Bob Loblaw

This article has really driven me to distraction.

Not because it puts a Muslim man in a positive light. He was doing the right thing, he jumped in to help the victim(s) of an attack.

It is because the attackers are presented as Christians. For the sake of this blog, let us define  “Christian” as “A real disciple of Christ; one who believes in the truth of the Christian religion, and studies to follow the example, and obey the precepts, of Christ; a believer in Christ who is characterized by real piety.” (From Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary of American English as found in the e-Sword Bible Study Software.)

Can we first assume that Christianity has its roots in Judaism? After all, Jesus Mother was Jewish, as was Her Husband. He was born in Israel in a predominantly Jewish town. Luke 2:25-40 records that Joseph and Mary took Him to the Temple “to do for him after the custom of the law.” (many commentators think this was for circumcision. Actually, that was usually done  in or near the home of the parents. This trip to the Temple was required by the Law for dedication of the Firstborn. See Luke 2:23, Exodus 13:2-15, 22:29, 34:19, Numbers 3:13, 8:16-17, 18:15.)

Aside from a trip to Egypt during His infancy, there is no record of Him leaving Israel (Judea) during His life on Earth. Luke 4:16 notes that it was His custom to attend Services in the Synagogue on Sabbath.

Although it seems safe to say that Jesus never shouted out “Merry Christmas!,” the Gospels record Him observing, or at least at the observance, of several Jewish holidays, including Passover (“The Last Supper” is documented in all four Gospels),  Sukkot (John 7:37-52), and Hanukkah.

He was killed on Passover, rose on the Day of First Fruits, ascended to Heaven on the fortieth day after His resurrection. the Holy Spirit descended upon the Christian Congregation on Shavuot (AKA Pentecost.)

Christians are neither commanded to observe these days, nor to abstain from these and other “Jewish Holidays.” Most modern Christians do not observe them.

I cannot in the least bit understand why someone presenting him-/herself as Christian would attack someone saying “Happy Hanukkah!” This is in no way an affront to Jesus Christ, Christianity, nor any kind of insult to Christians.

Hanukkah celebrations the dedication of the temple after its cleansing, having previously been desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes. If memory serves, Antiochus Epimenes (his name, A. Epiphanes means “manifest god,” the Jews came to call him A. Epimenes, meaning “totally loony-tunes, nutty as a fruitcake, bonkers, Like WOW – this dude’s a whack job if I ever saw one!”) placed a statue of Zeus in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. He then sacrificed a pig to Zeus in that place.

A band of rebels, led by Mattathias and his five sons, in particular Judas Maccabees.
took a stand against Antiochus. Miraculously, they won, driving the Syrians from Jerusalem and capturing the Temple. They tore down the Statue of Zeus along with the defiled altar, and rebuilt the altar in the Temple. Having found a large Menorah, they searched for oil to burn in it, but found only one day’s worth. Deciding to use it rather than wait for supplies, they found that one day’s supply of oil lasted eight days.

There is much more to the Hanukkah story than this, and it is as readily available as it is fascinating. It is told in the Apocryphal Books of 1 & 2 Maccabees, found in most Catholic Bibles, and widely on the Internet. (Heard about the Internet? It’s GREAT! You should try it.)

All of this leading to this:

1. Jesus was a Jew
2. Christianity is Jewish
3. Christians should not now, nor ever should have, attacked God’s Chosen People.

Huzzah for Hassan Askari.

I haven’t written anything of personal consequence for a while, so here goes…

The grandchildren, and their mom – our daughter – still reside with us. All are doing well physically. Financial issues continue unabated.

#1 Son has decided to not become a Marine. I now need to find out the new plan. There have been a half-dozen plans in the last month or so.

I totally missed mentioning Chanukah, Sorry. I may not be one of the High Holy Days, but by golly, it’s a great festival. Latke’s and donuts are health food, I swear.

That’s a big Happy Head of the Year.

