A “Charlie Brown Hanukkah”

by Tom Brennan,

World events once again are focused on Israel and Jerusalem. The repeated delay in complying with the vote of the US Congress to recognize Jerusalem, Israel as Israel’s legitimate capital has been ended by President Trump. The seasons of rejoicing and celebration, Hanukkah and Christmas are here, the eternal covenant is still eternal and backed up by Scripture; “eternal” still means “eternal”. Somehow the  whining of the  mass media, votes by third world debating teams at the UN and threats by Jihadists, Abbas and others seem puny when confronted by Maccabee “Hammerers” and hosts of angels announcing the  birth of the  Messiah.

This is also a time for an American media ritual: “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. Charles Schultz was born into a Christian home but later saw his faith less positively, but a spark remained. “Peanuts” one of the longest running cartoon strips ever, saw several TV specials and the Christmas one has become an epic.

Charlie Brown has much in common with Israel. He remains optimistic in the face of mistakes and difficulties, he persists, and he keeps on coming. Surrounded by perplexing friends, he stays the same, a stable and dependable forever-a- child of promise. The “Peanuts” gang is also highly intelligent, it is impossible to keep track of the scholarship, technical innovations, medical discoveries and genius that come from Israel on a daily basis. If the BDS gangsters only knew what they would be missing if Israel ever retaliated and boycotted the boycotters. Israel is too big to do that. What nation of 8.2 million allows its enemies to be treated in their hospitals, or sends rescue teams to places in need from natural disasters thousands of miles distant?

News reports said that the Christmas tree in Manger Square had its lights turned off. Christmas is not about trees, it is about the fulfillment of a covenant in the form of a baby. God loves the humble and uses them to confound the proud.

Israel once again celebrates the bravery of the Maccabees, the refusal to be exterminated. As the saying goes: “they tried to kill us, we’re still here, let’s eat!” Pass the sufganiyot, Charlie Brown!

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