We woke up feeling pretty fried on Thursday, but prayed for strength and stamina and we made it through pretty well. Our legs are a bit sore from walking, but that's just a sign that we're getting stronger! (Yaaaay!) Today we went to a lot of classes that my husband was interested in, and it gives a nice mix. Here are our notes for that day.
“Exciting Stories
from Church History” Lawrence R. Flake
“If Mormonism can endure through the 3rd and 4th
generation unaltered, it will become the greatest force the world has ever
known.” (Tolstoy to Andrew Dickson White)
Andrew Dickson White told Thomas Yates (an LDS student) this
story
Yates starts the LDS seminary program.
Yates probably told Joseph Fielding Smith about this.
Joseph Fielding Smith made a talk called “The third and
fourth generation”
President Kimball heard this story when he was a boy and
realized he was a part of the third generation and firmly decided to stay true
to the gospel.
Evan Stephens (great musician) heard the talk and wrote
words to hymn “Shall the Youth of Zion Falter?” (True to the Faith)
Next story…
Stillman Pond and wife Maria lived in Nauvoo, family 9
children. 3 children died of
disease. Maria got consumption,
all had malaria. Went west in that condition.
Lived in a tent in Winter Quarters. Lost 4 children there, lost wife to
disease.
He still went west and made a great contribution. Remarried and had more
children. Great sacrifices.
Next story…
Building the Jerusalem Center was a great work, getting
clearance was a great work by Elder Hunter. Lots of miracles associated with it. Opposition was like combining all the
opposition to all the times together.
To a Jew, missionary work among the Jews is the same thing as the
Holocaust, an attempt to wipe them out.
Elder Hunter made 25 trips. 125 senators were involved in helping.
In late 1800s missionaries were sent everywhere they
could. 13 missionaries sent to
middle east. 2 missionaries sent
to Haifa Palestine. Had no
success, died there. Were buried
in cemetery of Haifa. Their
families thought their mission was a failure.
Back to trying to build the Jerusalem Center… Orthodox Jews tried to prevent any new
religions from coming to Israel.
The burial of those missionaries was a way that the church could argue
that the LDS religion was not new in Israel because they were buried there 100 years
ago.
Next story…
A couple of teens moved to Montana from Texas. He got a job at a service station, they
scraped by. A baby came. One night they woke up and discovered
the baby had died. This crushed them and they had no family to turn to. She was 16. She decided to pray and asked for some way to find out if
she could ever be with her baby again.
The missionaries were there 10 minutes later.
Michaela and Devon amuse themselves coming up with new
Education Week class titles:
The Miracles of the Jerusalem Center Building
“Profound Music of
the Baroque Era-Oratorio and Da Capo Aria” Jaren S. Hinckley
1600 – 1750
George Frideric Handel
Hallelujah Chorus sing-along (not same as the one we think
of)
Hallejuah chorus that we recognize
Boy soprannos, male altos, tenors, basses, soloists (male
and female)
Christopher Hogwood’s film of Messiah is on Youtube and is worth a look.
Handel was really good at counterpoint music.
His career. Played the violin in an opera house orchestra
when young.
Also composed on the side, began writing operas. (Julius Caesar, Xerxes, ect.)
Wrote tons of operas, and some oratorios at the beginning,
but 45 operas and 27 oratorio by the end.
Oratorios are on sacred subject matter, Biblical.
Opera has some stage action, costumes, acting, sets. Chorus not as big a part. Orchestra hidden.
Oratorios has people standing around singing. Choruses is a big part of the
whole. Orchestra visible.
The premier performance of Handel’s Messiah was a benefit concert to help release people from debtor’s
prison.
Why did Handel switch to oratorios? Oratorios were cheaper to produce (he
had his own opera house for a while) and there was another opera house across
the street that competed too much.
Oratorio was very big business during Lent, while opera was considered
sinful entertainment and the pope at the time banned opera for its sinful
nature.
Influential and popular form – da capo arias
Aria – solo song in an opera or oratorio
De capo aria form
-- A B A’ (A’ meant the singer was to improvise and ornament the section)
A Voi ell’ Erebo from La
Resurreczione written
when Handel was in his 20s, depicts events of Christ’s resurrection.
D.C. written in music is da capo (go back to the top)
Ferma l’ali, e sui miei lumi from La Resurreczione.
