Chanukah About
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Holiday Guide These pages contain sacred literature. Please do not deface or discard.
Chanukah
The first Chanukah was celebrated in Jerusalem on the 25th of Kislev, 165 B.C.E. The story begins during the reign of Alexander the Great who conquered Syria, Egypt and the land of Israel. The conquerors’ rule was relatively gentle, and citizens under Greek control were allowed to practice their own ways of life as long as they paid their taxes. The Greeks established theaters, gymnasia and Temples to their many gods. They introduced fashions, manners, language and foods that had been unknown to the Jews. Many Jews were attracted to these novelties, and adopted aspects of Greek culture to their own lives. More than a century later a successor of Alexander, a Syrian-Greek Selucid named Antiochus IV, was in control of the region. He fanned the flames of discontent between Jews who had become assimilated into Greek culture, known as Hellenists, and those who were more traditional. Antiochus oppressed the Jews severely, declaring himself a god, requiring Jews to worship idols formed in his image and banning the core Jewish practices of Shabbat, circumcision, kashrut and Torah study. In the small village of Modi’in, the Syrian soldiers were in the midst of ordering Jews to sacrifice a pig in compliance with the edicts of Antiochus. As one Jew was about to comply, an old Kohen by the name of Mattathias (Mattityahu) rose up and killed his fellow Jew. Mattityahu tore down the idol and called upon the faithful to join him and his five sons in revolt against the Hellenists and ruling Syrians. Thus began a guerilla war against the conquerors that lasted for two years (some sources say three years). Judah Maccabee - Judah the Hammer - led the band of fighters after the death of his father, and the fighting farmers of Judea became known as the Maccabees. The Maccabees recaptured the Temple mount in Jerusalem only to find it had been brutally desecrated. The Temple was cleansed and the altar rebuilt. According to the Talmud, there was only enough ritually pure oil remaining in the Temple to last for one day. The oil was lit and a messenger sent to obtain pure oil. Instead of burning out after only one day, the oil lasted for eight days, long enough for the messenger to return to refill the cherished menorah.
Chanukah at PJA...
Leading up to Chanukah, students at Portland Jewish Academy are involved in a variety of activities. Students receive a Chanukah goodie bag filled with candles, a dreidel and gelt to help celebrate the holiday at home. Some classes make chanukiyot - Chanukah menorahs - that they can use at home. Students engage is a variety of special programs in their classes which include hosting buddy classes. An annual favorite class activity is Kindergarten’s performance of Herschel and the Chanukah Goblins. The Kindergarten students enjoy writing the script and performing for their families. One highlight of Chanukah is the All School Assembly. This year it will take place on Friday, December 15th in conjunction with Special Friends and Family Day. We look forward to celebrating Chanukah with our friends and family.
Playing Dreidel 1. Every player puts an equal share of something – nuts, pennies, candy, Chanukah gelt – into the “pot”– the center. 2. The first player takes a turn spinning the dreidel. Depending on which letter is showing when it lands, the player does the following:
• Nun: (Nisht) Neither get nor put; nothing.
• Gimel: (Gantz) Get everything. Then start a new pot.
• Hey: (Halb) Get half the pot.
• Shin: (Shtel) Shell out; put more in the pot – whatever number was agreed to by the players at the beginning of the game.
Chanukah Gelt During Chanukah it is customary to give gelt - money to children. Not only is it a treat for them, it also teaches them about giving tzedakah - charitable donations. During Chanukah it is customary to give gelt to children to teach them to increase in charity and good deeds. At a deeper level Chanukah gelt celebrates the freedom and mandate to channel material wealth toward spiritual ends.
Suggestions for Family
Celebration
Children adore the holiday of Chanukah and love to repeat family traditions over and over. Stick with what your family loves, and consider adding something new. • Try a new latke recipe. (See next page for Zucchini and Sweet Potato recipes!) • Make an “edible dreidel” from marshmallows, a chocolate kiss and a thin pretzel stick. • Role-play the Chanukah story - there are great characters, including soldiers with swords, shields and helmets! • Ask everyone to take a moment to share the best gift they have ever received and the best gift they have ever given. Was it a tangible gift? Was it an experience? What made it so special? • Dedicate one night of Chanukah to an organization that inspires you. After you light candles, share a bit about the organization’s work with your family. Visit the website together, read a brochure, describe an experience you had, then make a donation to support their efforts. • If your family tradition is to give your children gifts each night, set aside one night as a night to give to others. Go to a store together and pick out a gift to donate to a local drive.
