Everything You Should Know About Chanukah by Steve Brenner

1. Everything You Should Know About Chanukahby Steve Brenner

2. Why is Chanukah celebrated? Chanukah is known as the Feast of Dedication and Lights. It marks the rededication of the Temple by Judah Maccabee in 165 B.C.E. after his victory over the Syrians-Greek who defiled the Temple. This festival lasts for eight days as we reflect on the miracle of burning a small jar of oil found in the sanctuary by Judah Maccabee.

3. 1. December 16 Evening 2. December 17 Evening 3. December 25 Evening When is the first night of Chanukah this year? The right answer is December 16 (24th day of the Jewish calendar month, Kislev, at nightfall.

4. How do you read Chanukah in Hebrew? AH K U N CH “CH” is pronounced as “H” not “tsh” Thus the word can also be spelled as Hanukah

5. How does one light the Chanukah candles? • On the first night, we will put two candles on the Menorah. One is the Shamash (helper) candle and the other is the candle for the first night. • On the first night, use the Shamash candle to light the candle representing the first night. That candle should be placed in the far right candle holder. • 3. On the second night, put two candles in the far right candle holders. Use the Shamash candle to light the left-most candle first. After you light that candle, light the one on the far right. • 4. Each night, you add another candle. On the third night place three candles in the candle holders starting at the far right. Use four candles for the fourth night…and so on. Always light from left to right. • The additional light each night recalls the greatness and growth of the miracle.

6. Note that the first two blessings are recited every night. The third one is blessed just once on the first night. 1. "Baruch ata Ado-nai, Elo-heinu Melech ha'olam, Asher kid'shanu b'mitzvosav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Chanukah" Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us to Kindle the Chanukah light. How does one make blessings while lighting the candles? "Baruch ata Ado-nai, Elo-heinu Melech ha'olam, She'asah nisim la'avoseinu, bayamim ha'hem baz'man hazeh" Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, Who has wrought miracles for our forefathers, in those days at this season. 2. 3. Recited on the first night only"Baruch ata Ado-nai, Elo-heinu Melech ha'olam, She'hecheyanu, vekiyemanu vehigi'anu laz'man hazeh" Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.

7. We also serve non-fried food such as chocolate candy (which is a wrapped coin-like candy known as “gelt.”) They are used for playing dreidel and for dessert. Why do Jews eat potato or cheese latkes and donuts on Chanukah? Latkes and jelly donuts are eaten because they are fried in oil which symbolizes the miracle of the jar of oil which lasted for eight days. Potato Latkes Jelly Donuts Cheese Latkes accompanied with Apple Sauce

8. The History The traditional Chanukah dreidel (spinning top) is a throwback to the times when the Greek armies of King Antiochus controlled the Holy Land, before the Maccabees defeated them and sent them packing. The powerful regime passed a series of laws outlawing the study of Torah and many of the mitzvot. The Jews were compelled to take their Torah learning "underground," for they knew that a Jew without Torah is like a fish out of water. Jewish children resorted to learning Torah in outlying areas and forests. Even this plan was not foolproof, for the enemy had many patrols. The children therefore brought along small tops that they would quickly pull out and play with after secreting away their texts, so that they could pretend to be merely playing games. Our Chanukah dreidel games are a salute to these Jewish heroes of yore. Source: http://www.chabad.org/library/howto/wizard_cdo/aid/597255/jewish/The-History.htm

9. Nes Gadol Haya Sham— (These four Hebrew letters on left are an acronym for "A great miracle happened there") How do Jews play dreidel games? Nun - "nothing" - nothing happens and the next player spins A person spins the dreidel. If it lands on Nun, nothing happens. If it lands on Gimmel (or, as we called it as kids, "gimmie"), you get the whole pot. If it lands on Hey, you get half of the pot. If it lands on Shin, you put one gelt in. When the pot is empty, everybody puts one gelt in. Keep playing until one person has everything. Then redivide it because nobody likes a poor winner. Gimmel - "all" - the player takes the entire pot Hey - "half" - the player takes half of the pot, rounding up if there is an odd number Shin - "put in" - the player puts one marker in the pot

10. “OH CHANUKAH OH CHANUKAH” Favorite Chanukah Song of Dot and Steve Brenner See the next slide “The Little Dreidel” Favorite Chanukah Song of Elaine Aiello See the following slide after “Oh Chanukah”. Haneurit Halalu Hymn- After the Chanukah lights are kindled it is customary to recite or sing this hymn. For full Hebrew and transliteration: http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/454338/jewish/Haneirot-Halalu.htm Maoz Tzur - Traditional Chanukah song For full wordings of song, click on:http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/454342/jewish/Sevivon.htm Ner Rishon - A very short song sung for lighting the Menorah and it is about Chanukah sacred tradition. For full wordings, click on: http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/454341/jewish/Ner-Rishon.htm Sevivon - A Dreidel Song for Children For full wordings of song, click on: http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/454342/jewish/Sevivon.htm What kind of songs do we sing for Chanukah? Favorite Chanukah Song for Elaine Aiello I Have a Little Dreidel See the slide after Oh Chanukah

11. O Chanukah O Chanukah, Come light the menorah Let's have a party, we'll all dance the hora Gather round the table, we'll give you a treat Dreydels to play with and potato latkes to eat And while we are playing,the candles are burning low One for each night, the candle shed a sweet lightto remind us of days long ago O Chanukah O Chanukah Oh Chanukah Oh Chanukah

12. Chanukah Song "I Have A Little Dreidel" For true story about this songwritten by Sam Goldfarb, click on http://www.beingjewish.org/magazine/winter2001/article4.html

13. 1 2 It has a lovely body, With leg so short and thin, And when it gets all tired, It drops and then I win. Oh dreidel dreidel dreidel, With leg so short and thin, Oh dreidel dreidel dreidel, It drops and then I win. I have a little dreidel. I made it out of clay. And when it's dry and ready, My dreidel I shall play. Oh dreidel dreidel dreidel, I made it out of clay. Oh dreidel dreidel dreidel, My dreidel I shall play. I Have A Little Dreidel

14. 3 4 My dreidel's always playful. It loves to dance and spin. A happy game of dreidel, Come play now let's begin. Oh dreidel dreidel dreidel, It loves to dance and spin. Oh dreidel dreidel dreidel, Come play now let's begin. I have a little dreidel. I made it out of clay. And when it's dry and ready, My dreidel I shall play. Oh dreidel dreidel dreidel, I made it out of clay. Oh dreidel dreidel dreidel, My dreidel I shall play. I Have A Little Dreidel

15. WSJD Board wishes you all Happy Chanukah