Christmas & Chanukah Together-What A Coincidence?

Joseph F. Dumond

Isa 6:9-12 And He said, Go, and tell this people, You hear indeed, but do not understand; and seeing you see, but do not know. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn back, and be healed. Then I said, Lord, how long? And He answered, Until the cities are wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land laid waste, a desolation, and until Jehovah has moved men far away, and the desolation in the midst of the land is great.
Published: Dec 27, 2024

Newsletter 5860-045
The 1st Year of the 5th Sabbatical Cycle
The 29th year of the 120th Jubilee Cycle
The 25th day of the 11th month 5860 years after the creation of Adam
The 5th Sabbatical Cycle after the 119th Jubilee Cycle
The Sabbatical Cycle of the Red Heifer, Famine, Captivity & The 2 Witnesses

December 28, 2024

Shabbat Shalom to the Royal Family of Yehovah, 

This year, Chanukah and Christmas were celebrated simultaneously. Both are Festivals of Light. At this time of year, I see many people wishing others Chag Sameach. This coming week is New Year’s. Let’s discuss it.

Join Our Sabbath Meetings

Join Our Sabbath Meetings

There are many people in need of fellowship and who are sitting at home on the Sabbath with no one to talk to or debate with. I want to encourage all of you to join us on Shabbat, and to invite others to come and join us as well. If the time is not convenient then you can listen to the teaching and the midrash after on our YouTube channel.

What are we doing and why do we teach this way?

We are going to discuss both sides of an issue and then let you choose. It is the work of the Ruach (Spirit) to direct and to teach you.

The medieval commentator Rashi wrote that the Hebrew word for wrestle (avek) implies that Jacob was “tied”, for the same word is used to describe knotted fringes in a Jewish prayer shawl, the tzitzityot. Rashi says, “thus is the manner of two people who struggle to overthrow each other, that one embraces the other and knots him with his arms”.

Our intellectual wrestling has been replaced by a different kind of struggle. We are Wrestling with Yehovah as we grapple with His Word. It is an intimate act, symbolizing a relationship in which Yehovah and I and you are bound together. My wrestling is a struggle to discover what Yehovah expects of us, and we are “tied” to the One who assists us in that struggle.

Today, many say Israel means “Champion of God”, or better — the “Wrestler of God”.

Our Torah sessions each Shabbat teaches you and encourages you to constantly challenge, question, argue against, as well as view alternative views and explanations of the Word. In other words, we are to “wrestle with the Word” to get to the truth. Jews worldwide believe that you need to wrestle with the Word and constantly challenge Dogma, Theology, and views or else you will never get to the Truth.

We are not like most churches where “The preacher talks and everyone listens.” We encourage everyone to participate, to question and to contribute what they know on the subject being discussed. We want you to be a champion wrestler of the Word of Yehovah. We want you to wear the title of Israel, knowing that you not only know but are capable of explaining why you know the Torah to be true with logic and facts.

We have a few rules though. Let others talk and listen. There is no discussion about UFO’s Nephilim, Vaccines or conspiracy-type subjects. We have people from around the world with different world views. Not everyone cares who is the President of any particular country. Treat each other with respect as Fellow wrestlers of the word. Some of our subjects are hard to understand and require you to be mature and if you do not know, then listen to gain knowledge and understanding and hopefully wisdom. The very things you are commanded to ask Yehovah for and He gives to those who ask.

Jas 1:5  But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and with no reproach, and it shall be given to him.

We hope you can invite those who want to keep Torah to come and join us by hitting the link below. It is almost like a Torah teaching fellowship talk show with people from around the world taking part and sharing their insights and understandings.

We start off with some music and then some prayers and it’s as though you were sitting around the kitchen back in Newfoundland having a cup of coffee and all of us enjoying each other’s company. I hope you will grace us with your company someday.

Sabbath services begin at 12:30 PM EDT where we will be doing prayers songs and teaching from this hour.

Shabbat Services will begin at about 1:15 pm Eastern.

We look forward to you joining our family and getting to know us as we get to know you.

Joseph Dumond is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Joseph Dumond’s Personal Meeting Room

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3505855877

Meeting ID: 350 585 5877
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,3505855877# US (Germantown)
+13126266799,,3505855877# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Meeting ID: 350 585 5877
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kctjNqPYv0


The Perpetual Calendar

The Perpetual Calendar

We have available from our website a calendar you can use to keep track of the days of the month based on when the Barley is ripe and when the moon is sighted. ALl you have to do is download it. https://sightedmoon.com/perpetual-calendar/

With the new year about to begin, you can learn about the calendar as you record it. This is a great tool to have and it is free to anyone who wants it.

8 Comments

  1. ====================
    DECEMBER 25, 1776
    ====================

    Last week, I commented about remembering the DECEMEMBER 25, 1776 and the role that date had in the founding of America, and it felt appropriate to repost the comment below again this week:

    DECEMBER 25th is the anniversary date of George Washington crossing the Delaware in the pursuit of freedom and liberty from our oppressors! Just a few short months after the Declaration of Independence was signed, General Washington led his troops in the chill of winter across the Delaware river and fought victoriously on December 25 and 26, 1776. At a time when the celebration of Christmas was still illegal in many places in New England, the Americans knew that the enemy’s army which contained prisoners, Irish, and many English that were debased with the horrendous tradition of keeping the pagan practice of Christmas. Washington was counting on the opposing army to be drunk, disorganized, and entirely off-guard.

