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HANUKKAH
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Hanukkah is a happy midwinter festival celebrated
by the Jewish people. It is celebrated for eight
days and is also known as The Festival of
Lights. Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the
Maccabees over the Syrians.
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Over 2000 years ago in 165 B.C. the Jews of
Palestine fought a war against the Syrians. The
Jewish leader was Judas Maccabeus and the Greek
leader was King Antiochus. The Jews had been
denied their religious freedom while they were
under the Syrian-Greek rule. The Jewish
Maccabees defeated the Syrians and returned to
their temple that had been occupied and
ransacked. They found only enough sacred oil to
light the holy Menorah, or lamp, for one day. But
by a miracle, the lamp continued to burn for
eight days.
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Today, Jewish families celebrate this event by
lighting a special candelabra called a menorah.
The holiday begins the first day by lighting the
first candle at sundown on the 24th of Kislev, a
Jewish month. A servant candle called Shammash
is also lighted each night and is used to light
the other candles. Each evening another candle is
burned until all eight candles are burning
together. At this time, family members say
blessings of thanks to God.
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After lighting the Menorah, games are played and
gifts exchanged by the family. Children
especially like the holiday of Hanukkah. They
play an ancient game using a four sided top known
as a dreidel. The Hebrew letters N-miracle,
G-great, H-happened, and S-there (Israel) are
written on the sides of the top and means a
great miracle happened. These letters stand for
Nun (nothing), Gimel (all), Hay (half), and Shin
(put in). Long ago, Jewish people were forbidden
to come together and pray. In order to practice
their religion they pretended to play games with
this little top.
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How To Play The Dreidel Game
Give each player ten dried beans, chocolate
coins, peppermint candies, or plastic chips to
serve as Hanukkah gelt (money), and place an
empty bowl in the center of the table. Before
each turn, every player must put a bean in the
bowl. The players take turn spinning the top. If
the letter N turns up the player wins no beans
if G turns up he wins all the beans in the
bowl if H turns up he wins half the beans in
the bowl and if S turns up he must put one bean
in the bowl. The game continues until one player
has won all the gelt.
Try playing a virtual game by clicking on the web
address below. http//www.billybear4kids.com/holid
ays/hanukkah/dreidel2.htm http//www.jewfaq.org/d
reidel/index.htm
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The traditional holiday food served for Hanukkah
is latkes, or potato pancakes.
Potato LatkesIngredients 5-6 medium white
potatoes, grated 1 medium yellow onion,
grated 2 eggs, beaten 1/2 tsp pepper 1/2 tsp
salt 3 Tbs breadcrumbs or crushed crackers 1/4
cup oil for frying Directions Peel and grate
potatoes. Put in strainer to drain away
liquid. Peel onion. Grate into large bowl. Add
beaten eggs, spices, and crumbs to onions. Beat
well. Add grated and strained potatoes and
mix. Set frying pan at medium heat. Add oil. When
oil heats, add one large tablespoon of batter for
each pancake.  Cook 4-5 minutes on one side,
flip, and cook another 4 minutes. Serve hot with
a dish of cold applesauce.
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Links to other Hanukkah games for you to enjoy.
Jigsaw game http//www.billybear4kids.com/jigsaw-p
uzzles/animated/online/Hanukkah.html Tic-Tac-Toe
game http//www.billybear4kids.com/holidays/hanukk
ah/tictacto/tictacto.htm
Books about Hanukkah A Picture Book of Hanukkah
by David A. Adler The Chanukkah Guest by Eric A.
Kimmel The Trees of the Dancing Goats by Patricia
Polacco One Candle by Eve Bunting