Briefly Springfield

Dec. 25 marks a rare intersection: The beginning of Hanukkah and the celebration of Christmas fall on the same day. As friends and colleagues for over 35 years, we find this overlap full of opportunities for reflection. The origins of both Hanukkah and Christmas offer insights into their modern-day significance. Hanukkah’s story is rooted in the Maccabean revolt, a time of reclaiming religious and cultural freedom.

Here are the top stories for Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. Get the weather forecast for today here. SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get our free Morning Update email. Sign up here. 1 dead, 5 injured in boat explosion and fire at Lauderdale Marina Step inside Boca Raton’s BRiC campus — a hub rich with history, art and technology Florida leads the nation in unnecessary back surgeries.

Q: Can this Jimmy Butler thing be put to bed already? The love has run its course. He’s given, but he’s spent. He’s had little help to get over the hump. Paying him is not palatable to the organization. Trust may be broken, because all of the recent actions are unusual.

In the 12 years since Austin Tice was abducted in Syria, his family and his coworkers at McClatchy have grieved at his absence, despaired at silence from the Syrian government and prayed that promises from three U. S. presidents would turn into actions that brought Austin home. Now, more than any moment since he was taken from us, we have a reason to believe that Austin may return.

It’s extremely rare for Christmas and Hanukkah to fall on the same day, but so it is this year. Is “He” telling us something? Our country is more divided than ever in our almost 250 years in existence, especially since the Civil War. Dec. 25 is Christmas Day and the first day of the lighting of Hanukkah candles, bringing Christians and Jews in unison on the calendar to celebrate what they believe.

General Daily Insight for December 24, 2024 We’re all inclined to push forward one moment, then pull back the next. The Moon in pleasing Libra opposes Chiron before trining Venus, trying to improve our overall outlook. Counteracting that, today’s potent square between can-do Jupiter and make-it-work Saturn at 4:59 pm EST will shove us into a cosmic tug-of-war as we try to figure out how to best pursue our goals.