are Messianic, do you know a man named John...”
“Pex?” she interrupted him.
“Yes! John Pex and his wife Judie. We've stayed in his shelter, while in Eilat.”
“So, you have heard the Gospel then!”
“Yes! But how come you, being Jewish, believe in Christ? You are not suppose to!”
She laughed. “Why not? He was a Jew. He was a Messiah who came to save His nation. Why
can't I or why shall I not believe in my Messiah?”
Both men were in shock. One said, “I am worthless! I smell terrible, I am an alcoholic, and I am
an abuser of the law. I am still trying to figure out the world and my purpose for living.
Churchless, homeless, and godless. I look at you and say there is God in your eyes. Look at me!
Satan lives in me. Look at my friend, nothing can save us. Heaven is not reachable if there is a
heaven.”
She responded graciously, “I am sorry that I do not have a Bible with me to give you both as a
gift; however, Heaven is not only believable, but also attainable through Christ, whom you see
in my eyes, who lives in my heart, and whom I love."
She then read an excerpt from the book:
“At the present, we are on the outside of the world, the wrong side of the door. We cannot
mingle with the splendors we see. But all the leaves of the New Testament are rustling with the
rumor that it will not always be so. Someday, God willing, we shall get 'in'. A cleft has opened
in the pitiless walls of the world, and we are invited to follow our great Captain inside. Glory!”
She then read John 3:16-18:
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him should not
perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world
should be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged
already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
“Make your choice, men, and you will be walking in Light. And now I have to leave, as my
husband waits for me.”
She did not know their names. But God does. Please pray for these two Hollanders to receive
God's Love, to feel worthy, to know that He accepts EVERYONE who makes a choice to
believe in His Son, Yeshua.
14

Ariel Branches &
Representatives:
Ariel Australia
Paul Cohen
Email: pcohen@ariel.org
Ariel New Zealand
Kevin McKenna and
Christopher Gannon
Website: www.ariel.org.nz
Email: info@ariel.org.nz
Ariel Canada
Jacques and Sharon Gabizon
Website: www.arielcanada.com
Email: arielcanada@videotron.ca
Ariel Israel
Sasha G. and Lilian G.
Email: sashag@ariel.org
Ariel Germany
Georg Hagedorn
Website: www.cmv-duesseldorf.de
Email: germany@ariel.org
Partner:
Gefen Israeli Outreach International
Email: gefen@ariel.org
Ariel Missionaries:
Jackie Fierman (Ariel Canada)
Email: jackief@ariel.org
John Metzger (North Carolina)
Website:
www.promisestoisrael.org
Email: johnmetzger@ariel.org
Michael and Hannah Gabizon
(Illinois)
Email:
michaelgabizon@gmail.com
Ariel Canada News
For the past three years, Jacques Isaac Gabizon, Ariel
Canada’s founding director, has taught under a tent
in the county of Renfrew, Ontario, where many have
gathered to hear and study God’s Word. This coming
summer, Dr. Fruchtenbaum will join Jacques for
another exciting weekend of teaching. Shiloh Hills
Ministry has recently asked Ariel Canada to oversee
its work of reaching and
teaching the Scriptures
from a Jewish perspective. We are excited to attract many
from Ottawa, Toronto and other nearby cities for this early
August event. So pitch your tent at graces’ throne room and
pray with us, that this outreach effort in Ontario will be
pegged a victory for the Lord.
Though our web sites are under construction, you can still follow us at
arielcanda.com or shalomarielministries.com.
John Metzger -
Missionary in
North Carolina
Israel news
I am very glad to be home after being away
for 11 weeks. It was a good summer
with numerous contacts made for
Ariel Ministries. I attended the IFCA
International Conference just outside of
Cincinnati, Ohio, and did a workshop on the
New Covenant. I also represented Ariel
Ministries at the Messiah Conference (MJAA)
in Grantham, Pennsylvania. Throughout the 11 weeks, I had the opportunity to
speak in 20 different churches. As part of the staff at Camp Shoshanah, I was able
to serve in several capacities, including running the snack shop and helping out
with the book store (or the Shmata shop, as it is called). This fall I will be
completing three courses: Angelology, Ezekiel, and Israelology for credit through
Tyndale Theological Seminary in Texas.
I also plan to finish my new book, God in Eclipse, which will be used as an evangelistic
tool for all who wish to share their faith with Jewish people. Please visit my website at
www.promisestoIsrael.org for more information about my ministry.
