The Christian Talmud and the Jewish Gospels Too

It is the Unlearned who bring trouble into the world...

- Rabbi Judah Ha-Nazi

Once again, the evidence continues to show clear indications that the Gospels is definitively Jewish. Indeed, in many ways the Talmud manages to reiterate literally every unique metaphor and symbolism seen in the Christian New Testament. Read on and enjoy:

TALMUD: Two sheep and two tenth parts of flour were demanded as an offering, whereas of wine only the smallest possible quantity was to be offered. This was a hint that wine is always to be used sparingly, as indulgence in it leads to mischief. (Talmud, Tanchum. Sheminee)
GOSPEL: While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat, this is My body.' And when He had taken a cup of wine and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.' (Matthew 26:26-29)

TALMUD: Have no undue compassion for tyrants, and you will not become a tyrant over those who deserve compassion. (Tanchum. Metzora)
GOSPEL: 'Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.'...And He said to them, 'Whose likeness and inscription is this?' They said to Him, 'Caesar's.' Then He said to them, 'Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's.' And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away. (Matthew 22:19-22, Mark 12:17, Luke 20:25)

TALMUD: (Jerusalem in) Palestine is destined to be the centre of the globe. (Tanchum. Kedoshim)
GOSPEL: Nevertheless I must journey on...for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! Behold...you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!' (Luke 13:33-35)

TALMUD: God blessed Adam, Noah and Abraham, but He endowed Abraham with the power of blessing which the Lord will endorse. (Talmud, Tanchum. Nosou)
GOSPEL #1: Some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him. But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on (T)the roof and let him down...with his stretcher...in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you.' The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, 'Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?' But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier to say, 'Your sins have been forgiven you,' or to say, 'Get up and walk?' (Just) so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.'' He said to the paralyzed man, 'I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.' Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. They were all struck with astonishment...saying, 'We have seen remarkable things today.' (Luke 5:18-26)
GOSPEL #2: For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS, To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us. (Luke 1:76-78)

TALMUD: God consulted the Torah when about to create man, but the Torah was dubious about calling man into existence, for since his days would be so short and his ways so perverted he would require much forbearance. God's reply was, 'By thee (Torah) I declare myself as a God merciful, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and in truth.' (Talmud, Tanchum. Pekudai)
GOSPEL: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-5)

TALMUD: This much one should know, the phrase...'the world to come' does not imply that it is a world yet to be called into existence; it exists already, but the phrase is employed to describe the life into which those who are in the present stage of existence will be transposed when they throw off this mortal coil. (Tanchum. Vayikra)
GOSPEL: Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:27, Matthew 16:28, Mark 9:1)

TALMUD: The leper, the blind, the abject poor, and those who have no progeny, are as though dead. (Talmud, Tanchum. Tsav)
GOSPEL: Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow...When the LORD saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, 'Do not weep.' And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, 'Young man, I say to you, arise!' The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God. (Luke 7:12-16)

TALMUD: The leper, the blind, the abject poor, and those who have no progeny, are as though dead. (Talmud, Tanchum. Tsav)
GOSPEL: 'Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, 'Don’t be afraid; just believe'...When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, 'Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.' 40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother...and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!'... Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. (Mark 5:35-42)

TALMUD: The leper, the blind, the abject poor, and those who have no progeny, are as though dead. (Talmud, Tanchum. Tsav)
GOSPEL: Jesus said to him, 'Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.' (Matthew 8:22)

TALMUD: In order not to cause jealousy as to who should be the seventy elders, Moses cast lots by taking seventy-two slips representing six of each tribe, writing the word 'elder' on seventy of the slips and leaving the two odd ones blank. Seventy-two men then drew out each of them a slip, and those who drew blanks had to give up their claims (Tanchum. Behaaloscha)
GOSPEL #1: After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go...The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.' (Luke 10:1,17) in New International Version, Douay-Rheims 1899 American Version
GOSPEL #2: Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come...The seventy returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.'
(Lue 10:1,17) in New American Standard, New King James or 21st Century King James Version

