What is Hanukah? What is Hanukah?

• Hanukah is a Jewish winter festival.Hanukah is a Jewish winter festival.• Hanukah is an annual festival which Hanukah is an annual festival which

begins in December although the begins in December although the date changes yearly as the Jewish date changes yearly as the Jewish calendar differs from ours.calendar differs from ours.

• In 2012 the festival will begin on In 2012 the festival will begin on Saturday the 8Saturday the 8thth December and lasts December and lasts for eight days.for eight days.

There Are Many Different There Are Many Different Spellings of HanukahSpellings of Hanukah

Chanukah Chanukkah Chanukkah

Hanukah HannukahHanukkah

Hanuka Hanukka Khanukkah

Hanika

The story of Hanukah The story of Hanukah The festival is a The festival is a

reminder of the re-reminder of the re-capture of a temple capture of a temple which had been taken which had been taken from the Jewish from the Jewish people.people.

Judah Maccabee led Judah Maccabee led his army into his army into Jerusalem and retook Jerusalem and retook the temple so that the temple so that Jewish people could Jewish people could worship there.worship there.

The Ner Tamid The Ner Tamid When the temple was cleanedWhen the temple was cleanedthe Ner Tamid or everlastingthe Ner Tamid or everlastinglight was lit.light was lit. But there was only enoughBut there was only enoughoil to burn for one night.oil to burn for one night. Some soldiers were sent to Some soldiers were sent to collect more oil and when they collect more oil and when they returned eight days later thereturned eight days later thelamp was still lit.lamp was still lit. This was seen as a miracle,This was seen as a miracle,showing that God was on theirshowing that God was on theirside in the fight against evil.side in the fight against evil.

The MenorahThe Menorah This miracle is celebrated This miracle is celebrated

throughout Hanukah.throughout Hanukah. Every day of the eight day Every day of the eight day

festival the menorah festival the menorah candles are lit.candles are lit.

The menorah is a nine The menorah is a nine branched candlestick.branched candlestick.

The ninth candle is used to The ninth candle is used to light the others.light the others.

The lighting of the The lighting of the menorah represents a menorah represents a sense of “hope”.sense of “hope”.

How is Hanukah celebrated? How is Hanukah celebrated?

Hanukah is a time for family and friends to Hanukah is a time for family and friends to get together.get together.

There are special meals, songs, stories There are special meals, songs, stories and games. and games.

Food is cooked in oil to celebrate the Food is cooked in oil to celebrate the miracle of the oil which burned in the miracle of the oil which burned in the temple. temple.

Special food such as potato Special food such as potato pancakes called latkes and fruit-pancakes called latkes and fruit-filled doughnuts are eaten. filled doughnuts are eaten.

Dreidel – game of chance Dreidel – game of chance The dreidel game is a The dreidel game is a

game played with game played with friends and family friends and family during Hanukah.during Hanukah.

The four letters which The four letters which appear on the four appear on the four corners of a dreidel corners of a dreidel are a reminder of the are a reminder of the miracle.miracle.

       

       

       

       

Dreidels have the letters nun, gimmel, hay, Dreidels have the letters nun, gimmel, hay, shin. These stand for shin. These stand for "Nes Gadol Haya Sham""Nes Gadol Haya Sham" which means which means "a great miracle happened "a great miracle happened there.“there.“

Nes Gadol Haya Sham

A Great Miracle Happened There

Task – Using what you have learned today and the Task – Using what you have learned today and the handout; answers these questions in full sentences handout; answers these questions in full sentences

and when you have finished draw suitable pictures to and when you have finished draw suitable pictures to represent and tell the story of Hanukah.represent and tell the story of Hanukah.

1.1. In what season is Hanukah?In what season is Hanukah?2.2. Who is Judah Maccabee?Who is Judah Maccabee?3.3. What is the miracle of Hanukah?What is the miracle of Hanukah?4.4. What is the menorah and how is it What is the menorah and how is it

used at Hanukah?used at Hanukah?5.5. How is Hanukah celebrated?How is Hanukah celebrated?6.6. What kinds of food are eaten?What kinds of food are eaten?