Harpsichordists had to improvise the chords from the bass
line of the music because the bass was all they were given.
Libretta came first.
Handel’s libretto for Messiah was written first by someone else who
pulled scriptures from all over the Bible and Handel loved it.
[Idea for more oratorios on other scripture series]
Work painting with the melody came from the Renaissance
“Little Known Stories
from the Lives of Joseph F. Smith, Heber J. Grant, George Albert Smith, David O
McKay, Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B Lee” Lawrence R. Flake
Joseph F Smith
Served 47 years in the First Presidency, 52 years as a
general authority. (David O McKay
served 64 years as a general authority)
He’s the son of Hyrum Smith, and his son also became
president too.
David O McKay
He wrote a little-known poem while a missionary about a
newborn baby that wondered how much the baby knew before coming to earth.
Back to Joseph F Smith
While prophet was in Liberty Jail. Hyrum wanted to see his baby, asked his wife to bring the
baby. She was sick, but she came 40 miles in winter in open wagon. Her sister went with her. Her sister
declared she would never sell the honor of being locked up in prison for a
night with the church leaders for any gold.
Joseph F Smith prophesied while in the Vernal Tabernacle
that someday a temple would be there.
(Vernal temple built out of that building)
He beat up a schoolteacher who was bothering his sister and
would have been in trouble with the law, but the church leaders sent him on a
mission.
Heber J Grant
Eliza R Snow prophesied that he would one day be prophet
(happened when he was 18 months old)
At age 22, called to be stake president
An apostle at age 25
He struggled with his calling at first. He prayed about it. The Lord gave him a vision in which his
calling in heaven was given and saw it was at the behest of his father and
grandfather. He also saw the
revelation of his calling given to John Taylor.
He was more comfortable after that.
He was determined to improve himself. Worked to throw a baseball into a hole
in the barn at different distances.
He loved golf, was rather fanatical about it. Didn’t like to
play alone, kept after James Talmage to play with him, even though Talmage
didn’t know golf. Talmage came
once. Talmage got a hole-in-one on
his first shot and said, “What’s so hard about that?” then that was the end of
it.
Gave away more than 100K books in his life of various
subjects. He’d give a book to
every missionary serving. When asked how he could afford to give away so many
books, he said, “I do it with my
cigarette money.”
He helped the church get out of debt.
Welfare program
One of his old businesses honored him with a copper box with
1K silver dollars. Sent the
dollars a friend to be made into paperweights with his signature and sent them
to people he knew and asked them to donate them to donate $100 to the
children’s hospital.. $100,000 was given to the hospital. Then.. Letters were later sent to those
who had donated asking them to donate the paperweight back and it was given to
others who would donate $100 again.
They did. This is still
going on today.
George Albert Smith
Descended from Joseph Smith Sr.’s brother
St. George is named after George A. Smith (his grandfather,
also an apostle)
Was very sick for many years. Possible lupis.
He was blind in one eye. Lived to 81 years, died on his birthday, during general
conference. Sunday afternoon
session of conference was his funeral.
He was the first president to have his picture on cover of
Time magazine, but it was a sort of anti-Mormon cover, not very flattering.
Was sent to England to represent ZCMI in an international
trade conference. At a formal end
meeting/banquet hosted by an egotistical lord, (anti-Mormon,
anti-American). Host kept needling
Smith, who bore it with patience.
Others got irritated about it.
Host got more drunk. Host
said, “What’s that pin on your lapel?”
Smith said, “This represents when my great-great-granddaddy whipped your
great-great-granddaddy.”
Harry Truman loved George Albert Smith for sending aid to
Europe.
When Smith died, Truman sent condolences 30 minutes after
the death. Other first condolences
came from a paperboy who knocked on the door and said, “I’ve lost my best
friend.”
David O McKay
Some people practically joined the church based on his looks
as a prophet.
Considered the prophet making the church into a world
church.
Built 3 temples outside the US
While pres of the church, there were 7 men in the quorum of
the twelve who later became presidents of the church.
Lived to 96 years, only outlived by President Hinckley at
97.
Times said at his death, “The prophet has been replaced by a
youngster of only 93.”
Joseph Fielding Smith
Read the BofM twice before he was 10 years old
Knew doctrine very well.
Took a bag lunch with him to work to keep from wasting
time. When asked where he got his
gospel knowledge, answered, “It’s in the bag.”
Outlived 3 wives.