15

news
Ariel
Australia
I have enjoyed teaching on
the worship places in the
Bible. Starting with
studies on the Tabernacle,
these studies flowed on to
the Solomonic Temple
(First Temple). We were
very fortunate that we had
access to a large model
built by Dr. Tessa Morrison from the University of
Newcastle (NSW). The model was based on one of Isaac
Newton’s manuscripts, known as Babson Ms 0434. In it is an
architectural reconstruction of the Temple of Solomon, and
it was written at the same time he was writing the Principia.
Isaac Newton studied the Solomonic Temple for over 50
years. Seeing the model made people realize the size,
grandeur and splendor of the House of God. This was
followed up with a study on the Zerubbabel Temple, later
renamed Herod's Temple (Second Temple). This was the
Temple where Jesus was dedicated by his mother and
step-father as a young child, and where he both learned from
and asked questions of the elders regarding the law. It is also
the same temple that on two occasions was cleansed by
Jesus, before its destruction in the year 70 C.E. Over the next
two months, we are planning to study the Third Temple,
often called the Temple of the Anti-Christ, for which there
are currently plans and preparations being made. This will
be followed before the end of the year by a study on the
16
Fourth Temple, particularly mentioned by the prophet
Ezekiel, often called the Messianic or Millennial Temple.
Reflecting on these sacred places, we who are believers are
not without a sacrifice. For Messiah also, having been once
offered to bear the sins of many, has purified us. How much
more should we present our bodies as living sacrifices for
Him who sacrificed his body for us?
Michael and Hannah
Gabizon - Ariel
Missionaries in
Chicago.
Things have been busy in
the Gabizon household as
both Hannah and I are in
the midst of a demanding
semester of school;
however, during the
Jewish Civil New Year, our
schedules were elevated to
a new level. On September 24th, Hannah and I were able to
visit our friends in Naperville, where we conducted a study
on 2 Peter. After opening with worship music, we played a
little game set up by our hosts. They handed out a couple of
sheets of paper with various quotes by various different
teachers. The object of the game was to guess which quotes
were theologically false, and who originally coined the
quote. This was a great segue into the book of 2 Peter, as the
book addresses different issues concerning living for God,
protecting yourself against false teachers, and the need to
study and understand the Word. It was encouraging to hear
from our hosts later on that certain members who attended
this small group were prompted to study through a
systematic Bible study. May we all take up this challenge to
be ready to preach the Word, both in season and out
(2 Tim. 4:2.)

My Hanukkah Story
by Mottel Baleston
17
cover story
Let me describe a true event: The year
was 1960, the place was Brooklyn, part
of New York City, and in a housing
project a six year old boy looked up at
an eight story apartment building. All
eight living rooms are stacked one above
another, and in the early winter twilight,
each window displayed the same thing:
the twinkling lights of a Jewish
Hanukkah Menorah. It was the eighth
and final night of Hanukkah, all eight
lights, plus the servant light, glowed
brightly. Looking around, the boy saw an
even more remarkable sight. For it was in
those other buildings surrounding him that
he saw a total of 23 apartment
buildings sitting on a single plot of
land. The vast majority of all these other
living rooms also had Hanukah
Menorahs burning brightly. It was easy
for the boy to imagine, as he did, that
most of the world was Jewish!

cover story
During those years, the housing project where I
grew up, home to over 1,600 families, was about
90 percent Jewish. When December came,
we celebrated Hanukkah. For eight nights
we celebrated Hanukkah. We participated
in all the warm rituals of the holiday. We
lit the candles on the Hanukkah Menorah, we
spun the “Dreidel”, (the spinning toy with Hebrew letters on
each side), and depending upon which letter was on top, we
either won or lost. Oh yes, and we ate! We ate the traditional
Potato Latkes, a type of pancake, and ate them with either sour
cream or apple sauce. In the Synagogue across the street, they
had a special Hanukkah service for kids, and at the end, your
reward was even more Potato Latkes, so I made sure not to
miss it!
Our traditions were those of the European Jewish
community, and since all four of my grandparents were from
Jewish communities in eastern Europe, that is the tradition
we kept. Oh, I almost forgot ... on the first night of Hanukkah
we also received gifts, sometimes presents, but more often
something called “Hanukkah Gelt”, gold foil-wrapped chocolate
shaped to look like coins; a reminder of times in Europe when
real coins were given on the first night of Hanukkah.
