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Although Purim is not a Levitcal feast of the Lord, it’s significance to the Jewish people and to the church is critical, especially in these challenging days.
As with the other feasts, I suggest that Purim be considered from five perspectives:
- Seasonal: Purim is the final holiday of the calendar year, occurring in the winter, exactly one month before Passover.
- National: Purim commemorates God’s protection of Israel from their annihilation planned by Haman.
- Spiritual: God’s love for, protection of Israel and His omnipotence are revealed through the story of Purim.
- Redemptive: Purim demonstrates the determination of Jesus to fulfill the Father’s purpose for His live.
- Kingdom: God has created each of us for a purpose. The Holy Spirit has been given to each believer in Jesus to fulfill that purpose and destiny.
Purim also reveals the truth of God’s word regarding His relationship with Israel:
- He who keeps Israel never slumbers or sleeps
- Israel is the apple of God’s eye
- He will bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse her.
- Anyone who tries to destroy Israel will themselves be destroyed.
How you celebrate Purim is not the issue. What IS important is WHO you are celebrating – the God and Savior of Israel : JESUS THE MESSIAH!
Follow is an excerpt from the book, “Celebrate Jesus! The Christian Perspective of the Biblical Feasts.”
Click here to order your copy or any of the other books on the feasts:
http://www.celebratejesusthebook.com/
Seeing Israel from the air was shocking. The Land of milk and honey was just a tiny strip of brown. I whispered through my tears, “Daddy I’m home.” Eventually He gave me a date to return and a purpose.
During the next few weeks, God confirmed that Israel was to indeed become my home, although the process would take three years. The wait seemed interminable. Finally, after a week of fasting, praying, and devouring books on Israel’s prophetic future, I heard the Lord’s voice. He gave me a date: December ninth. Then He gave me a purpose: Declare the good news of My salvation, first to the Jews and then to the nations.
Purpose is one of the main themes of Purim. Jesus came for a purpose and God has designed a unique purpose for Israel, for the church, and for each of us.
These fritters are made with cheese then fried in oil, so they are a perfect addition to your Hanukkah table. Serve them hot with jam on the side.”
Submitted by: Rachel (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cheese-Fritters/Detail.aspx)
Original recipe yield 10 to 12 fritters
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup drained cottage cheese
1 egg
1/4 cup half-and-half
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups vegetable oil
3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
DIRECTIONS
In a medium bowl, beat the cottage cheese and egg together.
Stir in the half-and-half, flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and nutmeg.
Mix until just combined
Fill a deep pot to the 2 inch mark with oil.
Heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)
Drop batter by rounded tablespoons into the hot oil.
Fry until golden brown on all sides about 3 to 4 minutes.
Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar.
Serve hot and enjoy!
The traditional celebration of Hanukkah includes lighting a candle each of the eight nights of the holiday. A special 9 branch candelabra (called a Hanukkiah) is used. The ninth candle is called Shamos or Servant. This candle is lit first and then lights all the others.
Here are two very practicial ways to celebrate Jesus through the holiday of Hanukkah.
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE
When we are lit by the flame of God’s love, the light of Jesus ignites the other fruits of the Holy Spirit as we become the fully lit candelabra of God, shedding His light and love into the dark world:
- Love releases joy;
- Joy releases peace;
- Peace releases longsuffering;
- Longsuffering releases kindness;
- Kindness releases goodness;
- Goodness releases faithfulness;
- Faithfulness releases gentleness;
- Gentleness releases self–control.
REDEDICATE YOUR TEMPLE
Hanukkah is an excellent time to remember that YOU are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Your body is His dwelling place. Hanukkah gives us a unique opportunity to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice” and “to lay aside every sin and weight.”
- Mouth: Romans 10:10; Isaiah 49:2
- Lips: Psalm 34:13
- Tongue: Proverbs 27:2; Psalm 145:21
- Heart: Deuteronomy 6:5
- Mind: Isaiah 26:3
- Feet: Romans 10:15
- Ears: Proverbs 23:12; Psalm 40:6
- Eyes: Ephesians 1:18; Psalm 119:37
Freedom isn’t free, and I have found a greater understanding of that statement.
Last weekend I decided to clear out all the Christmas decorations that have been more than a lifetime of collecting. Some things were from my mothers childhood, my childhood and my children s, so there was a whole closet full of ‘things.’
There was a large Angel collection and several Nativity sets of various designs. Some things I had set as treasures in my mind. But….they are all gone now. I am freed from the bondage of having to perform because it is expected of me, (decorating my house).
I am freed from the clutter of a collection I really had no room for. (Now I have a closet to store clothes in). I am freed from feeling that my possessions were crossing the line to becoming idolatry. I AM FREED!! I can’t explain this feeling of being lighter, but I have shaken off a burden I didn’t realize I was carrying. It is fantastic!
I still love what Christmas stands for but I’m not bound to one day of one month of the year. Christ should be celebrated every day and I intend to do just that.
I have much to celebrate. God’s gift of His Son, Christ’s taking my punishment on himself, His resurrection and the Holy Spirit’s prompting me to accept it all.
Praise God for His Salvation!
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This morning I finished reading about Hanukkah and really loved your paragraph about “religion.” That is so good, and I’ve never heard it described like that. I used to cringe when a friend would call me ‘religious’ and wish I could have shared that thought with her. Thank you for the insight.
I must say that I cried through some of it as God spoke to me. I guess I have never understood praying for Jerusalem before. I’m not sure my brain can handle all the directions God is taking my thoughts in such a short time. WOW!
This is not only a great recipe, but also a wonderful craft to share with the children.
HANUKKAH CANDLE CUPCAKES
Making your own menorah is one of the great pleasures of celebrating Hanukkah. Menorahs come in all different shapes, made from nearly anymaterials, as long as each candle is kept separate and distinct from the others and they are in one line with the shammas raised. These candlecakes can be arranged together in nearly any shape — a circle, square,straight line, or whatever you can imagine — to form a different and deliciously edible menorah.
INGREDIENTS
14 cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies
3 tbsps unsalted butter
1 pint chocolate ice cream, or frozen yogurt
fresh raspberries, for garnish
PREPARATION
Equipment You Will Need:
food processor
saucepan
muffin tins
paper cupcake liners
large spoon
Hanukkah candles
To make the crust, whirl 12 of the cookies in a food processor until ground very fine. Melt the butter in a small saucepan or microwave and mix well with the cookies.
Using your fingers, press some of the cookie-butter mixture along the bottom and up the sides of each mold. Try to get the cookie mixture pressed together as smoothly and evenly as you can.
Remove the ice cream or frozen yogurt from the freezer and let it soften slightly for a few minutes, then spoon it into the cookie molds, pressing down until smooth. Fill the molds with ice cream or frozen yogurt.
Place the filled tins in the freezer until they hold together well, about 3 hours or until you’re ready to use them.
Insert a Hanukkah candle into the center of each cupcake. Refreeze until very solid in the tins, and wrap well. (You can even do this a week ahead.)
When ready to make your menorah, remove the tins from he freezer, then carefully remove each cupcake, with its liner, from the tins.
Arrange the menorah as you wish — in a row or a circle, but make sure to elevate the shammas by placing it on the remaining two sandwich cookies. light the candles. (Be sure to blow out the candles before the ice cream gets soft!)
SOURCE: The Children’s Jewish Holiday Kitchen, authored by Joan Nathan.
Copyright by Schocken Books Inc.
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