Read the information then click on the links below it to do the exercises.
CHANUKAH FUN
THE CUSTOMS OF CHANUKAH
What is a Chanukiah?
A menorah is the type of candelabra we see in synagogues today, just like those that used to be kept in the Temple. A normal menorah has seven candleholders, usually all the same height.
The special candelabra we use for Chanukah is called a ‘chanukiah’. It has nine candleholders, but they are not all the same height. One of them is different from the rest: it is either taller, or sits in front or to the side of the others. This different candleholder is called the shamash or ‘servant’ and is used to light the other eight candles.
The reason the chanukiah has nine candleholders is to represent the eight days of Chanukah (plus the shamash). We light one more candle every night of Chanukah.
The Dreidel
The dreidel is a four-sided spinning top that is used for a fun spinning game. On each side of the top is a Hebrew letter, either a nun, a gimmel, a hey or a shin. These letters represent the Hebrew words Nes Gadol Haya Sham, which means ‘A great miracle happened there’. The dreidel game reminds us of the Chanukah miracle.
Chanukah gelt and gifts
Have your parents or grandparents ever given you Chanukah gelt? If so, you are like thousands, maybe even millions, of lucky Jewish kids around the world!
'Gelt' is the Yiddish word for ‘money’ and Chanukah gelt is real or chocolate coins wrapped with gold foil. People say this custom started about three hundred years ago in Poland. During Chanukah parents there used to give money to their children’s teachers. Soon they also started giving small coins to their own children, as a reward for studying hard.
Special Foods for Chanukah
Levivot (Potato latkes)
This is a traditional food eaten during Chanukah. Potato latkes are grated potato patties fried in oil. Most of the traditional Chanukah foods are fried or cooked in oil, to remind us of the miracle of the oil lasting eight days in the Temple.
Sufganiyot (Jam-filled doughnuts)
These sugar-covered, jam-filled doughnuts are very very popular in Israel during Chanukah. The doughnuts are dropped into hot oil without being shaped and therefore come out in odd shapes - the funnier the better!
Dreidel butter cookies
These are delicious old-fashioned style butter cookies which are shaped like dreidels and sprinkled with sugar.
A Chanukah Song
This is a hymn that is sung after the candles are lit. The words recall the miraculous defeat of Israel’s various enemies over the generations.
Maoz tzur
Maoz tzur yeshua-si
Lecha na-eh li-sha-beyach
Tikone bais ti-fee-lasi
Vi-sham todah ni-za-beyach.
Li-ase ta-chin mat-beyach
Mee-tzar ham-na-beyach
Az eg-more vi-sheer meez-mor
Chanukas ha-meez-beyach
Az eg-more vi-sheer meez-mor
Chanukas ha-meez-beyach.
(Translation)
O Rock of my salvation, with delight we praise You.
Restore the Temple where we will bring offerings.
When You will eliminate our enemies,
Then I shall sing at the rededication.
|
|
|
|
| My Quia activities and quizzes |
|
https://www.quia.com/cm/32230.html |
|
https://www.quia.com/jg/410140.html |
|
https://www.quia.com/cm/32269.html |
|
|
|
|
| Last updated 2008/12/08 10:20:18 AEDT | Hits 1290 |
|
|