His last wife was very funny.
He’d ask her to speak in priesthood meetings.
She’d say, “What do you get when you grow marijuana on the
stake farm?” “high counselors”
Harold B Lee
His grandmother was told he would give birth to a prophet.
She had 10 children who died as babies. 11th baby was the father of
Harold B Lee.
Back to Joseph Fielding Smith…
His wife drove him everywhere.
“Jedediah Grant’s
“Blank Text” Sermon; the Transfiguration of Brigham Young” Walter A. Norton
These stories illustrate how the Spirit comes to the aid of
those who preach the gospel and lead the church.
Jedediah Morgan Grant
(the presenters great-great-grandfather)
Morgan Utah is named after him.
Born 1816 in Windor New York
William Smith married Jedediah’s sister
After his baptism, Jedediah moved to Ohio, went on Zion’s
camp.
Called to quorum of 70. Served lots of missions.
Jedediah had to carry the news of the martyrdom to the
apostles in the east, just after he was married.
Appointed one of the captains of a wagon company. Led a wagon train to SL valley
1847. His wife and a daughter died
on the plains.
1849 He married again.
Elected first mayor of SLC, also called second counselor in
first presidency.
He got a reputation as a good improvivational speaker.
He studied the gospel carefully, but didn’t prepare
sermons. Others didn’t believe
this could be done.
He was challenged to preach a sermon on a text chosen by
others the instant before he would begin.
The “blank text” sermon.
The text was blank of any text.
“You believe that out of nothing, God created all things,
and now you want me to preach a sermon from nothing.” He uses work “blank” often, all the while tearing up the
creeds of Christianity, and teaching the gospel.
The audience was so impressed they took up a collection to
provide him a better set of clothes.
A minister didn’t want to, but he was compelled by the audience. Collection purchased clothes, horse,
and saddle for him.
Elder Grant was challenged to a discussion at another
church.
Elder Grant asks, “Who stands at the head of your
church?” “I do, how about
yours?” “Jesus Christ, sir.”
The Transfiguration of Brigham Young
On the day of the martyrdom, there was a pall of deep gloom
over Nauvoo. Many of the apostles
felt deep depression that day, though they didn’t know why at the time.
Death masks of Joseph and Hyrum were done by George Cannon,
father of George Q. Cannon
Who was to lead the church? (succession crisis of 1844) Saints were completely
shocked. No one had thought about
what to do if such a thing were to happen. Joseph had predicted it would
happen, but they didn’t understand.
Principles Joseph had taught before his death.
D&C 107
Quorum of 12 has authority equal to first presidency
Where there is no prophet, the 1st presidency
dissolves and the quorum of 12 leads
D&C 112
Revelation about the 12 and their role
D&C 124 the
12 hold the keys to open the authority of the kingdom over the earth
1841 “The 12
will be called to stand in their place next to the 1st pres.
Joseph ordained priesthood keys on the 12 with authority
necessary to lead the church after Joseph’s death.
When Brigham Young told the people the 12 had the keys of
the priesthood.
Sidney Rigdon also came back to Nauvoo from Pittsburg,
declaring he had a vision that he was to lead the church. Aug 2, 1844
Two elders came later. They met with Sidney. Sidney wanted to lay plans to appoint a
guardian of the church. Sidney had
a meeting claiming to be one spoken of by prophecy to lead.
Another meeting called for the purpose to choosing a
guardian for the church.
They delayed the meeting until the rest of the apostles
arrived. Apostles counseled
together. Sidney proposed to be a
guardian to the church to build up the church to Joseph Smith.
Another meeting.
In the grove. Sidney made
his argument. The more he talked, the more the people were convinced he should
not lead them.
When Brigham Young stood, he spoke with great power and
authority and inspiration. He was
transfigured before them, appearing to be Joseph Smith.
120 pages in the BYU Studies Magazine with 101 accounts of
people who were there and witnessed it.
What was the purpose of this manifestation?
The church stood on a pivot, not knowing which way to
turn. The power of God made the
voice of Brigham Young the voice of Joseph to show he would have the same
power. The people saw and heard
for themselves that it was by the power of God. All voted to sustain the twelve and Brigham Young. But there were still people who split
off following various people.
Why does the presiding member of the 12 become president?
Quorem of 12 presides over the church when prophet is
dead. So then, the president of
the quorum, who presides over it, is also president of the church.