    As history shows, Washington was correct. The battle was easily won by the Colonial Army. The unsuspecting Colonel Rall, whose army was defeated at the Battle of Trenton, had drank all night throughout the eve of the pagan festival. His troops had followed his example. During the battle, Colonel Rall himself was mortally wounded and died the next day. George Washington’s fight for freedom had won an early and decisive victory against the immoral oppressors!

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington%27s_crossing_of_the_Delaware_River

    Reply
  2. Thank you Joseph for your great site
    While Hebrew Roots folks are get’n their shorts in a knot over Chanukah, what about Purim, coming up in March 2025. The holiday remembering the saving of the Jewish people from Haman in ancient Persia, complete with colorful costumes, alcohol and wild dancing. Why don’t we ever look at this? It’s not on the list of Hashem’s appointed times? We could rip this one up pretty good too.
    From the wind and rain-swept Oregon Coast – Peter Smith

    Reply
  3. Joseph.

    I apologize because I continually seem to be a thorn in your butt, often disagreeing with you, however, since I seek Yehovah’s TRUTH, I’d like to give a different explanation concerning John 10:22, and the Feast/festival of Dedication with Yeshua walking in Solomon’s portico during winter.

    The inspired Greek word for dedication in John 10:22 was Strong’s G1456, egkainia, and only appears ONCE in the NT. Thus, the possibility of confusion, misinterpreting, or misunderstanding.

    Research indicates, IT WAS NOT the 8th Day of Sukkot! But this did happen AFTER Sukkot, and even AFTER December 25th or the present date of Hanukkah.

    What I did was I went to the Septuagint, and looked up G1456. Being ALL Greek translated from Hebrew prior to Yeshua’s birth, I wanted to know if the word “dedication” appeared in the Tanakh. It does, in Ezra 6:16, 17 ; in Nehemia 12:27 [temple or wall dedication?]; and Daniel 3:2 (irrelevant to this discussion.)

    It seems that the Feast or festival of Dedication BEGAN around the time the 2nd Temple was built and it was in observance of dedication or re-dedication of the second Temple (or wall.)

    While we may or may not be able to accurately pick the exact year of this first feast/festival of dedication, we DO KNOW the month. It was not the 9th month; it was the 12th month of the Hebrew calendar, Adar!

    Ezr 6:15, “And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. (thus, ~516-515 BC)
    Ezr 6:16, And the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication (G1456, corresponds to Hebrew H2597/Chanukkah) of this house of God with joy.
    Ezr 6:17 And they offered at the dedication (G1456/H2597) of this house of God a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin-offering for all Israel, twelve he-goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.”

    So SEVERAL months had evidently passed since the 8th Day of Sukkot. Hanukkah today is deceitfully celebrated based upon the 12th month of the Gregorian calendar, (December) not the 12th month of the Hebrew calendar, which is the month of Adar, as relayed by Ezra, and usually corresponds to February/March.

    Conclusion? The Feast or Festival of Dedication in John 10:22 was NOT the 8th Day of Sukkot, and seems to be several months later, deeper into the winter, corresponding to about February or March on our present day Gregorian calendars.

    J.W.

    Reply
    • You are not a pain the butt, but you do demonstrate for all to see, an inability to do accurate research. Please go back and read John chapters 7 to 11 and make note of each day mentioned during this time. The Day Yehshua was walking in the Temple when John 10:22 was recorded was indeed the 8th Day of the Feast. To say otherwise shows a lack of reading skills.

      Reply
      • While I do not expect that you will post this, because, as you have said, you,re NEVER wrong, let’s look at the previous chapters you referenced in John.

        Chapter 7 is about Sukkot/feast of Tabernacles.

        Reading down to verse 7:37, “and in the last day of the Great feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” (So this is the very last day the 8th day of Sukkot/Tabernacles)

        Reading further to verse 7:53, and they each went to his own house.

        THE FEAST WAS OVER! verse8:1-2 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives and early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. And he sat down and taught them. (Reading from MKJV)

        SUKKOT IS OVER. THE LAST GREAT DAY OR THE 8TH DAY IS PAST. THIS IS NOW THE DAY AFTER THE FEAST HAS ENDED.

        After this, the discussion goes into the woman caught in adultery, Jesus admitting that he is the light of the world, how the truth will set you free, how the Pharisees are children of the devil, how he existed before Abraham, (end of chapter 8.)

        In chapter 9 he heals a man born blind, and the whole chapter is dedicated to this story.

        Chapter 10. He reveals that he is the Good Shepherd that lays his life down for the sheep, he gets accused of having a demon, and here we are verse 10:22 and the Feast of dedication taking place in Jerusalem.

        Sukkot/Tabernacles in the last great day occurred way back three chapters earlier at verse 7:37. Several months has passed now and the Feast of dedication was occurring.