Not too long after this, I became aware that Jews were not the
majority in the world. While my public
Left out of
all these
cultural
disputes
was a
poignant
and ironic
truth: The
Jesus of
Christmas
actually
celebrated
Hanukkah!
I was that boy.
school was mostly Jewish, there were a
fair number of Catholics as well. And
once December rolled around, these
Catholics would eagerly ask fellow
Jewish kids, “How are you going to
celebrate your Jewish Christmas?" We
indignantly responded that we don’t
celebrate Christmas. We were happy
with Hanukkah. And so, as children often
do, the Catholic kids pointed out, in a
teasing way, that their holiday displays
had more lights. For they had a
Christmas Tree and we didn’t, and Santa
brought them many presents.
As the school years went on, I often
heard the tease “Hanukkah is just a cheap
version of Christmas”.
I became resolute not to join in the
18
majority celebration, or to mix the two holidays, as more and
years”, that time between the close of the Old Testament and
more Jews were doing with such new innovations as
the start of the New Testament. In reality, those years were
Hanukkah greeting cards and “Hanukkah Bushes”.
not silent, but rather momentous, and were foretold in the
Book of Daniel.
Left out of all these cultural disputes was a poignant and
The ironic background truth: The is Jesus simple: of After Christmas returning actually to the celebrated land from
the Hanukkah! Babylonian captivity, the spiritual state of our Jewish
people declined. When Greek Hellenism was introduced to
Israel Fast forward as a result some of Alexander years. Now the in Great's my early occupation 20’s, I came of the to
Holy saving Land, faith aspects in Jesus of as Greek my Messiah. culture I were did not attractive come to to believe some
Jewish in Him as people. a way Some to escape Jewish being families Jewish, ceased nor to assimilate, to circumcise nor
their as a reason sons and to put abandoned up a Christmas the food tree. regulations Rather, as of I recognized
the Mosaic
Law. that the Others Jewish went Bible further promised and a placed Jewish Messiah Greek idols to the in Jewish their
homes.
people, it
These
was clear
serious
that
compromises
Yeshua of Nazareth,
and assimilations
the one the
weakened the Jewish people to the point where the Syrian
western world calls Jesus, is the only one who matched the
Hellenists, heirs of Alexander the Great, made a bold demand
prophecies found in the Hebrew Scriptures.
of the remaining Jews - give up the worship of the God of the
Scriptures, and fully adopt Greek paganism ... OR, be killed.
As a believer, I now wanted to understand what the Jewish
The holidays Maccabees, truly meant, sons of and the I Jewish found that Priest many Mattathias, believers led from the
Jewish non-Jewish people backgrounds in a hard-fought had a revolt newfound against interest the Syrians. in the
They Jewish finally roots entered of their the Christian Temple faith which as had well. been defiled by the
Syrian invaders, cleansed it and dedicated it anew to the
service So for all of God. of you, Then, whether in memory from Jewish of their or victory, non-Jewish the
Maccabees backgrounds, celebrated here are the some first Hanukkah Hanukkah. basics:
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated
Jewish for eight tradition days beginning relates how on the the Judean 25th day heroes, of the led month by Judah of
Maccabee,
Kislev, a Hebrew
wanted
month
to rededicate
that runs
the
from
Temple
approximately
but were unable
the
to find enough undefiled oil to light the 7 branched Menorah
middle of November through the middle of December. The
(lampstand) that stood in the "Holy Place" of the Temple;
word Hanukkah in Hebrew means “dedication”, as the holiday
however, in one of the Temple rooms, they finally found a
commemorates the rededication of the Jewish Temple in
small jar of oil which was enough for just one evening.
Miraculously,
Jerusalem for
this
the
small
service
amount
of God,
of oil
and
kept
the
the
victory
Temple
over
lights
the
burning, Hellenist (not Syrians for one in 164 night, BCE. but This for all time eight period nights) is sometimes until new
oil known for use in in the Christian Temple could circles be made. as the This “ is 400 the miracle silent
remembered by the kindling of the Hanukkah lights
according to Jewish tradition. Other Jewish sources point out
that the older, and probably more accurate reason for the 8
nights of celebration is the effort by the Maccabees to make
up for the missed 8-day celebration of the Feast of
Tabernacles, which they were unable to observe in Jerusalem
due to the Syrian occupation.
