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Celebrating Hanukkah

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Celebrating Hanukkah Celebrating Hanukkah Hanukkah Means Dedication The eight-day festival of Hanukkah is celebrated beginning on the 25 of Kislev, a month on the lunar Hebrew calendar that usually falls between the end of November and the end of December on the solar standard calendar. Hanukkah means “dedication,” and the holiday commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the defeat of the Syrian- Greeks in 165 BC. The Syrian-Greek emperor Antiochus IV tried to force the Greek culture and religion upon the Jewish people under his rule. In 168 BC, he declared that the Temple holy to the Jews would be used for the worship of the god Zeus. Soon after, he completely outlawed Judaism and made its practice punishable by death. Mattathias, the High Priest in the Temple, and his sons refused to give up their religion and led a revolt against the Greeks. Mattathias, his family, and those who joined them were called Maccabees (MAC-ah-bees) because Yahuda, Mattathias’ oldest son, was a powerful warrior nicknamed Ha’Maccabee (Ha-MAC-ah-bee), ancient Hebrew for “the Hammer.” The Miracle of the Oil Although they were outnumbered, the Maccabees defeated the Greeks after several years of fighting and reclaimed the Temple. As they prepared to rededicate their defiled Temple, the Jews found only enough pure oil to light the Eternal Light for one day. The oil miraculously lasted for eight days, allowing time for more oil to be pressed from olives and purified for use. The hanukkiyah (ha-NOO-kee-yuh) is a special menorah used only during Hanukkah. It is a special nine-branched candelabrum with a place to light a flame for each of the eight days. It symbolizes the miracle of the oil and celebrates the freedom won for the Jewish people by the Maccabees. The Hanukkiyah in Modern Times Today, Jewish people throughout the world celebrate Hanukkah by lighting a hanukkiyah—starting with one light and adding another each night until all eight are burning. The ninth branch is for the shamash (shah-MOSH), or servant flame that is used to light the others. And while the design and material of hanukkiyot (ha-NOO-kee-yote, plural) may vary from plain to very beautiful and ornate, the receptacles for the eight lights (which can be oil and wicks or candles) form a straight row so anyone can see at a glance which night of Hanukkah is being celebrated. The shamash is usually in the middle with four receptacles on each side of it, and it may be a bit higher or lower than the other receptacles. ActivityConnection.com - Hanukkah (discussion) - Page !1 Lighting the Hanukkiyah Because Jewish holidays begin and end at sundown, the hanukkiyah is lit just after dark for eight consecutive days. First the shamash is lit, and then it is used to ignite the remaining lights. A new light is added each night until all eight are blazing. There is a special order for inserting lights into the hanukkiyah (right to left) and another order for lighting them (left to right). The light for the current day is in the leftmost position and is always lit first. The hanukkiyah is usually placed in a window or on a table where it can be seen by passersby in the street so that everyone will remember the miracle of the oil.After the lights are kindled each night, special blessings are recited. The flames should burn for at least 30 minutes. And according to ancient rules, the lights of the hanukkiyah cannot be used for ordinary purposes, such as illuminating the dinner table; their flames serve only as a reminder of and link to the past. The Hanukkah Dreidel Dreidel is a Yiddish word that comes from the word dreyen, which means “to turn.” Simply put, a dreidel is a spinning top with four flat sides. So, what does it have to do with the celebration of Hanukkah? Tradition holds that when the Jews wanted to study Torah (holy scrolls) during the time when the Syrian-Greek emperor Antiochus IV ruled, they had to do so in secret, often hiding in caves. When they heard soldiers coming, they would quickly hide the Torah scrolls and begin playing with their dreidels instead. Today, dreidels found outside Israel have a letter of the Hebrew alphabet on each side: Nun, Gimel, Hei, and Shin. These letters stand for the Hebrew phrase Nes Gadol Hayah Sham, meaning “a great miracle happened there.” This refers to the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight days instead of just one. In Israel, where the miracle