Guestling Bradshaw CE Primary School
HANUKKAH
WHAT IS HANUKKAH?
Hanukkah is the Jewish Festival of Lights or Feast of Dedication. It dates back to two centuries before the beginning of Christianity.
In the western calendar Hanukkah is celebrated in November or December. The date varies, as the Hebrew calendar is different from our own. The celebration begins on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev.
The word Hanukkah comes from the Hebrew word meaning ‘to dedicate’ and celebrates one of the greatest miracles in Jewish history.
THE STORY OF HANUKKAH
The festival reminds Jews of a time over 2500 years ago when Antiochus, a Syrian king, tried to make the Jewish people worship Greek gods. A statue of Antiochus was erected in the Jewish temple and the Jews were ordered to bow down before him. The Ten Commandments forbid Jews to worship statues or idols and so they refused.
A small group of Jews called Maccabees rebelled, and after a three-year war (and in spite of overwhelming odds) they recaptured Jerusalem from the Syrians. However, the temple had been plundered and was all but destroyed.
The Jews had to clean and repair the Temple, and when they were finished they rededicated it to God. They did this by lighting the lamp (Menorah) - which was a symbol of God's presence. Only one small jar of oil was found, enough for one day, but miraculously the lamp stayed alight for eight days.
It was then declared that every year, Jews would remember the day with an eight-day Festival of Lights and celebrate the miracle of the oil by placing eight candles in a Menorah and lighting one candle for each evening of the celebration.
HOW IS HANUKKAH CELEBRATED TODAY?
Hanukkah is celebrated by kindling lights on a Menorah or Hanukiah (an eight-stemmed candelabrum). One additional lamp is lit on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. In ancient times, oil was used in the menorah, but over time, candles were substituted for the oil. There are even electric versions for public places or where a flame might be dangerous. An extra light called a shamash may be lit each night for the purpose of lighting the others, and is often situated above the rest. Hanukkah lights should burn for at least half an hour after it gets dark.
The Hanukiah is normally placed in a window, so that passers by can see it and be reminded of the miracle. It symbolises how God looked after the Jewish people at this difficult time.
Games are often played at Hanukkah. The most common game uses a dreidel, a four-sided top that has a Hebrew letter on each side. These letters are an acronym for the Hebrew words nes gadol haya sham, ‘a great miracle happened there’.
The code (based on a Yiddish version of the game) is as follows:
- Nun – nisht, nothing: nothing happens and the next player spins
- Gimel – gants, all: the player takes the entire pot
- Hey – halb, half: the player takes half of the pot
- Shin – shtel ayn, put in: the player puts one marker in the pot
The game lasts until one person has won everything.
The dreidel is believed to commemorate a game devised by the Jews to hide the fact that they were studying the Torah, which was banned by Greeks. The Jews would gather in caves to study, posting a lookout to alert the group to the presence of Greek soldiers. If soldiers were spotted, the Jews would hide their scrolls and spin tops, so the Greeks thought they were gambling, rather than learning.
During Hanukkah, families eat latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), or other foods, which are fried in oil, to celebrate and commemorate the miracle of the Festival of Lights. You can find a recipe for potato latkes by clicking here.
Traditionally, Hanukkah was a time when children were encouraged and rewarded for their Torah studies. Hanukkah gelt (Yiddish for "money") is often distributed to children to add to the holiday excitement. The amount is usually in small coins, although grandparents or relatives may give larger sums.
Special blessings are recited while the candles are lit, and each night the hymn Ma’oz Tzur is sung, praising God for survival. Some Jews recite Psalms, or encourage their children to donate to charity or rather than receive gifts for themselves. Special additions are also included in the daily prayers.
You can find some printable Hanukkah activities by clicking here.
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