Print off your own copy free! Just drop us a note at shalom@haydid.org
and let us know that you did it and say, "thank you!" That's all we ask!
How to Use This Book
We've designed this book so you can pick and choose as much or as little as you want. OUR FIRST RECOMMENDATION IS TO READ THIS BOOK COMPLETELY. Use the Table of Contents to guide you. We've tried to make this "user friendly" for both the denominational church beginner and an intermediate level of Messianic. We have planned about 30 minutes of activities for most of the eight days of Hanukkah. We've added other things that may take more time like the Sabbath (God's set apart time each week) on Friday evening and Havdalah (closing of Sabbath) on Saturday. You may pick and choose from the teaching section, too. There is more than enough to fill the eight days of Hanukkah!
We suggest that you purchase some "Post-it Notes" at your local office supply place or even K-mart. These are temporary tabs that you can position at the top or side of the pages that help you as you work through the book. You may want to color code according to each day. Day one you might tab in purple all the recipes, lessons, games and such. Green might be the things that you need to do ahead of time, like, ordering resource tapes or music, craft ideas, etc... Of course you will want to mark the recipe section in one color, and so forth. You decide, but make it your own.
You may create each day's activities to share Yeshua in many object lessons. Be creative! This is our own interpretation of Hanukkah as believers in Yeshua the Messiah, and are not meant to give the impression that these activities are Jewish traditions. As children we learned by experiencing through our senses, and we discovered that the festivals are wonderful ways to bring Him closer in to our daily lives. Feel free to be creative and write back to us with your suggestions and ideas. We will be glad to pass them on to others.
Hanukkah is a celebration of eight days and nights and the preparation that you do must also include preparing your heart. Not only during the evening but during each hour of each day you are walking with the Lord and your heart, mind and spirit should be anticipating the miracles. We have a Messianic prayer that we use. Each time that you touch something, wash or use your hands through the week you can use this blessing as a reminder of the miracle of God's love and the significance of this week.
"I dedicate my hand to Yeshua, the Messiah, the hope of glory, to serve Him only."
What a blessing it is to bring Him into our daily lives! Just as He will rededicate the Temple, we rededicate these eight days in the things that we touch and experience in our daily lives during this festival. It's not written in stone--but it's written in our hearts.
Don't get tied up in the "rush and demands" that a holiday American style has become. We want you to feel free to select or skip whatever you wish. Back off from the hustle and bustle of the "Christmas rush" mind set. We have found that the simple things of Hanukkah add to the memories. For many of us finances are limited and we have chosen to simplify our pressures by giving fewer gifts of monetary value and more of our quality time and personal touches with crafts and original gifts.
If you have children in your family the small gifts with themes that teach aspects of their relationship with Yeshua, stay with them longer than the big flashy worldly toys. Some nights the gift would be perhaps a book (study to show yourself approved) or pajamas or underwear. Then it is up to you to choose the gift and then attach the meaning. The children know where the gifts are coming from and not screaming, "More! Santa! More!" They look forward to knowing what lesson is being taught and what special thought went into the gift. They learn and when they are older they will also take more time with thinking about what a gift represents in their hearts.
These are just SUGGESTIONS--nothing is written in stone in this book. This is a rabbinical festival, so there is a greater freedom in what you can and should do. You do not have to convert to being Jewish to keep Hanukkah. Hanukkah has a lot to offer the Believer. We've added special prayers that are totally Messianic prayers from our hearts. You, too, can add prayers and touches to these celebrations that will make them yours.
Blessed are you O Lord our God, King of the universe who has brought us to this season in our lives. Praise You for Yeshua! Lois Lessman and Cheryle Holeman
next page: http://www.haydid.org/hanukkah3.htm