Actually, Biblically speaking, there at least TWO New Years every year.

Rosh Hashanah is the first day of the secular calender. The first day of the sacred calender is in the spring, about two weeks before Passover.

Because the ancient Jewish Calender is a lunar calender, as opposed to our Europeaen Solar/Gregorian calender, the actual dates for these Holidays vary according to our perception.

Also happening in the world of Orthodox Judaism right now is the beginning of the “Days of Awe,” ten (count ‘em!10!) High Holy Days, Starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur. I had thought it also included Tisha B’Av, which is silly of me because I knew the name of that Holiday even meant “The Ninth of Av,” a totally different month. (Tisha B’Av commemorates the Distruction of the Temple, first by the Babylonians (The Temple of Solomon), later by the Romans (Herod’s Temple, or the Second Temple.) Both These events happened on the ninth of Av.

Now, if you’re not feeling creeped out yet, then add this: The Alhambra Decree, issued March 31, 1492, ordered all Jews to leave Spain by the end of July 1492. July 31, 1492 was Tisha B’Av. Note that if you use a Jewish calendar converter to check this, it may show July 31 as the 27th of Tammuz. If so, the converter has failed to take into account the Gregorian Reformation, which skipped 11 days on the calendar. If you add the 11 missing days and convert August 11 instead of July 31, you will see that “August 11″ 1492 is 9 Av.

more than one person has observed “There are no coincidences.” Maybe we should watch that day a little more closely, nez pas?

BTW, a big Bavakasha v’Toda to Tracey Rich at Judaism 101 for putting the faqs out there in a format that even a nebish like myself can grasp.

Ahh…, that great weekend wherein American’s honor all the workers and laborers by having picnic’s and going either to the beach or the mountains.

This holiday differs greatly from Memorial day,the Great American holiday wherein American’s honor those who died in military service to their country. Americans celebrate them by having picnics and going either to the beach or the mountains. I differs greatly because Memorial Day is in May, Labor Day is in September.

In all seriousness, the intent of each holiday is different, how we observe these holidays is strikingly similar.

Today was the third, and last, weekend in a row we have “Church in the Park.” It was really delightful. After the service, we have a picnic/barbecue. (Most Pacific-Northwesters don’t actually barbecue, but we DO grill. however, say “we have a grill,” simply does not roll off the tongue.

We thought it was a potluck barbecue, and so marinated chicken breasts (I make my own marinade, all the commercial ones I’ve seen have sugar of some sort added), and bought some side dishes (which I know also have sugar added. nobody is perfect.) i bought Reser’s brand potato salad, and some ceviche from the deli and the local Mega-Mart.

As fate would have it, the BBQ was not intended as a potluck, rather, burgers, bratwurst, hot dogs, and a veritable pic-i-nic banquet was provided by the church. It was lovely. Our marinating chicken stayed in the cooler, along with its play-cousins, potato salad and ceviche. After service, we stuffed our fces, along with everyone else.

I didn’t get to hear much of the service, grandson#1 is a little too wiggly to sit still and quite for any period of time longer than five minutes. He ended up doing his wiggling on my shoulders, with a side-trip to the play structure. We played peekaboo and a game that must be called something like “See how far down you can push Grandpa’s head without out detaching it from his neck and shoulders.” I’m beginning to think he’s passiv-aggressive, without so much passive.

After all that, we came home and had ourselves a little nappy-poo. This evening, I grilled the afore-mentioned chicken, and a lovely dinner was had by all.

Number 1 son’s (she’s not my) girlfriend came over to visit this afternoon. They hung out in his room. #2 son made it his business to be with them every possible second. money just can’t buy that kind of high-quality chaperoning. Besides, they left the room’s door open, and the house ain’t that big, and the walls ARE that thin.

#1 daughter slept though all this, since she got off work about 7:30AM. I’ve worked those shifts, I can be sympathetic.