Information Unleashed – Nehemia Gordon (Open Door Series – Part 13)
In Part 13 of The Open Door Series, Nehemia Gordon explains how the Hebrew Roots of Hanukkah reveal the origin of the pagan ban on God’s holy name. Learn how Judah the Maccabee ignored the noise of the multitudes, to … Continue reading →
In Part 13 of The Open Door Series, Nehemia Gordon explains how the Hebrew Roots of Hanukkah reveal the origin of the pagan ban on God's holy name. Learn how Judah the Maccabee ignored the noise of the multitudes, to stand against the ban and reclaim the true miracle of this holiday by proclaiming His eternal name! Get ready for Information Unleashed! This episode is available as a video and as a podcast.
Michael wrote: "I called on God for years not knowing His real name and He answered my heart's desire to have a relationship with Him. I now do call on Him by His Hebrew name and my life has changed."
I look forward to reading your comments!
Transcript
Information Unleashed - Nehemia Gordon (Open Door Series - Part 13)
Nehemia: I’m going to be talking to you today about Hanukkah. I grew up with this festival, the festival of Hanukkah, which, being raised as an Orthodox Jew, what this was all about was lighting the Hanukkah lamps, one every day for eight days, and what I was taught - one of my earliest memories is - I was taught that this represents the miracle of when the Greeks took over the Temple in the year 168 BC, and they began to offer sacrifices to their pagan deities there. The Jews rebelled against this, and when the Jews finally drove the Greeks from the Temple, they found only one cruse of oil, one vial of oil, that had the seal of the High Priest indicating that that oil was still holy.
So they put the oil on the menorah, on the lamp in the Temple, and of course, the menorah in the Temple had seven branches. That one vial of oil in those seven lamps - they needed it to burn for eight days. Why eight days? Because it takes eight days to undergo the ritual of purification in Numbers 19. That, by the way, is mentioned also in the Book of Acts, that Paul underwent the same ritual of this seven-day purification rite. There was one day of oil, and then we needed seven extra days. Finally, when they had the oil, they were able to purify themselves and make new oil. The oil burned that entire time, allowing them enough time to make new oil. This was the miracle of Hanukkah, I was always taught.
Now, when I was growing up, and many of you already know my story, that I’m what’s known as a Karaite Jew. I’ll get this question very often, “What is a Karaite Jew?” I have mentioned before how Keith and I were traveling in this one place, and the lady walks up to us, the pastor of this church, this is a speaking in tongues, inner city church, and she says, “Nehemia, what is a karate Jew?”
No, no, it’s got nothing to do with karate or martial arts. It’s Karaite. Growing up, rituals like this thing of the menorah, of the Hanukkah menorah, the lighting of the eight days - when we light the Hanukkah menorah, we make the blessing. I grew up making this blessing, and here it is.
It says, “Blessed art Thou, Lord, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, commanding us to light the Hanukkah lamps.” When I was growing up, I went to my rabbis and I asked them, “Where in Scripture are we commanded the light the Hanukkah lamps?” Remember, I’m growing up as an Orthodox Jew, an Old Testament Jew. In my Old Testament, in my Tanakh, my Hebrew Bible, it doesn’t even mention Hanukkah. The events of Hanukkah took place between the years 168 and 165. The last book in the Old Testament is Malachi, which is several hundred years earlier than that.
So I went to my rabbis and I said, “Where are we commanded to light these Hanukkah lamps?” They said, “Strictly speaking, we’re not commanded in the Scripture. However, God commanded us to obey the rabbis, and by obeying the rabbis we’re obeying God. That’s what we mean by the blessing.”
When I was told this, I asked the next logical question, “Where are we commanded to obey the rabbis?” I was told, “What? Stop asking so many questions.” I realized, as I was reading Scripture, and I would read the teachings of the rabbis, and they seemed to me just words of men, and I was told that the teachings of these rabbis were binding and it’s like the word of God, and I said, “Shouldn’t we throw away these words of men when they conflict with the word of God?” And they said to me, “No, you mustn’t say that - that’s what those heretics, the Karaites say.”
