Chanukah, also known as the "Festival of Lights", is an eight day holiday starting on the 25th night of the Jewish month of Kislev. Chanukah means "Dedication, goes back almost 2,400 years. Chanukah celebrates one of the greatest miracles in Jewish history.
The story of Chanukah
Over two thousand years ago when Judea was ruled by Antiochus, a Syrian king, attempted to assimilate the Jews into Greek culture by commanding them to worship Greek gods while oppressing Jewish culture and religion. A statue of Antiochus was erected in the Jewish temple and the Jews were ordered to bow down before him.
Menorah with Toys, Candy, and Gifts in Background
The Jews refused because the Ten Commandments, given to the Jewish people by God, forbid the worship of statues and idols. A small group of Jews called Maccabees, rebelled, risking their lives to prevent the desecration of their Temple. The Maccabees won, but the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. The Jews repaired the Temple and rededicated it to God by rekindling the sacred Menorah of the temple. But only one small jar of sanctified oil was found, yet lamp stayed miraculously lit for eight days until the Jews could replenish the oil supply.
Like Christmas, Chanukah is a special time for children. Gifts and Chanukah money are exchanged. Some families give a small present on each of the eight nights of Chanukah
Hanukah Dreidel with Gelt
18 x 24 inches
Chanukah Games
Children and adults play with a spinning top called a dreidel. This cube-shaped dice has a Hebrew letter on each side. To begin the game, each player has 10-20 objects, often raisins or sweets. Each person puts one object in the middle. Then each person takes a turn at spinning the dreidel. The letter that the dreidel shows when it has finished spinning determines whether they win or lose the stake.
Sufganiyot or doughnuts
usually filled with fruit preserve/jam
12 x 16 inches
Chanukah Foods
Chanukah is a great time for eating delicious foods. Some dishes have special significance, such as latkes, a kind of potato fritter/ pancakes and donuts ( called Sufganiyot in israel ). This is because they are fried in oil and so Jewish people remember the miracle of the oil lasting eight days in the temple.
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