I haven't always celebrated Chanukkah...
it was 1995 when I realized that Judaism was the foundation of Christianity as Jesus was born a Jew. I had not previously been raised Jewish or had experienced anything of the Jewish culture. I started attending a "Messianic Synagogue" (even in some Christian and even NON-Christian circles; these are referred to as MESSYanic). It is a place which holds to the truth that Jesus *Yeshua* is the Messiah; for Jews and Gentiles. They celebrate the Jewish Holy Days rather than the Christian (pagan -originated) holidays.
As many have said "Chanukkah is not the Jewish Christmas!" and that is so right. Hanukkah is the wonderful commemoration of God's faithfulness to restore what had been taken and defiled from His people, Israel.
The Festival of Lights is a constant and loving reminder that "nothing is so defiled that it cannot be restored".