I said, “Tell me about the Karaites. They sound like they know what they’re talking about,” and I realized I was a Karaite Jew. I didn’t know there was such a thing. I was actually told by my rabbis that you can’t be a Karaite Jew, because they have ceased to exist. If you become a Karaite Jew, then you too will cease to exist. It’s a dead end. This is what I was told, and I was a little kid, and this is a scary thing to say to a kid. “If you follow this belief that’s in your heart, you’re going to die. You’re going to cease to exist.” And I said, “I don’t care. If I’m the last one on earth, I don’t care, because I know this is the truth and I have to follow it.”
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Comments
Hakham Mordecai ben Nisan said:
“…the Talmudites have said: “Even if they tell you that right is left, and that left is right. Even if they be mistaken, and even if they be led astray, the Jews are obligated to listen to them.”(Sifre Devarim 154)
But our sages, of blessed memory, say that we are not obligated to listen if they are mistaken or led astray, or if they say that right is left or that left is right. For the Torah gives instructions about appointing judges: they must be wise and understanding men of truth, who fear God and hate covetousness. But regarding people that flip right and left, and left and right, the prophet Isaiah said in chapter 5: Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness (Isaiah 5:20).”
the source for the obligation to listen to the rabbis is deuteronomy 17:11
He has discovered the true name of God through the Hebrew manuscripts. Not found in anglo Saxon translations. Study, study, study!
We a new born again servants to Yahovha and we are finding all scriptures are not ligit. We’re do you read from? We are desperate please help 🙏
The name of Yehovah is perfect, righteous and true! Thank you for sharing this with all people, Nehemiah. Peace and all good to you!
I look forward now every Sabbath to what I will learn from you all. Your teaching is a great joy to experience. Thank you again.
I was thinking about at the beginning about “the abomination that makes desolate”, how it is something that separates the people from Yehovah. I want to study the Maccabees more. I also have a question regarding Hanukkah, I thought you said it was the 7th month between Trumpets and Tabernacles, why is it celebrated in December? Thank you again for teaching, teachers are judged more harshly and you are doing an amazing job.
Pretty good but Nehemia, you still have some things wrong. Please go to Heb. 1:4 where we find that Christ “inherited a name more excellent than “the angels. As the only begotten son of God, Christ inherits everything from the Father.
We know from the creation of Adam that the image of God is “male and female”. From the Jewish Encyclopedia, we see that the “shekinah”, or the temple/dwelling place of God is the female component of God- the glory of God (Hebrew shin-kaf-nun) or the physical manifestation of God on earth according to that encyclopedia.
In the NT, Christ is referred to as a female rock upon which the church is built. Also, an in depth of azazel will lead you there.
Those of a Jewish background have had the truth hidden. The messiah is coming at Rosh Hashanah of 5783, this September!
Nehemiyahu, would like if you could transliterate the prayers like the Kaddish, for the people. Like you, we all love the Holy name of YeHoVaH – He who is Eternal, yet when trying to write what you read, my pen can not write as fast as you can speak the Hebrew. When finding these things online, the Kaddish words are replaced and missing the name of YeHoVaH. We need a learned scholar as yourself who can write it as it is meant to be, with the Fathers name still in these sacred prayers of the followers of YeHoVaH. Be they Jew or Gentile, we all here seek the truth and the name of the Most High so that we may do obeisance to Him, and not as Yeremiyahu 23:23-30, have His name replaced with ‘LORD’ or ‘HaShem’. Would be great if you could show us the path to the sacred prayers that honour our Fathers Holy name.
Shalom
Micha’el
The myth that the divine name was not used in the time of Jesus has been destroyed . Jesus personally prayed that the name be sanctified.
Thank you Nehemia. Both you and Michael Rood have been a blessing in my life from YeHoVaH! By the way does ‘He’ referred to in the word also mean ‘She”? Keep up the good work.
The falling angel off spring, that way they say son if a good falling angel child the most of the Kings pharaohs and the elite s today
Amen
I would like to get some collective materials to study and share with my fellowship here. Is there some available from you or Keith?
Shalom and great teaching.
Thank you, Keith and Nehemiah!
Firstly for making this series available for free, and online.
I am getting so much information from this and the other videos in this series – above and beyond what is actually said, because it answers so many of my questions.
Especially in the areas of discerning between God’s instructions and the traditions of men.
It also applies to me on a personal level – mainly, knowing that I can repent, and receive mercy.
It highlights mistakes I have made in the past, and that I recognise now, and knowledge on how not to repeat them.
For learning and instruction above and beyond what is usually available, and mostly based on erroneous traditions.
You both are richly blessing so many people.
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