Shalom, Shalom!

As I was thinking and praying about what to share with you in this letter, I read some mail from India that we had just received. It was from a pastor whom we have supplied with Messianic literature in his own language and who has gone through a lot of trials in his ministry. Yet, he talked of the light spread to tens of thousands of Indians as a result of the literature. Then he said: "I cannot describe in words what a great wonderful and miracles thing has done by our Heavenly Father for His witness." (I left this in his very own words.)

He reminded me of the emphases of this Hanukkah and Christmas season: light and miracles. At Hanukkah we remember the miraculous victory of the Maccabees 160 years before Yeshua. Against overwhelming odds, a massively superior Syrian army, and an emperor who had desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem after brutally suppressing the worship of God, the Maccabees overcame the enemy and cleansed the Temple. Their rallying cry was: "Whoever is on God's side, let him come with me." Their victory cry was: "Not by night, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord" (Zech. 4:6). When they cleansed and rededicated the Temple, there was only enough oil to light the Temple menorah for one day. But, miraculously, the lights stayed lit for 8 days, thus the miracle of lights.

If it had not been for Hanukkah, there never would have been Christmas 160 years later. Apart from the supernatural victory of the Maccabees, there would have been no Israel, no Jewish people, no Bethlehem, and no Mary and Joseph to participate in the earth-shattering events of that first Christmas. But God saw to it; and we celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas.

As a result we celebrate the miracles and light of Christmas as well. We have the miracle of God himself stepping into our history as a baby. We have the miracle of the light in the sky that guided the magi to Bethlehem. And, we have the birth of the one "who gives light to everyone who comes into the world" (John 1:19)! And, by the way, this year we celebrate the 2000th anniversary of his birth, which took place on the first night of Hanukkah in that little Jewish town! (For more connections between Christmas and Hanukkah, we have a tape on this subject; contact Barb at our office.)

It's a wonderful season of light and miracles we have the privilege of celebrating together. Don't miss the significance of the season!

One final word, especially as this is our last letter of the year. This has been a very poor year financially for Menorah Ministries. Please ask the Lord how he would want you to help us in this important way now and through the next year(s). Have a truly special holiday season!

Most warmly in our Messiah,

John & Patrice Fischer

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