THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO HANUKKAH

ShamashThroughout Hanukkah, each meno-rah burns through 44 candles, adding one candle each night, plus the “shamash” – the extra helper candle that is used to light the other candles.

War of the MaccabeesHanukkah commemorates the story of the Maccabees defeating the Syrian-Greeks who ruled over Israel and destroyed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Led by Judah Maccabee, a group of pious Talmudic scholars recaptured the Holy Temple from the Greeks.

The MenorahAfter the destruction of the Temple, the Eternal Light only had enough olive oil to last for one day, but it took eight days to make more. A miracle occurred and the oil burned for all eight days and nights. This is why the Menorah has eight candles.

The FoodDuring this holiday it is customary to eat foods fried in oil like Sufganiyot, which are similar to jelly filled donuts.

FACTS ABOUT HANUKKAHOther TermsThe word Hanukkah can also be spelled Chanukah, or Chanukkah, and called Feast of Dedication, Festival of Lights, or Feast of the Maccabees.

Not Jewish ChristmasHanukkah is not the Jewish Christmas. There is no significance to giving gifts during the holiday. But there is a tradition to give gelt (money) to give kids an incentive to learn Torah.

DefinitionThe word Hanukkah means “dedication.” The word Hanukkah also comes frm the Hebrew word “hinuch,” which means education.

When to CelebrateHanukkah begins on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, and lasts for eight days.

The MenorahThe Menorah holds 9 candles. Menorahs come in many shapes and sizes. The menorah in the Holy Temple was gold. The Maccabees lit one out of wood. There is a solid gold replica of the menorah right

outside Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem. It cost 3 million dollars.

The CandlesThe candles must be big enough to burn for at least 30 minutes. Many use olive oil, to recall the original miracle in the Temple. One special candle, called the Shamash is lit first and then is used to light the other candles. The candles are placed from right to left and then are lit from left to right. One candle is add-ed each of the eight nights.

How to Light1) Light the Shamash2) Recite the blessings3) Use the Shamash to light the Hanukkah candles

The menorah should be lit in a window facing the street

DreidelsDreidels have written on their 4 sides the Hebrew letters nun, gimel, hay, and shin.They are the first letters of the words “Nes gadol hayah sham” which means “A great miracle happened there.”

History of Dreidel PlayPlaying with the dreidel began thousands of years ago when the Syrian-Greeks prohibited the Jews from learning Torah. Jews continued teaching and studying Torah in secret. Should a Greek soldier appear, they would hide their books, pull out their dreidels and play with the children.

To Play, You’ll Need2-6 players

10-16 game pieces per player (These can be candy, small coins, or nuts)

Dreidels (it’s more fun if each player has their own, but not necessary)

Smooth surface to spin the dreidel

How to Play Dreidels1) At the beginning of each round, ever participant puts one game piece into the center “pot.”

2) If the “pot” becomes empty or only has one piece, each player adds one piece.

3) Players take turns spinning their dreidel and take the action according to the Hebrew letter that lands up.

4) If you have no game pieces left, you are either “out” or you may ask a fellow player for a “loan.”

5) When the pot is emptied–or gets down to one token–everyone adds a token.

6) When one person has won everything, that round of the game is over!

Gimmel means “everything” in Yiddish. The player gets the entire pot.

Hey means “half” in Yiddish. The player gets half the pot.

Shin means “put in” in Yiddish. The player adds a piece to the pot.

Nun means “nothing” in Yiddish. The player does nothing.

HANUKKAH BLESSINGSThe shamash (the helper candle) is lit first, and will be used to kindle the rest of the Hanukkah lights. As the shamash is lit, these prayers are said:

First blessing Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who hallows us with mitzvot, commanding us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.

A third blessing is said on the first night onlyBaruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, shehecheyanu v’kiy’manu v’higiyanu laz’man hazeh.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.

Second blessing Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, she-asah nisim laavoteinu v’imoteinu bayamim hahaeim baz’man hazeh.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who performed wonderous deeds for our ancestors in days of old at this season.

After lighting the candles, families often enjoy sitting in the menorah’s glow, while singing Maoz Tzur (“Rock of Ages”)

FACTS ABOUT HANUKKAH

DonutsTo commemorate the miracle of the oil, there is a cus-tom to eat “oily” foods like potato latkes and sufganiyot (donuts). Around 17.5 million donuts are eaten in Israel during Hanukkah. (Not a good time to start a diet!)

The Golden MenorahThe first thing the Maccabees did upon recovering the Holy Temple was to light the golden menorah. They found only one jar of oil, but it burned miraculously for eight days.

Who Lights It?The menorah can be lit by any man, woman or child in the household. It is a mitzvah (good deed) for everyone to light a candle.

Dreidel MessageEach of the four sides of a dreidel has a Hebrew character: Nun, Gimel, Hay or Shin. The letters are said to stand for the phrase “Nes Gadol Hayah Sham”—mean-ing “A great miracle happened there.”

Chocolate CoinsChildren often receive gifts of gelt in the form of chocolate coins wrapped in gold or silver foil.

DefinitionMenorah translates to “candelabrah.” It is pro-nounced MEN-OR-AH.