“Today: Pivotal
Perspectives of Palestinian Arabs and Israeli Jews” Victor Ludlow
The Scattering of the House of Israel
--Lost ten tribes (721BC and following centuries)
--Lehites (600 BCE (and Mulekites around 586BCE)
--Jews (586 BCE
and 70CE and following centuries
--Scattered remnants of Israel (Identified as “gentiles”
D&C 10:60-67 D&C
133:30-34; unknown events, and
events, we’re waiting for records of them)
Ludlow supposes that the most quoted prophet in those 3rd
scriptures will be Isaiah
The Gathering of the House Israel foreseen by Jeremiah to be
a greater miracle than the Exodus from Egypt (Jer 16:14-15)
Goes in reverse order – last to be scattered are first to be
gathered
--Scattered remnants, starting in 1820, key date April 3,
1836.. when D&C 109 is given.
Moses restores the keys of the gathering of Israel.
--Jews, starting in 1880s. key date May 15, 1948 when Israel is re-established as a
nation. Before less than 17K Jews
in Palestine under Ottoman Turks.
--Lehites, starting in 1830s, key date 1975 when 9 new
stakes organized in Mexico City.
Top baptisms from Central, South America and the Phillippines.
--Lost Ten Tribes , unknown dates and events still in the
future
3-step Process to Conversion
-- 1 Nephi 19:15 – a change of attitude, and a
gathering to take place, when they no more turn aside their hearts against the
Holy One of Israel (neutral instead of negative?) In 1830 Jews had a negative attitude about Christians and
Jesus Christ. Not so much any
more.
-- 2 Nephi 6:11 a change of knowledge, and a gathering to take place. They know more about teachings of
Christians, now reading and studying the New Testament. (Used to never touch
it.)
-- 2 Nephi 10:7 a change of belief, and a
restoration to take place. (hasn’t yet happened)
7 Jewish prophecies fulfilled since 1830
--Elijah the prophet to return, 1836 in the Kirtland temple
--the descendents of Judah to gather, 1880s because of
pogroms in Russia and eastern Europe.
Many went to America. Some
went to Palestine.
--The wealth of nations to reclaim the land 1901, Fourth
Zionist Congress, started a fund Jewish National Fund to establish Palestine
and buy land for the Jews.
--Land to become productive, 1920s. France and England took
over middle east from Ottoman Empire after WW1. Started to farm.
--Jews to be attacked but delivered 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, 1982, 1991,
2006, ??? (happens every decade)
--Jerusalem to be under Jewish control , 1967
--Jews begin to
believe in Jesus Christ, 1975 President Kimball said the time of the
Jews is about ready to come in.
“Now is the time of the Jew” (Spencer W. Kimball) We’re getting more
Jewish converts in the east and west US.
The above are still being fulfilled.
Challeges of the middle east
Arabs, Persians, Turks, Afro-hamites, Kurds, Jews, Armenians
Cutures
-Patriarchal
-Oriental
-Semitic (culture, traditions, languages)
-Also +/- European/American influences that aren’t really
positive. (Icky media)
Religions
-Islam (Sunni/Shi’a), Christianity (Armenian, Coptic,
Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Pretestant, LDS, etc), Judaism (ultra-orthodix,
orthodox, conservative, reform, setc.), Druze, Baha’i, various
Middle East Governments – monarchy, emirate, constitutional
monarchy, theocratic republic, military republic, republic, parliamentary
democracy, ..
Middle East hot spots
Poverty – Egypt, Yemen, Palestine-Gaza
Politics – Egypt, Syria, Palestine-WestBank
Terrorists – Iran, Yemen, Palestine-Gaza
Women’s rights – Saudia Arabia, Yemen, ??? many
Civil Conflict – Egypt, Iraq/Syria, Lebanon/Cyprus
Intolerance – Iran/SA, Yemen, Palestine-Gaza
Iraq has 6 ethnic-religious groups. How to form a government to represent
them all!
Gaza is extremely densely populated. 4000 people/squar km versus 30 for US
Gaza has 40% unemployment rate
Who is a Palestinian?
Canaanite? A Philistine? A Byzantine?, An Arab? A mixture of all these?
“The Kirtland Safety
Society: Its Rise, Fall, and Aftermath” Jeffrey N Walker
Only one lawsuit ever filed against Joseph over the Safety
Society. But this was a big
case. Rounds v.Smith, et al.
