Hanukah About
Holiday Guide These pages contain sacred literature. Please do not deface or discard.
Hanukah
The first Hanukah 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 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 lives. More than a century later, a successor of Alexander, a Syrian-Greek Selucid named Antiochus IV, took 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, declared himself a god, required Jews to worship idols, and banned the core Jewish practices of Shabbat, 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 rose up and killed his fellow Jew. Mattathias 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 desecrated. The Temple was cleansed and the altar rebuilt. According to the Talmud, there was only enough 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 menorah.
Hanukah at PJA... Leading up to Hanukah, students at Portland Jewish Academy are involved in a variety of activities. Students receive a Hanukah goodie bag filled with candles, a dreidel and gelt to help celebrate the holiday at home. Some classes make Hannukiyot - Hanukah 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 Hanukah Goblins. The Kindergarten students enjoy writing the script and performing for their families.
Playing Dreidel 1. Every player puts an equal share of something – nuts, pennies, candy, Hanukah 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.
Hanukah Gelt During Hanukah 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 Hanukah it is customary to give gelt to children to teach them to increase their giving and good deeds.
Suggestions for Family
Celebration
Children adore the holiday of Hanukah and love to repeat family traditions over and over. Stick with what your family loves, and consider adding something new. • Try a new recipe. (See next page!) • Make an “edible dreidel” from marshmallows, a chocolate kiss and a thin pretzel stick. • 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 Hanukah 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 Hannukiyah
The ritual observance related to Hanukah is the lighting of the Hannukiyah - the nine-candled menorah. The candles represent the eight days of Hanukah plus a shamash - worker candle which lights each of the other eight candles. The Hannukiyah 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 Hanukah candles are for pleasure only. We do not use them for any productive purpose, not even to light other Hanukah candles. Before kindling the Hanukah lights on the first night of Hanukah, Thursday, December 7, 2023, (or if you’re kindling the Hanukah 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 :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. Ba-ruch A-tah Ha-olam Sheh-a-sa Ba-ya-mim 2. Blessed are You, L rd our G d, universe, for ַה our this ָבּ time. ְהֶ ֱחיָנוּ וְ קִ יּmiracles :ֶהKing ן הַ זּofַזְמtheִנוּ ל וְ הִ גִּ י ָﬠwho מָ נוּperformed ֶ שׁ,עוֹלָם ֶלforefathers ֶהֵ ינוּ מ-ֹ לin-those ֱא,' ְ יdays, אַ תָּ הatרוּ : 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 Hanukah 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 Hannukiyah 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 Hanukah candles first, then the Shabbat candles. On Saturday night, light the Hannukiyah after Shabbat ends at nightfall. Traditionally, the Hannukiyah is kindled immediately after the havdalah service.
Hanukah Calendar Hanukah begins after dark on the evening of Thursday, December 7, and ends at sunset on Friday, December 15, 2023. • Light candles each evening from December 7 through December 15. • On Friday night(s), Hanukah candles are lit before Shabbat candles. • On Saturday night, Hanukah candles are lit after the Havdallah candle.
Holiday Recipe
During Hanukah, 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. Below is a fresh idea on a classic recipe.
Hanukah, an annual celebration, resonates with the distinctive aroma of freshly fried Sufganiyot. This fragrance serves as an immediate gateway to the treasured memories of childhood. In Israel, particularly during the festive Hanukah season, the air becomes saturated with the irresistible scent of these delectable jelly-filled doughnuts. The aroma gracefully permeates the streets, creating an atmosphere filled with a comforting blend of warmth and joy. This user-friendly recipe provides a straightforward path to recreate the essence of Hanukah, allowing individuals to infuse their homes with the nostalgic perfume of tradition. Embark on this uncomplicated yet delightful culinary journey to ensure that the spirit of Hanukah not only endures but is embraced with simplicity and happiness.
Recipe from Larisa Lerner, Middle School Hebrew and Cooking Teacher
Fluffy Yogurt Doughnuts Ingredients: • 2 cups of Greek yogurt (280 grams or 10 ounces) • 2 eggs • 1 small package of self-rising flour (350 grams or 12.5 ounces) • ½ cup sugar • 1 teaspoon high-quality vanilla extract • Zest from one lemon • Oil for frying to cover the sufganiyot. Instructions: Heat a deep saucepan with oil to a temperature of 340 degrees Fahrenheit (170 degrees Celsius). Ensure the oil does not reach boiling point. Mix all the ingredients together until there are no lumps. Using two tablespoons or an ice cream scooper, transfer dollops of the mixture into the frying pan and fry for 2 minutes on each side until golden brown. The doughnuts will puff up and come out in various shapes, adding to the fun of the process. Place the doughnuts on a paper towel, generously coat them with powdered sugar, or roll in a mixture of regular sugar and a teaspoon of cinnamon. Serve immediately, optionally with a side of jam or chocolate for dipping. Enjoy the delightful sounds of cheers from both kids and adults.
Chag Hanukah Sameach!