Lighting the Chanukiyah The ritual observance related to Chanukah is the lighting of the chanukiyah - the nine-candled menorah. The candles represent the eight days of Chanukah plus a shamash - worker candle which lights each of the other eight candles. The chanukiyah is lit after dark, preferably in a window that looks out onto the street. The candles or oil are allowed to burn out on their own, lasting at least one-half hour. The shamash candle is used to light the other candles, because the Chanukah candles are for pleasure only. We do not use them for any productive purpose, not even to light other Chanukah candles. Before kindling the Chanukah lights on the first night of Chanukah, Tuesday, December 12, 2017, (or if you’re kindling the Chanukah lights for the first time this year) recite all three blessings. On every subsequent night only the first two are recited.
:ל( ֲחנֻכָּה וְ צִ וָּנוּ לְ הַ ְדלִ יק נֵר )ש, אֲשֶׁ ר קִ ְידשָׁ נוּ בְּ ִמצְ וֹתָ יו, הָ עוֹלָםֶהֵ ינוּ מֶ ל-ֹ ל- ֱא,' ְ אַ תָּ ה יבָּ רוּ :ל( ֲחנֻכָּה וְ צִ וָּנוּ לְ הַ ְדלִ יק נֵר )ש, אֲשֶׁ ר קִ ְידשָׁ נוּ בְּ ִמצְ וֹתָ יו, הָ עוֹלָםֶהֵ ינוּ מֶ ל-ֹ ל- ֱא,' ְ אַ תָּ ה יבָּ רוּ ַיםהַ ְהָדהֵלִ םיקבִּנ ְזֵּרמָ ן) ה וְ צִבַּ וּיּ ִָמ,ינוּ ִ אשֲֶׁשֶׁﬠרָשָׂ קִה ְנ,,עוֹללָםָם : ֲחנֻכָּה: זּל(ֶהש ְָנוּ ל ,בוֹתַ יו ָים בְּ ַל ִ ֲמאצְ וֹת יד ִסּשָׁ נוּ הָהָעוֶֶֹינוּ מֶמֶלל הֵהֵינוּ--ֹ ל ֹל-- ֱאֱא,,'' ְ אַאַ תָּתָּ הה יְירוּ בָּבָּ רוּ :הֵ ם בִּ ְזּמָ ן הַ זֶּה:ָלִ זבְַּמַיּן ִָמהַיםזֶּהה,ינוּ בוֹתַ ָﬠנוּ שֶׁשֶׁהֶ ֱﬠחיָשָָׂנוּה וְ נִקִ ִיְּסּ מָיםנוּ ַלוְ ֲאהִ גִּ י,ָם,הַ הָעוֹעוֹללָםֶֶהֵינוּינוּמֶ מֶלל-ֵל ֹה-ֹ ל-א-ֱ ֱא,',ְאַ אַתָּ תָּה יְה 'ירוּ בָּבָּ רוּ 2. Ba-ruch A-tah Ha-olam Sheh-a-sa Ba-ya-mim :זֶּהAdo-nai ַבִּ ְזּמָ ן הEh-lo-hei-nu ִָמים הָ הֵ םMeh-lech בַּ יּ,בוֹתַ ינוּ ים ַל ֲא ָשָׂ ה נִ ִסּNee-sim שֶׁ ﬠ,ָםLa-avo-tei-noo הָ עוֹלֶינוּ מֶ ל ֵה-ֹ ל- ֱאHa-hem ,' ְאַ תָּ ה יBee-z’man בָּ רוּHa-zeh. 2. Blessed are You, L rd our G d, King of the universe, who performed for our forefathers in those days, at this time. :הֶ ֱחיָנוּ וְ קִ יְּ מָ נוּ וְ הִ גִּ י ָﬠנוּ לִ זְמַ ן הַ זֶּהmiracles ֶ שׁ,עוֹלָם ַ הֶהֵ ינוּ מֶ ל-ֹ ל- ֱא,' ְ אַ תָּ ה יבָּ רוּ : שֶׁ הֶ ֱחיָנוּ וְ קִ יְּ מָ נוּ וְ הִ גִּ י ָﬠנוּ לִ זְמַ ן הַ זֶּה, הַ עוֹלָםֶהֵ ינוּ מֶ ל-ֹ ל- ֱא,' ְ אַ תָּ ה יבָּ רוּ
1. Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai Eh-lo-hei-noo Meh-lech Ha-olam A-sher Ki-deh-sha-noo Beh-mitz-vo-tav Veh-tzi-va-noo Leh-had-lik Ner Cha-noo-kah. 1. Blessed are You, L rd our G d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.
3. Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai Eh-lo-hei-noo Me-lech Ha-olam Sheh-heh-cheh-ya-noo Veh-kee-yeh-ma-noo Veh-hee-gee-a-noo Liz-man Ha-zeh. 3. Blessed are You, L rd our G d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.
On the second night, put two candles on the right side of the chanukiyah and light them starting from the “new” candle on the left, reciting only the first two blessings. Keep on increasing the candles each night, until all eight candles are lit. Because we traditionally do no additional work once we have lit Shabbat candles, on Friday evening light the Chanukah candles first, then the Shabbat candles. On Saturday night, light the chanukiyah after Shabbat ends at nightfall. Traditionally, the chanukiyah is kindled immediately after the havdalah service.
Chanukah Calendar Tuesday, December 12:
Light the first Chanukah candle after nightfall - 5:05 pm
December 13, 14, 17, 18, 19:
Light Chanukah candle after nightfall - 5:05 pm
Friday, December 15:
Light Candles before Shabbat - 4:10 pm
Saturday, December 16:
Light candles after Shabbat - 5:20 pm
Holiday Recipes
During Chanukah, the eight-day Festival of Lights, foods fried in oil are featured prominently at family meals. This is to recall the miraculous flask of oil that burned for eight days instead of one in the Temple reclaimed by the Maccabees in 165 BC. Latkes are popular among Ashkenazi Jews during the Chanukah holiday, while Sephardic Jews tend to enjoy the sweeter Sufganiyot (Chanukah donuts). Below are some fresh ideas on the classics.
Zucchini and Cheese Latkes Makes 3 to 4 dozen 6 medium zucchini, grated 3 eggs 5 green onions (scallions), thinly sliced ½ cup chopped parsley, no stems 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves 1 cup shredded mozzarella, Gruyère, or Swiss cheese Vegetable oil 1 to 1¼ cups flour Salt Freshly ground black pepper In a large bowl, combine the zucchini, eggs, green onions, parsley, mint, cheese, and 1 tablespoon oil. Add the flour, a small amout at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Use just enough flour to give the batter body, but not enough to make it thick. Season to taste with salt and pepper. In a large heavy skillet, heat ¼ inch of oil. With a tablespoon, spoon the zucchini mixture into the hot oil and flatten with the back of a wet spoon. Cook on both sides until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
Sweet Potato Dessert Latkes Makes 3 dozen 4 large sweet potatoes 2 eggs ½ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons matzo meal or flour 1 teaspoon sugar 2 tablespoons raisins, plumped 2 tablespoons chopped dates ¼ cup chopped walnuts Vegetable oil Peel and wash the potatoes. Place them in cold water until ready to grate to keep from discoloring. Grate the potatoes and drain well. Transfer them to a large bowl. Add the eggs, salt, matzo meal, and sugar and blend thoroughly. Fold in the raisins, dates, and walnuts. Heat ¼ inch or oil in a large skillet and spoon in the potato mixture. Cook about 5 minutes a side,
until brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve hot with powdered sugar, sour cream, or whipped cream. (Latke recipes from Gourmet Jewish Cookbook by Judy Zeidler)
Sufganiyot (Chanukah Donuts) 2 tablespoons yeast 1 tablespoon granulated sugar ¼ cup warm water 4 cups all-purpose flour ½ - 1 cup vegetable oil or softened margarine 2 eggs 1 egg yolk
¾ cup water or apple juice
2 tablespoons brandy, optional pinch of salt 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel 1½ teaspoon cinnamon Jam or jelly for filling Icing or berry sugar Mix together yeast, sugar and warm water. Keep in a warm place for 10 - 15 minutes. In an electric mixer or a dough maker, mix yeast mixture with remaining ingredients, except jam and icing sugar, on low speed for 4 - 5 minutes. Cover and let dough rise for 1 - 1½ hours until doubled in size. Roll to 1 in/2.5 cm thick and cut into rounds. Let rise for 20 - 30 minutes. Deep fry in oil at medium heat in a heavy pot, 1 - 2 minutes per side. Remove with a slotted or mesh spoon and place on paper towel. When cool enough to handle, inject jam or jelly in the centre of each doughnut. Sprinkle icing sugar on top or toss gently in berry sugar. (Sufganiyot recipe from Bubbe’s Kitchen: Cherished Dishes from the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, Vancouver Section.)