TALMUD The harp upon which the Levites played had seven strings. (Talmud, Tanchum. Behaaloscha)
GOSPEL: And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, 'I feel compassion for the people...and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.' The disciples said to Him, 'Where would we get so many loaves in this desolate place to satisfy such a large crowd?' And Jesus said to them, 'How many loaves do you have?' And they said, 'Seven, and a few small fish.' And He directed the people to sit down on the ground and He took the seven loaves and the fish; and giving thanks, He broke them and started giving them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, seven large baskets full. And those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 15:32-37)

The Talmud, by Rabbi Joshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ)

The Talmud and 'a certain Galilean'

TALMUDTALMUDTALMUDTALMUDTALMUDTALMUDTALMUDTALMUDTALMUDTALMUD

The Talmudic Mystery concerning 'a certain Galilean'

QUESTION: Who is 'a certain Galilean'?

“The Judaeans … were exact in their language … but the Galileans … were not exact in their language … A certain Galilean once went about enquiring, ‘Who has amar?’ ‘Foolish Galilean’, they said to him, ‘do you mean an ‘ass’ for riding (hamar), ‘wine’ to drink (hamar), ‘wool’ for clothing (amar), or a ‘lamb’ for killing (amar)?’”

- Erubin 53a - 53b

Alternatively, what is andifa? The lock on the forehead. Even as a certain Galilean chanced to visit Babylon and was requested to lecture on the chariot passage. He said to them, 'I will lecture to you as R. Nehemiah lectured to his companions.' Thereupon a wasp came out of the wall and stung him on the andifa (forehead) and he died. Said they. 'This befell him through his own fault.'

- Shabbath 80b

What is mashkokith? - Here they explained it: 'The bell'. R. Jacob, however, said: 'The goat that leads the herd.' So too a certain Galilean in one of his discourses before R. Hisda [said] that when the shepherd becomes angry with his flock he appoints for a leader one which is blind.

- Baba Kamma 52a

A certain Galilean lectured before R. Hisda: 'Blessed be the Merciful One who gave a three-fold Torah to a three-fold people through a third-born on the third day in the third month.' With whom does this agree? With the Rabbis.

- Shabbath 88a

As a certain Galilean lectured before R. Hisda: 'The Holy One, blessed be He, said: I put a rebi'ith of blood in you; therefore I commanded you concerning blood.'

- Shabbath 31b

A certain Galilean expounded before R. Hisda: 'If one should make an analogy in respect of Elijah, what does this matter resemble? A man who locked his gate and lost the key.' R. Jose taught in Sepphoris: Father Elijah.

- Sanhedrin 113a

ANSWER: Rabbi Joshua ben Joseph of Nazareth, the Messiah (Jesus Christ)

May the LORD God bless you in the name of St. Judas Maccabaeus.

TALMUDTALMUDTALMUDTALMUDTALMUDTALMUDTALMUDTALMUDTALMUDTALMUD

The Christian Talmud and the Jewish Gospels

The Word of God

I have been an amateur, Gentile Scholar of the Jewish Talmud for around ten or so years. I do not speak Yiddish, Aramaic, or Hebrew. Even so, and given everything I have learned so far without any Jewish input or instruction, I must conclude that the history of Gentile Christian animosity towards this astounding set of documents should be seen as a superstitious, unreasonable assault on common sense, let alone Biblical scholarship and practical judgment.

In reality, the Talmud is literally 99.999% acceptable to nearly all forms of Christian thought and reflects a sense of ethics and morality that is, in fact, far more strict than any form of Christianity. Those who still object to the .001% of the text which may, or may not, be offensive to Christianity, are lost in the land of irrationality and, God willing, someone will save them from themselves. Anyway, here is ABSOLUTE PROOF of an ancient, very real Judeo-Christian tradition embedded in both the Jewish Talmud and the Christian Gospel of Matthew. For those of you who have ever been mocked or ridiculed by either Jewish or Gentile intellectuals who insist that they has never been a Judeo-Christian tradition, here is your undeniable vindication.

