Hanukkah (Dedication)
The Holiday of Lights

What is this Holiday about?

The origins of Hanukkah go back to the intertestamental period (Time between Malachi and Matthew) and are recorded in the book of Maccabees I & II. While it’s not considered by the Rabbi’s and those who canonized Scripture to be placed in the Tanach or Bible, it is of historical significance. The only place in scripture where you can find the reference to this Holiday is in the New Testament, John 10:22-39. Once you understand the importance of Hanukkah, you will realize why Yeshua was asked at this particular point if he was the Messiah. The story of Hanukkah is one of deliverance from a very dark time in History, and miracles occurred that could only happen with help from the LORD.

Another fascinating aspect of our story is that it is foretold throughout Daniel 7-12. When asked about the last days in Matthew 24:15, Yeshua references this specific time that Daniel prophesied over 400 years before His appearance. So this Hanukkah story is more than just something that occurred – it is also a blueprint of something to come!

We hope you will join us for these eight days and enjoy the sights, smells, and tastes of what the LORD has for us to enjoy.

Paul Wilbur Teaching on Hanukkah

Short Illustration on Hanukkah

When Is Hanukkah? How Can I Celebrate?

This year, the first candle is lit on the evening of Wednesday, December 25th (Day 1), and the last is on the evening of Wednesday, January 1st (Day 8).

You can light the menorah at night, recite the blessings (night one has three blessings, then after that there are just two each night), have a family devotional time, prayer, exchange gifts with each other, play games and enjoy some of the delicious foods. All of the elements you should need can be found on this webpage. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach us at info@wilburministries.com.

Hanukkah Menorah
(Hanukkiah) Lighting

Another fascinating aspect of our story is it being foretold throughout Daniel 7-12. When asked about the last days in Matthew 24:15, Yeshua references this specific time period that Daniel prophesied over 400 years prior to His appearance. So this Hanukkah telling is more than just something that occurred but also a blueprint of something to come!

We hope you will join us for these eight days and enjoy the sights, smells and tastes of what the LORD has for us to enjoy.

Game to Play Dreidel

The Hebrew letters on the dreidel are nun, gimel, hay and shin. They represent the words Nesh, Gadol, Hayah, Sham, which means “A Miracle Happened There.”

Game Instructions:

  1. Give each person equal amounts of gelt (chocolate covered coins) or candy.
  2. To start, each person puts one piece in the middle.
  3. One person begins (usually the one who spun the highest letter on the dreidel) by spinning the dreidel and follows what the letter dictates. 

– The letter gimel (get it all), hay (get half), shin (add one to the middle), nun (nothing).

  1. After a person completes his turn, everyone puts one item in the middle.

Hanukkah
RECIPES

Potato Latkes (Potato Pancakes)

Sufganiyot (Donuts)

Hanukkah Haggadah
for 8 Days

Click on the below Devotionals for each day.

This is one of our favorite times of the year. Why? Hanukkah, which means dedication in Hebrew, is upon us. It’s the celebration that reminds us of God’s faithfulness against the greatest of odds, knowing He is and will perform great miracles again. We wanted you to be able to join us and celebrate for all eight days, so we created a landing page so you could find out more (link below). For the next seven days we will post an update so you can follow along. Chag Hanukkah Sameach (Have a Joyous Hanukkah)!

Tonight is Day 1, where you can gather with your family, light the Hanukkah Menorah (nine branches), and say the following blessings as you light it;

  1. Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments and has given us Yeshua, the Messiah, the light of the world.  
  2. Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.
  3. Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.

Devotional: Dedication is not a one-time decision but a lifestyle we commit to as believers. We are a set apart people unto the LORD, and as such, we are not to act or sound like the culture that surrounds us.

Prayer: Our heavenly Father, give us the strength, wisdom, and courage to remain dedicated to you alone. We ask you to forgive us if we have fallen short and commit our lives to being steadfast to the calling you have placed on our lives. We pray this in the name of Yeshua. Amen

Light the candles for Day 2 and say the blessings;

  1. Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments and has given us Yeshua, the Messiah, the light of the world.  
  2. Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.

Devotional: We are to be the lights in the world and shine to be an example of what Yeshua told us to be. Please read: John 8:12, Psalm 27:1 and Psalm 18:28.

Prayer: Our Father in Heaven, we thank you for giving us the Light of the World, Yeshua, and we ask you to help us be the light in the world and to shine brightly in this dark world. We pray this in the name of Yeshua. Amen

Light the candles for Day 3, and say the blessings;

  1. Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments and has given us Yeshua, the Messiah, the light of the world.  
  2. Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.

Devotional: In Mark 10:44-45, Yeshua says to be the greatest, we must first be the least and serve others. His very life was one of a humble servant who served others first. How should we live our lives?

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, please help us have the heart of a humble servant as Yeshua demonstrated so we can reflect you to everyone around us. Please forgive us if we have ever let pride be a way of life and teach us your ways. We pray this in Yeshua’s name. Amen.

Light the candles for Day 4 and say the blessings;

  1. Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments and has given us Yeshua, the Messiah, the light of the world.  
  2. Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.

Devotional: In Psalm 62:1-2 we read that He is our salvation, and the very name of Yeshua means, The LORD (YHVH) Saves! It is great to know that we who have called on His name are saved from a life devoid of meaning. We were created to worship and serve Him alone. Go around the table and share your testimony of how you came to believe in Yeshua as the Messiah.

Prayer: Our heavenly Father, thank you for sending us Yeshua, who is our salvation. May we never cease to praise you in every season of our lives that you have provided and will continue to provide all we need for a Godly life. We pray this in Yeshua’s name. Amen.

Light the candles for Day 5 and say the blessings;

  1. Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments and has given us Yeshua, the Messiah, the light of the world.  
  2. Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.

Devotional: Go around the table and ask each family member or friend to share a story where God intervened and cared for you during a difficult time.

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, thank you for redeeming us and calling us by name so we may follow in your ways. We thank you for intervening and delivering us from a path headed toward destruction so that we may enjoy your glorious light. We pray this in the name of Yeshua. Amen.

 

Light the candles for Day 6 and say the blessings;

  1. Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments and has given us Yeshua, the Messiah, the light of the world.  
  2. Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.

Devotional: We read in 1 Samuel 15:22-23 that King Saul has made a critical mistake in not obeying the voice of the LORD, but choosing his own way. This causes his ultimate demise as king and cuts off his bloodline from ruling Israel.

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, please forgive us for any disobedience in our lives or even in our bloodline. Please show us if we need to make anything right by you or others that we may reflect you. We pray this in the name of Yeshua. Amen.

Light the candles for Day 7 and say the blessings;

  1. Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments and has given us Yeshua, the Messiah, the light of the world.  
  2. Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.

Devotional: We read in Proverbs 11:24-25 that as we are generous to others, we become enriched. It’s another place in scripture where we read,”What you sow is what you reap”. It’s not limited to finances but every aspect. Are you generous with your time for others? If not, what changes can you start to make in your life always to be generous?

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, thank you for being generous to us and giving us all that we need. Please help us always to be generous and spread the love we have received to others. We pray this in Yeshua’s name. Amen.

Light the candles for Day 8 and say the blessings;

  1. Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments and has given us Yeshua, the Messiah, the light of the world.  
  2. Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.

Devotional: As you sit around the table, ask each person what they are grateful for and one thing they have learned during the last seven days.

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, thank you for this beautiful season of Hanukkah and for teaching us to be more like you in every aspect of our lives. We ask that your face shine upon us so we can reflect your character to everyone around us. We pray this in Yeshua’s name. Amen.