Today, the most important observance associated with
Hanukkah is the kindling of the Hanukkah lights on the
Hanukkah Menorah, the nine-branch lampstand used for this
Holiday only. On each night, one more light is kindled,
beginning with one candle on the first night of Hanukkah and

years”, that time between the close of the Old Testament and
the start of the New Testament. In reality, those years were not
silent, but rather momentous, and were foretold in the Book of
Daniel.
The background is simple: After returning to the land from the
Babylonian captivity, the spiritual state of our Jewish people
declined. When Greek Hellenism was introduced to Israel as a
result of Alexander the Great's occupation of the Holy Land,
aspects of Greek culture were attractive to some Jewish
people. Some Jewish families ceased to circumcise their sons
and abandoned the regulations of the Mosaic Law. Others
went further and placed Greek idols in their homes. These
serious compromises and assimilations weakened the Jewish
people to the point where the Syrian Hellenists, heirs of
Alexander the Great, made a bold demand of the remaining
Jews - give up the worship of the God of the Scriptures, and
fully adopt Greek paganism ... OR, be killed.
The Maccabees, sons of the Jewish Priest Mattathias, led the
Jewish people in a hard-fought revolt against the Syrians. They
finally entered the Temple which had been defiled by the
Syrian invaders, cleansed it and dedicated it anew to the
service of God. Then, in memory of their victory, the
Maccabees celebrated the first Hanukkah.
Jewish tradition relates how the Judean heroes, led by Judah
Maccabee, wanted to rededicate the Temple but were unable
to find enough undefiled oil to light the 7 branched Menorah
(lampstand) that stood in the "Holy Place" of the Temple;
however, in one of the Temple rooms, they finally found a small
jar of oil which was enough for just one evening. Miraculously,
this small amount of oil kept the Temple lights burning, (not
for one night, but for all eight nights) until new oil for use in
the Temple could be made. This is the miracle remembered by
the kindling of the Hanukkah lights according to Jewish
tradition. Other Jewish sources point out that the older, and
probably more accurate reason for the eight nights of
celebration is the effort by the Maccabees to make up for the
missed 8-day celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, which
they were unable to observe in Jerusalem due to the Syrian
occupation.
Today, the most important observance associated with
Hanukkah is the kindling of the Hanukkah lights on the Hanukkah
Menorah, the nine-branch lampstand used for this Holiday only.
On each night, one more light is kindled, beginning with one
candle on the first night of Hanukkah and ending with eight on
the final evening. The lighting is accompanied by the chanting
of the traditional blessings, and the singing of songs. The ninth
branch is the shamash (the servant light) which is lit first and
used to kindle the other lights of the Menorah each evening.
19
cover story
Messiah Yeshua observed Hanukkah throughout His life and is
seen in the New Testament traveling to be in Jerusalem during
this Holiday (John 10:22). Did you catch the irony in that? The
one biblical mention of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is in the
New Testament as it is being observed by Jesus, both of which
are rejected by the majority of Jews. On that occasion in
Jerusalem, Yeshua made a clear claim to be the Messiah,
v.23-25.
We find several important lessons in Hanukkah for all
believers:
1) Even when times are difficult for our Jewish people, God
always keeps His Covenant promises to us (Gen 12:1-3) by
sending us a prophet, leader or hero to guide us back to God's
truth, helping us triumph over our enemies. While the
Maccabees were used by God, the greatest example of this is
the arrival of Messiah Yeshua, who provided a permanent
atonement and a way back to the God of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob.
2) Accommodation with the sin and neo-paganism of our
world is just as toxic to believers today as it was to the Jews of
the Maccabean era.
3) The goal of the pagan Hellenists was to destroy the Jewish
people as a nation. If they had been successful, there would
have been no Tribe of Judah, no virgin Mary, and no Jesus!
Without Hanukkah, there would be no Christmas.
4) Hanukkah is one of three Jewish holidays that can be
summed up in three humorous phrases:
a. They tried to kill us.
b. We won.
c. Let’s eat.
Those holidays are Passover, as we celebrate the victory of
Pharaoh and his armies, Purim, which remembers the triumph
of the Jews of Persia when Haman had conspired to have them
all killed, and our consideration of Hanukkah. All three
celebrations are accompanied by specific foods.
Whether you spell it Hanukkah,
Chanukah, or any other variation, the
message is the same. As believers, we
know our effectiveness for Yeshua is
comprised by entanglement with
today's equivalent of paganism. We
should be modern-day Maccabees,
having sole devotion to the God of
Israel and His Kingdom.

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