TALMUD: Man has two hands, but he is not to rob with the one and give donations with the other. (Talmud, Midrash Proverbs 11)
GOSPEL: When you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:3-4)

TALMUD: Swear not at all, not even to the truth. (Talmud, Tanchum, Vayikra)
GOSPEL: I tell you, Do not swear at all. (Matthew 5:34)

TALMUD: The pure of heart are God's friends. (Talmud, Genesis Rabba 41)
GOSPEL: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8)

TALMUD: If you intend to put man to rights, put yourself to rights first. (Talmud, Midrash Psalms 53)
GOSPEL: Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?...You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (Matthew 7:3-5)

TALMUD: Have no compunction to chastise where chastisement is called for. It will produce not animosity, but eventually love and peace. (Talmud, Genesis Rabba 54)
GOSPEL: Moreover if your brother should trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he will hear you, you have gained your brother. (Matthew 18:16)

TALMUD: God knows our thoughts before they are formed. (Talmud, Genesis Rabba 9)
GOSPEL: Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. (Matthew 6:8)

TALMUD: The truth of the Torah is a weapon to its possessor. (Talmud, Numbers Rabba 12)
GOSPEL: Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:34)

The Judeo-Christian Tradition is real...

TALMUD: One of the characteristics of the righteous is that their yes is yes, and their no is no. (Talmud, Midrash Ruth 7)
GOSPEL: Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No' be 'No', anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matthew 5:37)

TALMUD: Man's eyes and his heart prompt him to sin. (Talmud, Numbers Rabba 17)
GOSPEL: I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28)

TALMUD: Adultery can be committed with the eyes. (Talmud, Leviticus Rabba 23)
GOSPEL: I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28)

TALMUD: Immediately when a man is born he proceeds into death, when he dies he proceeds into life. (Talmud, Midrash Samuel 23)
GOSPELS: He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 10:39)

TALMUD: The Guardian Angels are always near God's throne. (Talmud, Tanchum, Sazrea)
GOSPELS: Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say unto you that in Heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven. (Matthew 18:10)

The Truth of Judeo-Christianity

TALMUD: God lends eloquence to the suppliant. (Talmud, Midrash Proverbs 15)
GOSPEL: Do not worry about how or what you are to say, for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. (Matthew 10:19-20)

TALMUD: No one can imagine the reward of him who accepts all his sorrows and reverses with religious resignation. (Talmud, Tanchum, Kee Saizai)
GOSPEL: Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven. (Matthew 5:11-12)

TALMUD: What Solomon meant to convey by the words, 'What profit has a man of all his labor which he does under the sun?' (Ecclesiaste 1:2) is that whatever a man may possess on earth, under the sun, he must inevitably part with, but it is different if he provides for himself above the sun, in Heaven. (Talmud, Midrash Ecclesiastes 1)
GOSPEL: A man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?'...Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow me.' (Matthew 19:16-21)

TALMUD: As the sea throws up its debris upon the shores, so the wicked have filthiness upon their mouths. (Talmud, Midrash Psalms 2)
GOSPELS: Jesus asked them. 'Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man unclean. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.' (Matthew 15:16-19)

TALMUD: When no justice is done here below, it will be accomplished from above. (Talmud, Deuteronomy Rabba 5)
GOSPEL: But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. (Matthew 19:30)

TALMUD: Swear not at all, not even to the truth. (Talmud, Tanchum, Vayikra)
GOSPEL: I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. (Matthew 5:34-36)

TALMUD: To do justice and righteousness is more acceptable to God than sacrifices (Proverbs 21:3)...Sacrifices atoned only for sins committed in error not for presumptuous sin, justice and righteousness atone for all sins. (Talmud, Deuteronmy Rabba 5)
GOSPEL If only you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. (Matthew 12:7)

TALMUD: Let no man boast of his exalted position. Even so great a man as Samuel received a rebuke for his lack of modesty. (Talmud, Midrash Samuel 12)
GOSPEL: Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:4)

TALMUD: God will wipe away tears from off all faces (Isaiah 25:8). This means from the faces of non-Jews as well as Jews. (Talmud, Genesis Rabba 26)
GOSPEL: Behold, my servant whom I have chosen...I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall declare judgment to the Gentiles....And in his name shall the Gentiles hope. (Matthew 12:18-21)

TALMUD: The leper, the blind, the abject poor, and those who have no children are as though they are dead. (Talmud, Tanchum,Tsav)
GOSPEL: Another of the disciples said to Him, 'Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.' But Jesus said to him, 'Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.' (Matthew 8:21-22)