happened, dreidels bear the Hebrew letter Pei instead of Shim, so the phrase becomes Nes Gadol Haya Po—“a great miracle happened here.” The dreidel game is simple and usually played with raisins, nuts, pennies or chocolate Hanukkah gelt. With each spin, a player adds to the pot, takes from the pot, gets nothing, or gets all. Family, Friends, and Food Make Hanukkah Special Like all Jewish holidays, Hanukkah is a festival celebrated with family, friends, and lots of food. Eating special foods, particularly those fried in oil—reminiscent of the miracle—is an important part of the fun. Potato pancakes or latkes are a traditional Hanukkah dish made by Jews of eastern European descent. A combination of grated potatoes, onion, egg, a little flour and seasoning, latkes are fried in oil and eaten with applesauce or sour cream or both. In an attempt to make them a bit healthier, modern-day latkes often include vegetables other than potatoes, such as zucchini, carrots, squash, or sweet potatoes. Yeast doughnuts, called sofganiyot (suf-GAH-nee-yot) in Hebrew, are filled with fruit jam or jelly and deep fried in oil. They’re typical of the Hanukkah fare found in Israel. Making some of these delicious treats is a great way to share the sweetness of Hanukkah with everyone. Dairy foods, especially cheese, became closely associated with the celebration of Hanukkah during the Middle Ages and continues to this day. According to tradition, Judith, the daughter of a high priest, ActivityConnection.com - Hanukkah (discussion) - Page !2 charmed her way into the camp of some of Antiochus’ soldiers and gave salty cheese and wine to their general. When he fell into a drunken sleep, she cut off his head. Without a leader, the soldiers fled, and Judith’s village was saved. And, of course, gifts are part of Hanukkah. In the United States and Canada, most likely because of its proximity to Christmas, Hanukkah has become a lavish, eight-day, gift-giving holiday. Many modern-day Jews are trying to counter this trend and instead fill Hanukkah with family gatherings that emphasize caring and acts of charity. How Much Do You Know About Hanukkah? 1. For how many days is Hanukkah celebrated? Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days, starting at sundown. 2. When is Hanukkah celebrated? This Jewish holiday always comes on the 25 of Kislev on the Hebrew lunar calendar, but on the solar standard calendar it can vary from late in November to late December. 3. Why are potato latkes considered a special Hanukkah treat? They’re fried in oil—a reminder of the miracle of ancient times. 4. In what country are jelly doughnuts, also fried in oil, commonly served during Hanukkah? Israel. 5. What is a hanukkiyah? The hanukkiyah is a special menorah used only at Hanukkah. 6. How many branches does a hanukkiyah have? It has nine branches. Traditionally, there are four on each side and one in the middle. 7. Who was the first United States president to officially recognize Hanukkah? In 1979, Jimmy Carter was the first U.S. president to officially recognize Hanukkah when he lit a public Hanukkah menorah and spoke in Lafayette Park. 8. What president established the tradition of a White House Hanukkah party? President George W. Bush held the first White House Hanukkah party in 2001. 9. How big was the largest public hanukkiyah ever erected? The largest public hanukkiyah stood 32 feet tall. 10. What do the letters on the sides of the dreidel mean? The letters stand for a Hebrew phrase that means “a great miracle happened there.” 11. How many candles are lit each night of Hanukkah? One candle for each night of Hanukkah so far plus the shamash, or servant candle. 12. Where is the hanukkiyah usually placed? In a window or on a table where it can be seen by passersby in the street. 13. From which direction are the hanukkiyah candles lit? They are lit from left to right. ActivityConnection.com - Hanukkah (discussion) - Page !3 14. Who were the Maccabees? They were Jewish warriors who defeated Antiochus IV. 15. Who is allowed to play dreidel? Everyone! Discussion Starters • Have you ever seen anyone light a hanukkiyah? Have you ever lit one? • Have you ever played with a dreidel? • If you’re Jewish, what are your earliest memories of Hanukkah? • How are Hanukkah celebrations today different from the ones you remember as a child? • If you’re not Jewish, have you ever celebrated Hanukkah with Jewish friends? What was it like? ActivityConnection.com - Hanukkah (discussion) - Page !4.
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