        It was a celebration in remembrance of the dedication of the second temple which was still standing. As Ezra 6:15-17 states this dedication takes place in the month of Adar which corresponds to February – March, definitely definitely winter months in all northern hemisphere countries.

        You seem to have gotten stuck and missed what happened in John 7 verse 37, and that by the end of the chapter everybody had gone home after the feast while Jesus/Yeshua went to the Mount of Olives and came back to the temple the very next day. And that Feast of Tabernacles is never mentioned again after 8:1. At least not best I can see.

        Are you absolutely right you are not miss teaching because scripture seems to point to the fact that you are wrong. Imagine that! You may be human like the rest of us after all. Seriously, LoL

        Reply
      • With all due respect Joseph, I too must lack reading skills. My Bibleworks program shows me the same thing in the Greek texts as Mr Brakebill noted above. Those are the only places in the bible where that Greek term is used.

        Reply
  4. Now, let us get the proper perspective of what is going on leading up to the statement in John 10 that so many use to justify giving up Christmas in order for them to begin the keeping of another false holiday today called Chanukah.

    Joh 7:1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee, for He did not desire to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 2 And the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near.

    As we continue to read John, we see that Yehshua was then teaching in the Temple.

    Joh 7:14 Now about the middle of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught.
    Joh 7:28 Then Jesus cried in the temple as He taught, saying, You both know Me, and you know from where I come. And I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.
    Joh 7:37 And in the last day of the great feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, “Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” 39 (But He spoke this about the Spirit, which they who believed on Him should receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.) 40 Then when they heard the Word, many of the people said, Truly this is the Prophet.

    The last day of the Feast is the Seventh Day. There is yet one more Holy Day called The Eighth Day. This is what we are reading about as John 7 ends and John ch. 8 begins.

    Joh 7:53 And they each went to his own house.
    Joh 8:1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him. And He sat down and taught them.

    It is at this time during the Feast of Sukkot that we read about Yehshua being the “Light of the world,” and it is these words that many will try to steal and apply to the Feast of Chanukah on the 25th of the 9th month, which is totally out of context.

    Joh 8:12 Then Jesus spoke again to them, saying, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

    So far everything we have been reading in John 7 and 8 has taken place during Sukkot leading up to the eighth day. Now as we finish chapter 8 it is still the 8th Day, The last Holy Day. Chapter 9 continues from chapter 8 when Yehshua passed by those who wanted to stone Him. And as He passed by them He sees the blind man. It is still the 8th Day, it is still a Holy Day and He is still in Jerusalem because the blind man went to the Pool of Siloam to wash his eyes.

    Joh 8:58 Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Before Abraham came into being, I AM! 59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus hid Himself and went forth out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and passed on by.
    Joh 9:1 And passing by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, Master, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?

    We read something very important in John 9 verse 14.

    Joh 9:14 And it was a sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes.

    The word translated Sabbath here is Sabbaton.
    G4521 ???????? sabbaton sab’-bat-on

    Of Hebrew origin [H7676]; the Sabbath (that is, Shabbath), or day of weekly repose from secular avocations (also the observance or institution itself); by extension a se’nnight, that is, the interval between two Sabbaths; likewise the plural in all the above applications: – sabbath (day), week.
    Strong’s has it wrong here. Sabbaton is number H7677. Yes, it originates from 7676. But there is a huge difference. 7677 is the word Sabbaton!

    And Sabbaton is a high Holy Day.

    H7677 ??????? shabbâthôn shab-baw-thone’
    From H7676; a sabbatism or special holiday: – rest, sabbath.

    Yehshua healed the blind man on the High Holy Day of the Eighth Day. We read about the events with this blind man for the rest of Chapter 9 and ongoing into Chapter 10. And this conversation goes on between Yehshua and the Pharisees right up until verse 18.

    Then John tells us the results of these conversations because of the healing of the blind man right up until the verse when John states Yehshua was walking in the porch of Solomons Temple. This is a continuation of the things that had just happened during the Feast of Tabernacles also called the Feast of Dedication.

    Joh 10:22 And the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s Porch. 24 Then the Jews encircled Him and said to Him, How long do you make us doubt? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. 25 Jesus answered them, I told you and you did not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.

    The Feast of Tabernacles, the Feast of Dedication as it was also called, was now over and it was the day after when people begin to go back to their homes. It was at this time after the Feast of Dedication was over that the Jews surrounded Yehshua and they continue the same conversation they had been having during the Feast.

    This false notion that this is referring to Chanukah on the 25th of the 9th month is so not true it is sickening. To know so many have taken John 10:22 and twisted it and misapplied it as they now do- all in order to justify themselves to keep something that was invented by the Pharisees in the Talmud. Those things in the Talmud, were not written down until after 200 C.E. long after the Temple had been destroyed in 70 C.E.
    The keeping of what today is known as Chanukah (Chanukah in Hebrew is “Dedication”) and justifying it because of John 10:22 is false as you have just read. Yehshua was not keeping Chanukah on the 25th of the 9th month! He had just finished keeping the Feast of Dedication, The Feast of Tabernacles which is one of the Hags we are commanded to go up to Jerusalem and observe.

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.