TALMUD: When no justice is done here below, it will be accomplished from above. (Talmud, Deuteronomy Rabba 5)
GOSPEL: Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. (Matthew 19:30)

TALMUD: He who hears himself abused (or cursed) and does not retaliate may be called a saintly man. (Talmud, Midrash Psalms 16)
GOSPEL: I tell you do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matthew 5:38)

TALMUD: The proverb says, 'If you give out your money in usury you will lose what you gain as well as your original capital.' (Talmud, Leviticus Rabba 3)
GOSPEL: For whoever has, to him shall be given and he shall have abundance: but whoever has not, from him shall be taken away even that which he has. (Matthew 13:12)

The Judeo-Christian Wisdom of the Prophets

TALMUD: The righteous are put to more and severer trials than the unrighteous. (Talmud, Tanchum,Vaayro)
GOSPEL: Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10)

TALMUD: When the prophets went forth on their mission the Holy Spirit rested upon them, awed and surprised their audience, and inspired them with respect for the prophets. (Talmud, Numbers Rabba 10)
GOSPEL: Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness...These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: 'Do not go in the way of the Gentiles...but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel...Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.' (Matthew 10:1-8)

These passages are proof positive that the Christian Gospels were definitively Jewish in origin, reflecting mainstream Jewish thought and sentiment as seen during the lifetime of Joshua (Jesus Christ) that has continued, parallel with Christianity for thousands of years since that time. May the LORD God bless you in the name of St. Judas Maccabaeus.

Maccabee Babylonian Talmud

Maccabee Judaism, the Babylonian Talmud

The Temple Menorah

Introduction
First of all. the actual word 'Talmud' refers to two very extensive set of volumes known as the Babylonian Talmud and the Jerusalem Talmud. Both of these mainly religious texts are based upon a prolonged Jewish effort to write down all the wisdom and knowledge contained within their age-old oral (verbal) tradition. Numerous legends claimed that at least some of this Jewish folk-lore had been passed down from father to son, teacher to student, since the days of Moses. Since most of it had never been written down, it was decided that the time had come to organize the Jewish religion.

The Jewish Pharisees who rejected Christianity, viewing the new movement as little more than a trendy, watered down form of heretical Judaism, were concerned about retaining their own laws and traditions since the destruction of the Temple of the Jerusalem. The seductive lure of Christianity which set Jews free from the practices of male circumcision, kosher food requirements and strict marriage practices also motivated the surviving Jewish leadership to establish a new post-Temple Judaism based upon the Torah, but codified, expanded, and explained by the Talmud, which literally means 'Teachings' in Hebrew. After the eventual completion and dissemination of both the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds, a new form of the original Israelite religion founded by Moses, called Rabbinical Judaism, slowly began.

What follows is a carefully and edited list of passages directly mentioning the Maccabees, or their own holiday of Hanukkah, taken from the most well-respected English language version of the Babylonian Talmud, commonly known as the Soncino Edition. This particular set of volumes was first published in 1952, then again in 1961, in London, England by mainly British Rabbis. Instead of being a complete regurgitation of the original text, which is densely written and difficult to understand even in translation, the following article utilizes a selection of pertinent and specific quotations taken from the numerous Talmudic references to the Maccabees. In sum, these short passages should still prove to be more than adequate in summarizing the Maccabees, and their specific holiday called Hanukkah, as it has been described in the Babylonian Talmud for nearly 1,500+ years.

Hanukkah, Dedication of the Temple by the Maccabees
What is the reason for Hanukkah? Our Rabbis taught that on the twenty-fifth of Kislew begins the days of Hanukkah, which consist of eight days where mourning for the dead and fasting are forbidden. - Shabbath 21b

When the Hasmonean dynasty prevailed against and defeated the Greeks, they made a search and found only one container of oil which lay had the seal of the High Priest, but which only contained enough oil for one day's lighting only. Yet a miracle occurred where they lit the lamp and it lasted for eight days. The following year these days were appointed a Festival. - Shabbath 21b



The traditions of Hanukkah calls for one light for a man and his household, the zealous light a candle for each member of the household and the extremely zealous. - Shabbath 21b

On the first day (of Hanukkah) eight candles are lit and thereafter they are gradually reduced. - Shabbath 21b

On the first day (of Hanukkah) one candle is lit and thereafter they are progressively increased. - Shabbath 21b

Beth Shammai maintains: 'On the first day eight candles are lit and thereafter they are gradually reduced.' Beth Hillel says: 'On the first day one is lit and thereafter they are progressively increased.' - Shabbath 21b

What benediction is uttered (on Hanukkah)? It is this: 'He who sanctified us by His commandments and commanded us to light the light of Hanukkah.'

