Addicting Info – Christian Politician Makes Ass Of Self At Menorah Lighting Ceremony: ‘Jesus Is The Reason For The Season’

I have been pondering this story since it came out; not quite sure what to think. Did Williams just misspeak? Is he just that ignorant of Judaism? Or is his Christian" exceptionalism" shining brightly.

t’s likely that Williams really did mean no offense. He just isn’t used to his religious ideas not being treated as the default cultural tradition. Discovering that there are other people with other beliefs can be a shock to the sheltered. It’s the same way a full half of white Evangelical Christians in this country report feeling that they face more discrimination than any other minority group in the United States aside from gay and lesbians (a group that nobody works harder to discriminate against than Evangelical Christians). To drive home the point, white Christians in America think they are bullied at higher rates than groups like Muslims, African Americans, atheists, and, yes, even Jews. The chutzpah.

What I find a bit ironic, the Feast of Dedication, what we refer to as Chanukah, is mentioned in the NT; "And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomons porch. (John 10:22-23). In some circles, reference is also made to the prophecy of Daniel Chapter 8 and 11. The best reference to understanding this festival is the writings in 1 Maccabees specifically, 4:52-59:

Now on the fiue and twentieth day of the ninth moneth, (which is called the moneth Casleu) in the hundreth fourty and eight yeere they rose vp betimes in the morning, And offered sacrifice according to the law vpon the new altar of burnt offerings, which they had made. Looke at what time, and what day the heathen had prophaned it, euen in that was it dedicated with songs, and cittherns, and harpes, & cimbals. Then all the people fell vpon their faces, worshipping and praising the God of heauen, who had giuen them good successe. And so they kept the dedication of the altar eight dayes, and offered burnt offerings with gladnesse, and sacrificed the sacrifice of deliuerance and praise. They deckt also the forefront of the temple with crownes of gold; and with shields, and the gates, and the chambers they renewed and hanged doores vpon them. Thus was there very great gladnesse among the people, for that the reproch of the heathen was put away. Moreouer Iudas and his brethren with the whole congregation of Israel ordained that the daies of the dedication of the altar, should be kept in their season from yeere to yeere by the space of eight dayes, from the fiue and twentieth day of the moneth Casleu, with mirth and gladnesse.

And 2 Maccabees 10:5-8:

Now vpon the same day that the strangers prophaned the Temple, on the very same day it was cleansed againe, euen the fiue and twentieth day of the same moneth, which is Casleu. And they kept eight dayes with gladnes as in the feast of the Tabernacles, remembring that not long afore they had helde the feast of the Tabernacles, when as they wandered in the mountaines, and dennes, like beasts. Therefore they bare branches, and faire boughes and palmes also, and sang Psalmes vnto him, that had giuen them good successe in clensing his place. They ordeined also by a common statute, and decree, That euery yeere those dayes should be kept of the whole nation of the Iewes.

Josephus also references this celebration calling it "the feast of lights."

Addicting Info – Christian Politician Makes Ass Of Self At Menorah Lighting Ceremony: ‘Jesus Is The Reason For The Season’