Temple Israel Presents “How to Hanukah”

WHAT WILL I NEED? 44 Hanukah candles Hanukkiah (Candle holder/menorah for Hanukah candles) Dreidel (spinning top) Coins for dreidel game Hanukah foods (more on this below)

WHAT IS HANUKAH? In Hebrew, Hanukah means “dedication.” On Hanukah, we celebrate and remember when the Jews rededicated the Temple in after Judah and the Macabees defeated the Syrian-Greek army and drove them out of the land. The Macabees fought against the Syrian-Greek army because they did not want to give up their Jewish religion and accept the Syrian-Greek way of life. When the Jews went to light the Temple’s menorah (the seven-branched candelabrum) after their victory, there was only a one-day supply of oil left, but miraculously it lasted for eight nights! So today we light candles for eight nights and celebrate religious freedom.

BLESSING THE HANUKAH CANDLES Candles are added to the menorah from right to left but are kindled from left to right. The newest candle is lit first. (On the Shabbat of , kindle the Hanukkah lights first and then the Shabbat candles.)

Light the Shamash (the helper candle) first, using it to kindle the rest of the Hanukkah lights. As you do, say or sing:

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tsivanu l'hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who hallows us with mitzvot, commanding us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.

On the first night only:

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, shehecheyanu v'kiy'manu v'higianu laz'man hazeh.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, for giving us life, for sustaining us, and for enabling us to reach this season.

COMMON CUSTOMS Dreidel Game The dreidel is a spinning top with four Hebrew letters on it: (take none) (take all) Hey (take half) (put in one coin)

To play the game, you can use coins, buttons, or chocolate coins (called gelt). Everyone puts a few coins into the middle first. Then each player takes turns spinning the dreidel and seeing which letter it lands on. Don’t forget to sing “” while you play! The letters also stand for Nes Gadol Haya Sham (A great miracle happened there), referring to the miracle of the oil lasting for eight nights during the rededication of the .

Fun fact: Dreidels in Israel have the letter Pey instead of Shin because the saying changes to Nes Gadol Haya Po (A great miracle happened here).

IDEAS OF HOW TO INVOLVE KIDS ON HANUKAH Make some fun Hanukah crafts! Here are 26 ideas from Babble.com: https://www.babble.com/home/handmade-hanukkah-25-hanukkah-crafts-to-make-with-kids/

HANUKAH FOODS On Hanukah, it is customary to eat foods fried in oil to remember the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days. Traditional Hanukah Foods: (potato pankcakes), Sufganiyot (jelly donuts) Here are some recipes you can try on Hanukah:

Fool-proof Latkes: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/212816/foolproof-potato- latkes/?internalSource=staff%20pick&referringId=973&referringContentType=recipe%20hub&clickId=cardslot%203

Tri-color Vegetable Latkes: http://www.food.com/recipe/tricolor-vegetable-latkes-268314?layout=desktop

Sufganiyot Donut Holes http://allrecipes.com/recipe/11438/sufganiyot/

Jelly Sufganiyot Donuts http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/sufganiyot

MORE RESOURCES/READING An article with 8 ideas of fun things to do on Hanukah that don’t involve presents: http://www.kveller.com/hanukkah-without-the-presents-but-lots-of-fun/

If you feel like some Hanukah songs! http://www.kveller.com/article/top-ten-hanukkah-songs/

Please feel free to contact Rabbi Amy Feder [email protected] or 314-432-8050 with any questions regarding how you can celebrate Hanukah in your home.