He who lights the Hanukkah lamp must pronounce a blessing. - Shabbath 23a

He who sees the Hanukkah lamp must pronounce a blessing. - Shabbath 23a

On the first day, he who sees the Hanukkah light must pronounce two blessings and he who lights it must pronounce three blessings. Thereafter, he who lights it pronounces two and he who sees it pronounces one. - Shabbath 23a

One must not count money by the Hanukkah light. - Shabbath 22a

He who habitually practices the lighting of the (Hanukkah) lamp will possess scholarly sons - Shabbath 23b

The precept of the Hanukkah lamp is obligatory upon women, for they too were concerned in the (Hanukkah) miracle. - Shabbath 23a

The precept of the Hanukkah lamp is incumbent upon a guest. - Shabbath 23a

All oils are fit for the Hanukkah lamp, but olive oil is of the best. - Shabbath 23a

It is most important to place the Hanukkah lamp by the door of one's house on the outside; if one dwells in an upper chamber, he places it at the window nearest the street. - Shabbath 21b

The Hanukkah lamp should be placed as closely as possible to the door...on the left, so that the Hanukkah lamp shall be on the left and the mezuzah on the right. - Shabbath 22a

If a courtyard has two doors, it requires two Hanukkah lamps. - Shabbath 23a

Rules about lighting the Hanukkah candles
Rab said one must not light from (Hanukkah) lamp to lamp, but Samuel maintained you may light from lamp to lamp. - Sabbath 21a

With regard to the wicks and oils which the Sages spoke of, one must not light them on the Sabbath, and one may not light them on Hanukkah, either on the Sabbath or on weekdays...R. Hisda maintained: 'One may light them on weekdays, but not on the Sabbath.' - Sabbath 21a

We learned elsewhere that if a spark which flies from the anvil goes forth (outwardly) and causes damage, the metal-smith is liable. If a camel laden with flax passes through a street, and the flax overflows into a shop, catches fire at the shopkeeper's lamp and sets the building alight, the camel owner is liable, but if the shopkeeper placed the light outside, the shopkeeper is liable. R. Judah said, 'In the case of a Hanukkah lamp he is exempt.' - Sabbath 21b

If a camel laden with flax passes through a street, and the flax overflows into a shop, catches fire at the shopkeeper's lamp and sets the building alight, the camel owner is liable, but if the shopkeeper placed the light outside, the shopkeeper is liable. R. Judah said, 'In the case of a Hanukkah lamp he is exempt.' Rabina said in Rab's name: 'This proves that the Hanukkah lamp should in the first instance be placed within ten feet (of the entrance). For should you think, above ten, let the camel owner say to him, 'You ought to have placed it higher than a camel and his rider.' Yet perhaps if he is put to too much trouble, he may refrain from the observance of the precept. - Sabbath 21b

If a camel laden with flax passes through a street, and the flax overflows into a shop, catches fire at the shopkeeper's lamp and sets the building alight, the camel owner is liable, but if the shopkeeper placed the light outside, the shopkeeper is liable. R. Judah said, 'In the case of a Hanukkah lamp he is exempt.'
- Sabbath 21b

Others state that regarding the wicks and oils which the Sages spoke of, 'One must not light them on the Sabbath, however one may light them on Hanukkah, either on weekdays or on the Sabbath.' - Sabbath 21b

Rab and Samuel differ over direct lighting from lamp to lamp, yet with a chip (small flame) Samuel admits that it is forbidden, then this is not a (total) refutation. - Sabbath 22b

If the lighting is the precept, one may light from lamp to lamp, but if the placing of the lamp fulfils the precept, one may not light from lamp to lamp. - Sabbath 22b