Opinion – majority of losses sustained by members of the
church
Smith family was most hurt, then Rigdon family, then Johnson
family. This adds up to almost 60%
of interest in it.
Once the bank failed, it was clear Kirtland wouldn’t be a
good place for the Saints to stay.
Many saints believed their losses in Kirtland would be paid back with
land in Missouri as an inheritance.
Rise of the safety society
Banking in Jacksonian America. Central banking Terminated, no national currency.
Metal money (specy) shortage, notes from banks (bank notes),
promissory notes (promises to pay at a certain time)
Using bank notes, increase money supply, increase liquidity,
increase loans
Kirtland in the 1830s
Booming economy, agricultural products, manufacturing, rapid
population increase, significant land sales. Money shortage
(major inflation)
Men went on missions poor and came back rich because of
their land.
The Church’s involvement
Missionary efforts
United Firm (merchantile business ventures, land development
ventures, printing, increasing
debt obligations, terminations of the United Firm)
Illiquity
Stores were stocked, but people coming didn’t have any
money.
Bank notes had high risk, short terms 60-90 day loans. When it comes due, you either have to
sell the merchandise, or roll it over into another larger loan. Church debt
increased.
Church decided to get into land sales instead. Large farms bought, then subdividing,
then selling at marginal (small) profits.
Major issue – church needed money and church was building
the temple at the same time.
Church is 40K in debt for the Kirtland temple
October 1836 – Returning from Salem MA they decided to start
a bank to increase the money supply, liquidity, and loans.
They began taking payments for stock -- $50/share, small
installments, 36 subscribers by end of October
November 1836 they had a organization meeting. 32 directors. Director was Rigdon, JS was cashier, They adopted a
“constitution”, They approved purchases of printing plates, safe, stock ledger,
etc.
December 1836: Getting a charter
They sent Orson Hyde, who was not a politician. Made no alliances. Couldn’t even get the bill read to be
considered. Also opposition from
Gradison Newell, who wanted his own town to be the center and was angry at
upstart Kirtland. He wanted a railroad that could have authority to issue
banknotes too.
Oliver gets the equipment for the bank.
They can’t be a bank. They will be an “anti-bank” as a
joint-stock company as a partnership.
All directors are jointly liable for losses.
Changed their articles of agreement. Changed the names of
the offices and roles
First run was $10K
Business opens.
1st run loaned in 3 days. Road improvements, increased land
sales, increase in Whitney Store
January-Feb 1837
Bought the Bank of Monroe, Michigan in order to become a
branch bank of it. Agree to
purchase a controlling interest. Oliver Cowdery becomes director and vice
president. He moves to
Monroe. Seemed pretty clever.
Banknotes have nothing printed on the back.
Then there is the Panic of 1837. Starts in New York goes to the entire US
Every single bank of Ohio and Michigan fail. Safety society is caught in that.
Banks across nation begin to close in March 1837
Grandison Newell decides to try to make Safety Society
fail. He buys up notes and redeems
species.
Warren Parrish & John Johnson start executing bank notes
and putting htem into the market.
Johnson starts selling his property to make it good. When he’s sold everything,
the bank is dead.
Lawsuit is qui tam lawsuit – A whistleblower suit, needs
statute to support and be in the state’s interest. Operating a bank without charter.
Samuel Rounds was a strawman to bring the lawsuit.
Defendents were key directors of the bank. Six lawsuits based on 1816 statute.
$1000 fine per transaction
Defense – the statue used for lawsuit was not in force
New statute overrides it of 1823 saying there is no problem
with unchartered supply, but there is no recourse.
The court rules against them, but they don’t finish the
suit.
Agents were left to turn out Joseph’s debts. Grandison was overpaid. After Joseph’s death, he has probate
set up to get the Kirtland temple.
The case defaulting possession to the RLDS of the Kirtland
was a total fraud because the judge didn’t allow them to have it, but the RLDS
people ignored the last sentence.
Later another case gets the temple for RLDS
The temple is still there for a reason, not destroyed. It reminds us of the great events of
the restoration.
“Maccabees—A
Family and a Legacy” Jared L.
