Vocabulary

ablaze
dreidel

Festival of Lights
gelt
Hebrew
Judah MacaBees
latke
menorah

Rabbi
shammash
synagogue
temple
 

Hanakkah is called the Festival of Lights and celebrated by Jewish people to remember a miracle and the rededication of their Temple.

As I understand the story, over 2000 years ago the Greek and Syrians conquered the Jewish
and took over the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.  The conquerors placed Zeus and other Greek god statues in the Temple.
This angered the Jewish people so Judah Maccabee and his followers fought and drove the Syrians and Greeks out of Jerusalem.
After this the Jewish had freedom to worship in their temple again!
When the Jewish returned to the temple they noticed  the lamp of "eternal light" had
only a small amount of oil.  They knew it would take eight days before they could get more.

The Jewish people expected the lamp to go out in a day but instead the oil lasted for eight days!!!

Consequently for eight days Jewish people celebrate and light their menorahs and remember.

 Each night a candle is lit until all the candles are burning.    (The middle candle (shammash) lights the other candles)

During this time Jewish people visit their synagogues, gather with family and friends and play games.  A favorite is spinning the dreidel.

(A square top with Hebrew letters.)
Sometimes families give chocolate coins called gelt to each other too. They often eat potato pancakes (latke) cooked in oil to commemorate the time.   Sour cream, applesauce, jelly rolls and special cookies are also eaten.

The beginning day changes each year.  It is celebrated in November and/or December.  For 2002  it began on November 29 and will conclude on December 6. The Jewish use a lunar calendar.  Hanakkah is on the 25th day of Kislev.
 

It is a special celebration for Jewish people.

Books

Links

http://www.holidays.net/chanukah/index.htm

http://www.theholidayspot.com/hanukkahlinks.htm

http://www.holidays.net/chanukah/

http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/default_cdo/jewish/Hanukkah.htm