For the scholars propounded: Does the lighting or the placing constitute the precept? Come and hear: For Raba said, 'If one was holding the Hanukkah lamp and thus standing, he does nothing wrong. This proves that the placing constitutes the precept!' - Sabbath 22b

Now, it is well you say that the lighting constitutes the precept for this reason we require the lighting to be done in its proper place, therefore he does nothing wrong. If you say that the placing constitutes the precept, why has he done nothing wrong? - Sabbath 22b

R. Zera said: 'Originally, when I was at the academy, I shared the responsibility of the Hannukah lamp with mine host; but after I took a wife I said, Now I certainly do not need it, because they the lamp on my behalf at my home. - Sabbath 23a

'He who sanctified us by His commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of Hanukkah.' And where did He command us? R. Nehemiah quoted, 'Ask thy father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.
- Sabbath 23a

Rules about Hanukkah Lights
One must not count money by the Hanukkah light. When I state this...he observed to me, 'Has then the Hanukkah lamp sanctity?' R. Joseph demurred: 'Does blood possess sanctity?' For it was taught: he shall pour out the blood thereof and cover it with dust. Whatever he pours out he must cover, he must not cover it with his foot, so that precepts may not appear contemptible to him. So here too it is that precepts may not appear contemptible to him.' - Sabbath 21a

Behold! it was said, One must not count money by the Hanukkah light....Said R. Joseph: 'The basis of all this is the law relating to blood.' - Sabbath 21a

'He who sanctified us by His commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of Hanukkah.' And where did He command us? R. Nehemiah quoted, 'Ask thy father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.
- Sabbath 23a

Raba said: 'It is obvious to me that if one must choose between the house light and the Hanukkah light, the house light is preferable, on account of the importance of the peace of the home...Raba pondered, 'If the choice lies between the Hanukkah lamp and the Sanctification of the Day...perhaps the Hanukkah lamp is preferable, on account of celebrating the miracle? The Hanukkah lamp is preferable, on account of celebrating the miracle.'
- Sabbath 23b

He then require its light: surely, during the entire forty years that the Israelites travelled in the wilderness they travelled only by His light! But it is a testimony to mankind that the Divine Presence rests in Israel. What is the testimony? Said Rab: There was the western branch of the candelabrum (Menorah) in which the same quantity of oil was poured as into the rest, and yet he lit the others from it and (it was done). Now here, since the branches are immovable, this is impossible other than that he took a torch and lit it. - Sabbath 22b


Rules about moving and placing the Hanukkah Lights
It is incumbent to place the Hanukkah lamp by the door of one's house on the outside...But in times of (anti-Jewish) danger it is sufficient to place it on the table. - Sabbath 21b

If a Hanukkah lamp is placed above twenty cubits from the ground it is unfit, like sukkah and a cross-beam over the entrance of an alley. - Sabbath 22a

If a Hanukkah lamp is placed above twenty cubits from the ground it is unfit (not allowed), like sukkah and a cross-beam over the entrance of an alley. - Sabbath 22a

Come and hear: For Raba said: If one lights the Hannukah lamp within (the home) and then takes it outside, he does nothing wrong. - Sabbath 22b

Surely Rab was asked if it was permitted to move the Hanukkah lamp on account of the Guebres on the Sabbath and he answered them, 'It is well.' A time of emergency is different. - Sabbath 45a

Rules about Hanukkah Prayers
Is Hanukkah to be mentioned in grace after meals? Since it is a Rabbinical institution, we do not mention it, or perhaps it can be mentioned to give publicity to the miracle? Said Raba in R. Sehora's name in R. Huna's name: It need not be mentioned; yet if one comes to mention it, he does so in the Thanks benediction. - Sabbath 24a

R. Huna b. Judah chanced to visit Raba's academy and thought to mention Hanukkah in the benediction 'he will rebuild Jerusalem.' ...Said R. Shesheth to them (the scholars), 'Just as it is inserted in the Prayer in the benediction of Thanks. So is it inserted in grace after meals in the benediction of Thanks.' - Sabbath 24a