Ludlow
1 and 2 Maccabees – come at 200-100BC after Malachi in the
Bible
1 Maccabees is modeled after books of Kings and Chronicles
Starts with Alexander’s conquests, but focuses on Antiochus
IV (Epiphanes) rain to John Hyrcanus I
Lacks miraculous interventions from heaven, but sees hand of
God in Jewish victories
Includes copies of letters and contemporary poems
2 Maccabees is an abridgement of a 5 volume history (we
don’t have) written by Jason of Cyrene..
Parallels 1 Maccabees 1-7:50
Themes – sanctity of the temple, celebrate the deeds of the
martyrs who precipitated the revolt
Historical background
Alexander conquers middle east, breaking down Persian
empire,
Whole region under greek dominance, spreading greek thought,
language.
Hellenistic Empires split between generals
Antigonid (greek and macedon)
Ptolemaic (Egypt)
Seleucid (Syria, Babylon, Persia) Has the hardest time
keeping it and loses pieces little by little
Israel is right between two and that plays a role. They switch
Hellenism
Greek colonies founded, culture is spread, which creates
issues for Jews. They have to
decide whether to embrace it/promote it or eschew it as a taint.
Hellenizers versus traditionalists
Hellenizers established gymnasium (greek school, exercising
in the nude) in Jerusalem and even removed marks of circumcision
Antiochus III (Megas) 223-187 BCE
5th Syrian War, took the land of Israel at the
Battle of Paneas, defeating Ptolemy V
Fights with Rome in Asia Moinor (Battle of Magnesia 189BCE),
losing, ceding most of Asia Minor to Rome in the Treaty of Apamea, paid yearly
tribute
How to pay tribute?
Tax people, use your money, or plunder other people. They choose to plunder others.
Common target of plunder is temples in the middle east
because they are the storehouse of much wealth.
Antichus IV (Epiphanes)
In the 6th Syrian war, marched on Alexandria
Egypt for its wealth. Then retreated at Roman threat.
What’s left?
Jerusalem temple. Series of
acts against Jews of Judea.
Raided Jerusalem and took temple treasure. (Historians think he was crazy. Others think extreme Hellenized Jews
are whispering in his ear to try to get Jews to abandon tradition and convert
to greek religion.)
Antiochus’ troops and Hellenized Jews built a fortress
(Acra) near the temple to dominate Jerusalem.
Requires pagan sacrifices.Wanted entire empire to have one
custom (religion).
Sacrifices of swine, altars to greek gods on the temple
site. (Gasp)
Hellenizers wanted to make a covenant with the gentiles,
gymnasiam, etc.
Jewish worship, prayer and Sabbath were forbidden,
Violations were punished by torture or death.
Hebrew scriptures (OT) were destroyed by fire
Jews having scriptures were tortured and killed
Circumcized sons had their whole families killed brutally.
Jewish Response
First, abandon tradition
Some, Martyrdom (1 Macc 1:62-63; 2 Macc 6-7) Chose to die rather than profane
themselves.
Tests of whether they would eat the pigs or break the
Sabbath
Jews realize the trials come because they haven’t been as
faithful as they should be.
They encourage each other to die honorably.
ThThird response: revolt 1 Macc 2; 3:59-60
Hasmonean family – Mattathias (father) with five sons
(Joannes, Simean, Judas Maccabeus, Eleazar, Jonathan) united with Hasideans
(pious ones) for legitimacy
Modern Jews don’t want to do martyrdom again, so they will
build up their military and protect themselves.
Maccabeus
--“the hammer”
They take Phineas as an example (Phineas the priest in
Numbers, who spears the immoral couple in the tent)
Mattathias is told to sacrifice. He refuses.
Mattathias kills another Jew who is about to sacrifice, kills the king’s
officers, tears down the altar.
Calls the town to unite and leave with him and went to the wilderness.
They revolt. It
becomes a guerrilla war that keeps escalating.
Antiochus keeps sending larger and larger armies trying to
stamp it out and it doesn’t work.
They retake the temple and rededicate the temple 1 Macc 4:36-51
The First Hanukkah 164BC
7-stand manorah
temple mannorah, used in temple.
8-day manorah
Hanukkah
9-day mannorah
Hanukkah (middle candle
used to light all the other candles)
Hanukkah involves presents to make sure Jewish kids don’t
miss out on Christmas.
The miracle of the oil is in the later rabbinic stories, not
in Maccabees.
We can see lots of Jewish thought and passion and how to
deal with the outside gentile world in it.
It shows the importance placed in the temple and the law of
Moses and there’s lots we can learn from that.
