Maki Randelman, a Grace Church member who has immigrated to the US from Israel and Peggy Welker, leader of the
Civic Engagement Inspiration team, reflects on the celebration of Hannukah and ministry activities of the past year.
Maki reflecting Hannukah and the war in Israel:
On December 7, 2023, something significant happened in the Palestinian-territory of Gaza: the first candle of Hanukkah was lit. This was a tangible victory for Israel as well as having a spiritual impact throughout the world. The Light had overcome the darkness. This Feast of Dedication, known today as Hanukkah, was celebrated by Yeshua Jesus over two thousand years ago. John reports, “Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.” (John 10:22-23)
Re-read that passage and we see that this celebration was held during the winter in Jerusalem, and Yeshua Jesus was in Jerusalem celebrating this feast. Like Yeshua, our family gladly celebrates this holiday every winter. And this year, I will be lighting the candles with deeper emotional attachment.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists overran Israeli/Gaza border security and waged a horrific attack on civilian Jews: killing young people at an outdoor festival, massacring babies and families in local communities and seizing 240 civilians as hostages – dragging them back to Gaza. Hamas murdered more than 1,200 Israelis during that attack. One year later, Hamas is still holding over 100 men, women, and children captive — including seven Americans — deep in the terror tunnels of Gaza.
With so much darkness, how could the Israeli Commander light the first candle of Hanukkah in “Palestine Square” in Gaza City? The commander said: “… We will illuminate Gaza City, dark and benighted, with your light, with the light of purity, with the light of goodness, and with the light of hope and peace for our dear State of Israel. … Keep illuminating and banishing the darkness, until victory…” (Read more here)
As Christ followers and having lived in Israel for 18 years myself (my husband was born and raised there), we knew God had called our family to be a point of light and hope through military service. Our eldest son enlisted in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) last April to serve in an active unit specializing in urban combats; he is still active duty today, during Hanukkah 2024. As a mother, there is no day that I forget the darkness that he might be facing. But I set my eyes to the Light, because whenever there is darkness, the Light shines brighter. This is the message of Hanukkah as I interpret it:
We are to clean and purify the temple – our mind, heart and body for welcoming
The Light to come in and light the Oil of Miracles (the Holy Spirit).
The menorah 8-candle tradition used during Hannukah is a powerful representation of the Light of God. By placing our menorah in the window, those outside can see our light. We are to place Yeshua’s Light in our lives where those in the darkness can see. When there are 8 candles, the light is brighter. We are to gather in community to shine; we are not meant to shine alone (Hebrews 10:25).
Peggy reflects on this past year:
Hannukah is an opportunity to reflect. As a church community, we look behind us and see how our Father, our Lord Jesus and Holy Spirit used pastoral leadership and Grace Church members to shine our light outside the doors of our church in 2024. Truly Grace Church members were the tangible hands and feet of Jesus in many areas of our culture. We also look forward as we celebrate the Christ Child as our Light, to guide us and inspire us to lead others into a relationship with Him.
When we meditate on God’s Word and the revelation of a passage burrows into our hearts, we overflow with His joy, His excitement. Soon we are proclaiming His love in tangible ways. In 2024, some Grace church members wrote personalized letters to believers in swing states. Some were led to stand outside in public locations to hold up signs “We Are Pro Life”. Some ran for office or worked with a candidate they believed in. Some church members helped with our Food Bank & Fuel Pack ministries to meet tangible needs. God’s fruit overflows these efforts born out of a heart posture of love and compassion.
If you mention light to a physicist, they will recognize that light is a “massless packet of energy” that travels, that heats up, that has radiation¹. As light interacts with matter, it can become altered and/or alters matter. Think of sunshine melting ice. But Yeshua, our Light, does not change – He changes us.
Maki does a deep dive into the meaning of “LIGHT” in the Hebrew language:
Yeshua not only celebrated the holiday of the light, but He Himself was the “true light” —
“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it … This man (John the Baptist) came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” John 1:4-9
Similarly, Matthew 4:16 explains that Yeshua/Jesus was the fulfillment Isaiah 9:1-2 prophecy:
“…The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has SHINED [NAGAH].”2 (Isaiah 9:1-2)
Yeshua SHINES [NAGAH] in the darkness
The verb “TO SHINE” [NAGAH] appears only six times in the Hebrew Old Testament bible and five times it appears with the word “darkness”. The word “SHINING” [NOGAH] refers to the lights of stars and the moon (seen at night). Yeshua fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 9 yet the darkness did not comprehend His SHINING light. God’s people were oppressed physically by Roman occupation. They were bound by the power of darkness. If this sounds familiar in America today, perhaps it is because America has invited the darkness through demon idols of abortion, a secularized culture that turned their back on God and voting for political leaders hostile to God and His principles. Each of these influencers of darkness do not comprehend Jesus’ SHINING light, NOGAH.
Yeshua Started by PROCLAIMING/PREACHING [kērýssō]3
The first thing Yeshua did when He started His ministry was: He “… began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” Matthew 4:17. But Jesus wasn’t using idle words, He spoke the Power of God. Romans 10:17 reminds us: “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
He preached the kingdom. And when a revelation of this Kingdom comes upon us, even the demons run away in the name of Yeshua (Matthew 12:28). The darkness did not, and will not, comprehend His true light.
“SHINING” [NOGAH] AS A PHYSICAL CONTACT
In the Hebrew language, which relies on roots (three consonants that form words), word roots with the first two consonants give us further insight. For instance, roots that start with “N” then “G” of NOGAH show us:
N,G,CH = to thrust (i.e. Exodus 21:29)
N,G,’A = to touch (i.e. Genesis 20:6)
N,G,PH = to strike (i.e. Exodus 12:23)
N,G,SH = to oppress (i.e. Isaiah 14:4)
Do you see the common qualities? They all have a physical contact between two objects. (And some of them are not a “gentle” contact)
The root “N,G,H” of the word “TO SHINE” [NAGAH] is not just shining. The SHINING is having a CONTACT with those whom the light is shining on.
Yeshua’s LIGHT is not far away. His LIGHT SHINES in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome. The same TRUE LIGHT SHINES and TOUCHES us! It CHANGES us!
Similarly, John testified his personal experience:
“… our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life”
(1 John 1:1)
They had heard, seen and touched Him. There is a verse in Isaiah where His Light is described, and the Lord’s healing is promised:
“Moreover, the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun,
And the light of the sun will be sevenfold,
As the light of seven days,
In the day that the Lord binds up the bruise of His people
And heals the stroke of their wound.” (Isaiah 30:26)
As we see the lights of this season, I encourage the readers to think of the TRUE LIGHT. Remember the One that the dark power cannot overcome. Praise the One that touches us with physical contact. Give thanks to the One that binds up our wounds.
The One that calls us to SHINE too!
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven“
(Matthew 5:14-16)
We are to SHINE [NAGAH]. It starts from cleaning up God’s temple – our body, welcoming the Oil of miracles, let Yeshua light His light, then stand together. We are to touch those who need His comfort and healing. We are to gather together and SHINE on His lampstand in the darkness, as the menorah of Hanukkah. And to us, Peggy and Maki, these are the embodiments of the Civic Engagement ministry. Let’s celebrate the Light!
Happy Hanukkah!
1- What is Light? An overview of the properties. https://andor.oxinst.com/learning/view/article/what-is-light
2-SHINED. Nagah. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h5050/kjv/wlc/0-1
3-PREACHED. Kerysso. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2784/kjv/tr/0-1
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Grace Church does not endorse any candidates.