The scholars propounded: 'Should one refer to Hanukkah in the Additional Services? Since there is no Additional Service for Hanukkah itself, we do not refer to it...R. Huna and Rab Judah both maintain: 'It is not referred to.' R. Nahman and R. Johanan both maintain: 'It is referred to.' - Sabbath 24a

When the new moon of Tebeth falls on the Sabbath, three Scrolls are brought: the first for the lection (usual reading) of the Sabbath day, the second for the portion of the new moon, and the third for the portion of Hanukkah! When three men read in three Scrolls, there is no fear about a Scroll being discredited (not taken seriously), but when one man reads in two Scrolls there is this fear. - Sotah 41a

Rab Judah said: On the first day, he who sees the (Hanukkah lamp) must pronounce two (blessings), and he who lights must pronounce three blessings; thereafter, he who lights pronounces two, and he who sees pronounces one. What (blessing) is omitted? The 'season' is omitted. Yet should one allow the 'miracle' be omitted? The miracle holds good for every day. - Sabbath 23a

Describing the Martyrdom of the Seven Holy Maccabees
The [Biblical] text says, 'Yea, for thy sake we are killed all the day long, we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.' Rab Judah, however, said that this refers to the woman and her seven sons. They brought the first before the Emperor and said to him, 'Serve the idol.' He said to them: 'It is written in the Law, I am the Lord thy God.' So they led him away and killed him. They then brought the second before the Emperor and said to him, 'Serve the idol.' He replied: 'It is written in the Torah, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.' So they led him away and killed him. They then brought the next and said to him, 'Serve the idol.' He replied: 'It is written in the Torah, He that sacrifices unto the gods, save unto the Lord only, shall be utterly destroyed.' So they led him away and killed him. They then brought the next before the Emperor saying, 'Serve the idol.' He replied: 'It is written in the Torah, Thou shalt not bow down to any other god.' So they led him away and killed him. They then brought another and said to him, 'Serve the idol.' He replied: 'It is written in the Torah, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.' So they led him away and killed him. They then brought the next and said to him, 'Serve the idol.' He replied; 'It is written in the Torah, Know therefore this day and lay it to thine heart that the Lord He is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is none else.' So they led him away and killed him. They brought the next and said to him, 'Serve the idol.' He replied: 'It is written in the Torah, You has sworn loyalty unto the Lord this day … and the Lord has sworn loyalty to you this day; we have long ago sworn to the Holy One, blessed be He, that we will not exchange Him for any other god, and He also has sworn to us that He will not change us for any other people.' The Emperor said: 'I will throw down my seal before you and you can stoop down and pick it up, so that they will say of you that you have conformed to the desire of the king.' He replied; 'Fie on thee, Caesar, fie on thee, Caesar; if thine own honour is so important, how much more the honor of the Holy One, blessed be He!' They were leading him away to kill him when his mother said: Give him to me that I may kiss him a little. She said to him: 'My son, go and say to your father Abraham, You didst bind one son to the altar, but I have bound seven altars.' Then she also went up on to a roof and threw herself down and was killed. A voice thereupon came forth from heaven saying, 'A joyful mother of children.' - Gittin 57b

Commenting on the Hasmonean Era
AND THAT NOBODY SHOULD TEACH HIS SON GREEK. Our Rabbis taught: When the kings of the Hasmonean house fought one another, Hyrcanus was outside and Aristobulus within. Each day they used to let down denarii in a basket, and haul up for them [animals for] the continual offerings. An old man there, who was learned in Greek wisdom, spoke with them in Greek, saying: 'As long as they carry on the Temple-service, they will never surrender to you'. On the morrow they let down denarii in a basket, and hauled up a pig. When it reached half way up the wall, it stuck its claws [into the wall] and the land of Israel was shaken over a distance of four hundred parasangs. At that time they declared, - 'Cursed be a man who rears pigs and cursed be a man who teaches his son Greek wisdom!' Concerning that year we learnt that it happened that the 'omer had to be supplied from the gardens of Zarifim and the two loaves from the valley of En-Soker. But it is not so! - Sotah 49b

Other Talmud References: Sabbath 118, Bikkurim 1:6, Rosh HaShanah 1:3, Megilah 3:6, Bava Kama 6:6

