Why the message of Hanukkah applies to all of us

This transcript is automatically generated

Well the other holiday this -- -- season tomorrow begins the eight day festival of lights known as Chanukah.

It is a Jewish story of the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem.

The -- Libyan revolt in the second century BC it's a Jewish holiday but why -- the message for all people.

And here to explain his rabbi Brad -- buildings foxnews.com contributor and author of you don't have to be wrong -- -- to be right I like that title thank you.

All right thank you very much so.

So yeah yet.

Is that.

We always think it was a good Chanukah as the Jewish holiday around this time of year round Christmas right.

But you're saying that this is really a holiday for everybody at least what -- represents.

Exactly it is I want don't be shy to Jewish holiday -- rooted in the Jewish narrative.

But it teaches a message for all people and if I had to get it down to one sentence it's that there's more to each of us and there's more to this life than meets the that every single person starting with ourselves and how often do we forget that that we possess more capacity.

And more ability.

And more possibility.

And we often let ourselves believe.

And that that story is as old as the product the story itself but the whole story actually begins.

With the narrative of those Mac Indian soldiers fighting for religious freedom coming back into the Jerusalem temple.

About a 165.

Years before the common -- and they find a little -- a little Tug of oil.

Enough to life in the know -- which was the seven branched.

Candlestick -- mention when I hear this one minus two not electricity right now electric it now -- if that's when it got.

Craig and those red -- and -- And they find that this little bit of oil.

With light that they didn't know for how long probably only a day and not enough time to prepare more oil to keep it going.

And they decided to light it anyway.

And so for me in the in this traditional miracle was the one -- lasted eight days and therefore there's eight days of the holiday on the miracle began.

The moment those soldiers look at that little bit of -- -- we're gonna try.

We're gonna see potential and possibility.

And that little bit of oil and we're gonna -- to trust and that we're gonna -- we're gonna light it up.

And we're going to trust that.

Now imagine if every year you had eight days to remind yourself.

That you are both those soldiers.

And you're also that bit of oil.

And there's more inside view and -- more inside everyone else and there's more out there in life than first meets the guy who we just -- to trust.

So one -- -- might be able to that you have an op Ed piece foxnews.com comment about this very subject about.

-- -- is really for everybody.

What things -- that from a theological point of view is that we've always heard about that -- is it was a minor Jewish holiday.

And until you -- it because -- Christmas kind of got in the way and then it he can and she's sort of be pumped up in order for Jewish children to have something to do.

-- Christians are -- children are waiting for Santa I think it.

It might be a little bit of an overstatement.

I think that it's really wasn't such a minor holiday at all it's a post biblical holiday.

And so for theological reasons that is certainly different and -- page through.

The entire Hebrew Bible and find no mention of -- because by the time the Hebrew -- was finished product hasn't happened.

It is worth noting though it is mentioned the new testament.

People often ask me to Jesus celebrate.

Hot cup and and it was really good chance because the book of John chapter ten mentions Jesus coming into the city.

In the winter time at the time of the feast.

Dedication which is the English rendering of the word.

-- up so in fact it was and this original stories -- -- car found the book of Mac could be used which is part of the apocryphal.

Which I have right here haven't they give you know how convenient is it I think it was not done because this is something that's not the Protestant Bible and what it does is it is included if you get through Catholic Bible right it can include eighties.

Part of the Catholic Canon.

It is not part of the Protestant -- clearly not of the Hebrew Bible that was often included many study additions.

All of the new testament.

And so it's not hard to access the stories are pretty easy to read especially stories of Mac and he's -- so there are real roots to the tradition.

I think even more important.

Is that while -- is not the Jewish Christmas they are really related.

And I get it Jewish he's Jewish Christian is Christian they are genuinely different.

But they're also remarked with the same on this issue whether it's lighting up one of these were lighting up the tree.

With these traditions both remind us is it may be the coldest darkest time of the year.

But there is light and there -- he.

And there is warmth and there is love to be found no matter where you are no matter who you want it -- -- a little baby in a Manger no one suspects is the messiah.

It made you know little jar of oil that no one -- we'll -- that -- but it's there.

It isn't listening -- -- because we're talking about how close Judaism and christianity are related and this is just one of those things in -- any other book.

That Pope Benedict wrote about -- as of now -- -- that he actually I think suggested.

That the date of Jesus birth was picked not because it was a pagan holidays but because it was the Honecker -- so.

Yeah absolutely look that that that the relationship between these two traditions as profound effect I wouldn't want to argue with a previous Pope.

But he often referred to Jewish as the older sibling.

Christians and with great respect.

I actually think it may have been doing a disservice to christianity that in many ways really we are twins have our parents as the Hebrew Bible.

And as the Hebrew Bible came to a close.

She gave birth to -- children in the twin children were -- -- Judaism.

And christianity.

And with both of us I think -- always trying to do is use this sacred inheritance of the Hebrew Bible.

To actually make ourselves and our communities in the world.

A little bit more sacred a little bit more ethical a little bit more meaningful a little bit more loving and actually both of these traditions -- remarkable jobs.

That well speaking of love and we can get some comfort food product I did you make it -- a lot I do I loved to cook obviously love to eat but I loved to cook a lot better potato pancakes.

Are one of the traditional foods now because of potatoes because it probably were no potatoes in the holy -- the first century but because of the oil.

Right the -- that went into the lamp oil goes in to us in so if you're from central and Eastern Europe.

And therefore most of the American Jewish community -- probably frying up potato pancakes if you went to Israel today would probably be eating doughnuts the idea is.

Fry something you love take it in the way they filled it up and who -- not an excuse to it's good -- yeah exactly.

You recipe is days I lifestyles segment I finally I just dot com check an undertaking activities go visit my gridlock -- I loved -- enjoy guy you don't have to be -- it from -- -- definitely that's -- today.

Watch Live

Why the message of Hanukkah applies to all of us

Details

Clips

Editor's Picks

Sen. Marco Rubio outlines future of immigration reform

Buchanan: IRS is a 'rogue agency'

Massive fire breaks out at fuel-depot in Brazil

Holder's changing tune on involvement in journalist scrutiny

'The Five's advice for newly minted college grads

Cavuto: We're in a global war on terror

New information about the London terror suspects

Travis Alexander's friend: Family wants Arias on death row

The new face of US drone policy

Investigation into death of US engineer in Singapore a sham?

Former President Bush hosts wounded warrior bike ride

New developments in Maxim model murder trial

Transcript

Recommended