Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Merry Christmas, chaverim

While I don't celebrate the holiday, I respect the religion and those who are adherents and wish you all a merry Christmas. There are a few duds here, but most folks are some of the finest people I've ever not met and I hope you all are surrounded by beloved family and friends during the holiday.

And a special Christmas wish to those here who are farmers, ranchers and others who break your backs to make modern life so comfortable for the rest of us.

Happy Hunting, Brother Remsen!

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Remson have a wonderful Hanukkah as well.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah

Ghank you Remson, and would you tell me about Hanukah?

Happy Hanukah Remsen.


Happy Birthday to Jesus!!

Happy Holidays to you and yours Remsen.

Hope Remsen won’t let Flave beat you to death with the Menorah.

Lol

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Thanks Remsen!

Same to you and yours!

Thanks to all for the holiday wishes, and I definitely look forward to Deacon Flave's retort....

Wabi, this is the story recited by my rabbi in the holiday email message. It's missing a lot of detail but the basic story is told:

In their efforts to religiously persecute us, the Greeks made a concerted effort to contaminate the special oil used to kindle the menorah in the temple. The oil, which represented our sanctity and purity, is what the Greeks sought to eradicate; to finally lash out - heaven forbid - the Jewish spirit.

Then, against all odds, a small Jewish army defeated the mighty Greek legions. We retook Jerusalem and the temple. We rushed to the room where the oil was kept, seeking to rekindle our Jewish flame. But lo and behold, the oil had been defiled. The seals had been removed from each flask of oil, rendering them unfit to use on the temple’s menorah.

Then a cry is heard. One jug has been found! This is the only remnant of pure oil that survived the Greek holocaust. Imagine how precious that oil must have been to the Jewish People. Imagine how much they must have treasured this single pure remnant of "pre-Greek treachery".

And here is the pivotal moment in the story; the moment that would define the future of Israel:

It is probable to surmise that there were Jews at the time who wanted to hold tight to this jug. They wanted to preserve it and display it in a museum for all to see. This jug would serve a living testimony to the miraculous victory. It would become the symbol of G‑d’s love for Israel. "What good would using the oil for the menorah be anyway", they probably figured. After all, it would only last for 1 night and it would take 8 days for more pure oil to be pressed.

Yet it is here where we uncover a great Jewish truth; the truth that gives us the holiday of Chanukah:

Had that oil been placed on display we would not be celebrating Chanukah today. It is because that oil was used to perform the mitzvah of lighting the menorah that we continue to kindle the menorah some 2200 years later.

Thank you, I appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks Friend.

Happy Hanukka Remsen

Remsen,
Happy Hanukkah my friend.

Thanks....you too.

Thanks Remsen.
We've celebrated Hannukah with friends in the past, and some of those friends have celebrated Christmas with us.
I don't consider the celebrations exclusive - but more inclusive. Just different ways of honoring God.
Best done with friends.
Happy Hannukah, and Merry Christmas!

All the best to you Remsen !!!