Babylonian Talmud's Footnotes
This lighting took place in 165 B.C.E. Exactly three years before, on the same day, Antiochus Epiphanes had a pagan altar erected in the Temple, upon which sacrifices were offered (I Macc. I:41-64). Apart from the Talmudic reason stated here, Judas Maccabeus chose 25th of Kislew as the anniversary of the Temple's defilement, and the dedication of the new altar was celebrated with lights for eight days, similarly to the Feast of Tabernacles, which lasted eight days and was celebrated by illuminations (I Macc. 4, 36, II Macc. 10:6). Actually the revolt was against the Syrians, of whom Antiochus Epiphanes was king, but the term 'Greeks' is used loosely, because the Seleucid Empire was part of the older Empire founded by Alexander the Great of Macedon, and because it was a reaction against the attempted Hellenization of Judea. - Sabbath 21b (Footnotes)

Each evening one must kindle as many lights as the number of days of Hanukkah yet to come. - Sabbath 21b (footnotes)

(Lamps were placed outside the home), to show that it was lit in celebration of Hanukkah, not merely for illumination. - Sabbath 21b

One Hanukkah lamp must not be lit from another. Or, when a lamp with several branches is used, in accordance with the practice of the 'most zealous', one branch must not be lit from another. - Sabbath 22a (Footnotes)

How was this (the Temple Menorah) a testimony (to God's presence)? Half a log of oil was poured into each branch, which was estimated to burn through the longest night. Thus by the morning they were extinguished. The following evening the priest cleaned out the old wicks, poured in fresh oil, and relit it: yet this western branch was still burning when he came to clean them out, which was done last of all. This miracle testified to the Divine Presence in Israel. On the western branch of the candelabrum v. Men. 78b. - Sabbath 22b (Footnotes)

In order to light the others, which (somehow) reached the other branches. Just as the lighting of the branches of the candlestick in the Temple from the western branch. - Sabbath 22b (Footnotes)

The prime observance of the Hanukkah lamp is not the lighting (of the candles) but placing it in a conspicuous place.- Sabbath 22b (Footnotes)

The lit lamp or branch is already sanctified, as it were, while no complete religious observance is fulfilled by the act of lighting the next (lamp or branch).- Sabbath 22b (Footnotes)

The essence of the Hanukkah lamp is to advertise (openly celebrate) the miracle. - Sabbath 22b (Footnotes)

According to the Talmud Jewish virgins were subjected to the jus primae noctis before the Maccabean revolt (cf. I Macc. I, 26f, which may perhaps refer to this), and were rescued from it by the 'miracle', i.e., the successful Maccabean uprising. - Sabbath 23a (Footnotes)

jus primae noctis (Adult / Slang)
Latin for: law of the first night. In English: right of the first night. In French: droit du seigneur (right of the lord). In Roman and Mediaval times, the groom, supposedly, would allow his new bride to have sex with his master on their wedding night, and for that first night only.
(Noun) Referred to in the Babylonian Talmud, Kesuvos 3b. The Roman prefect would so behave with brides on their wedding night.
- http://www.definition-of.com/jus+primae+noctis, Definition-of, Community Dictionary - Sabbath 23a (Footnotes)

Of the Sabbath and New Moon, these always occur during Hanukkah, which commences on the 25th of the month and lasts eight days....Hence this Additional Service...requires a mention of Hanukkah. - Sabbath 24a (footnotes)

The Parsees, being fire worshippers, forbade the Jews to have fire in their houses during their (the Parsees') festivities. Consequently the Hanukkah lamp, which was lit near the street, would have to be hidden on the approach of a Parsee. - Sabbath 45b (Footnotes)

The Maccabee Talmud Prophecy
There are traditions that hold that in the Messianic Age the Jerusalem Talmud will have priority over the Babylonian. This may be interpreted as meaning that, following the restoration of the Sanhedrin and the line of ordained scholars, the work will be completed and "out of Zion shall go the Law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

May the LORD God bless you in the name of St. Judas Maccabaeus.


SOURCE(S): The Babylonian Talmud. Soncino Edition. 1952, 1961. London, England. (http://www.come-and-hear.com/tcontents.html), (Wikipedia, The Talmud)