Chanukkah is the story of a group of warriors the maccabees, later the hasmoneans, led by mattathias who rose up against the greeks the seleucids, united the jews, reclaimed the temple beit hamikdash, and then lit one days supply of oil which miraculously lasted for eight days, started a brand new holiday called chanukkah, and brought jewish sovereignty and peace to the land of israel. On hanukkah, children play with dreidels square spinning tops. It is, however, mentioned in the new testament, in which jesus. Religion is always a touchy subject when it comes to the public education system, but i think this book is a good education tool. Its also the celebration of an ancient miracle, and retelling and remembering the story of that miracle is an essential part of the holiday, for young and old.
The story of hanukkah is preserved in the books of the first and second. Scholastic teachables worksheets, lesson plans, learning games, and more. Among the interesting tidbits in the piece was that the last remaining karaites in cairo had never celebrated hanukkah. Hanukkah, the festival of lights, starts on the 25th day of the jewish calendar month of kislev and lasts for eight days and nights. Hanukkah traditions, however, are strictly followed to celebrate the festival.
Long ago, before even our grandparents grandparents grandparents were alive, the land of israel was ruled by a wicked king named antiochus epiphanes. It was a mighty victory that lead to the impossible, and proved. The story of chanukah in brief stories jewish kids. Yet the desire of the narrator to experience intimacy with god is never fulfilled. The jewish people prayed and thanked god for these miracles. Hanukkah is a jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the second temple in. Even a jew receiving charity should buy the lights. Every year during hanukkah, jews light menorahs for eight days to remember the miracles that happened long ago. Willow rosenberg, kennedy, and any other buffy characters and concepts are the property of 20th century fox and whatever arrangement they have with mutant enemy and joss whedon.
The story of hanukkah, the festival of lights, takes readers back more than two thousand years in history. Worksheets are celebrating hanukkah reading comp, the story of the menorah, pdf hanukkah work packet, quiz whiz the story of hanukkah, celebrating hanukkah, hanukkah vocabulary words, all about hanukkah story song, holiday traditions. The story of hanukkah is a wonderful introduction to the holiday for children learning their own heritage or for children discovering the traditions of friends, family, and others. Hanukkah, according to josephus and maccabees 12, is a story of civil war between two rival jewish factions fighting for the.
The whole family could sing hanukkah song, see who will get the. Send me email alerts for new articles by elon gilad. One of the very important hanukkah traditions is lighting the ninebranched candelabrum or menorah. Theyll tell the story of eight nights the new york a cappella group called the maccabeats rewrote songs from the hit musical hamilton to tell the origin story of hanukkah. The talmud states that if unable to afford to purchase both lights for hanukkah and wine for passover, that a jew should buy the hanukkah lights. What you need to know about the hanukkah story my jewish. Hanukkahs real and imagined history robert siegel speaks with simon schama, author of the story of the jews, about the political history of hanukkah. This holiday commemorates the jewish peoples rededication of the temple in. Hanukkah games, art projects, reading passages, and writing prompts are included among the hanukkah activities.
The roots of the story of hanukkah reach back to that time, especially the year 323 b. The story of hanukkah worksheets lesson worksheets. The four letters on the four corners of the dreidel refer to the hanukkah miracle. It is at this dark moment that we celebrate chanukah by lighting candles for eight nights. Learn the story of hanukkah and the origins of its important customs in this hanukkah worksheet that blends world history, geography and reading comprehension. Dec 12, 2014 hanukkahs real and imagined history robert siegel speaks with simon schama, author of the story of the jews, about the political history of hanukkah.
Hopefully this article will help you to better understand the hanukkah story. Several hundred years later, the rabbis of the talmud, a central text of judaism, were worried that celebrating a military victory would encourage risktaking by jews in their own time. The story of hanukkah hanukkah for kids origins of hanukkah duration. Find hanukkah activities, recipes, story ideas, and more on the pj library hanukkah hub. Fact and fiction posted on december 20, 2019 by nehemia gordon in this special study, hanukkah. While there is a jewish debate about how to spell this jewish holiday, everyone can agre that it is the festival of lights and rededication.
Chanukah begins at sundown on sunday, december 2, 2018 and ends at sundown on monday, december 10, 2018. Displaying all worksheets related to the story of hanukkah. Understand why jews gather to light candles for eight nights each year. A hanukkah gift for rabbanites and karaites a blue thread. Did you know that the only place hanukkah is mentioned in the bible is in the new testament. Dec 19, 2017 hanukkah and oil are synonymous in the eyes of jews everywhere not only because of the story of hanukkah, but the connotations of food and family that it holds. The canonically approved story of hanukkah is an exceedingly strange one. Hanukkah celebrates one of the first fights for religious freedom. That is why we celebrate hanukkah for eight days, lighting another candle in the menorah each night to remember this miracle and the triumph of the jews. A man should sell his own clothes if need be to buy the lights of hanukkah. I wanted a book that tells the story of hanukkah for my kids who are 3 and 5 and most of the picture books focused on current traditions. More than 2000 years ago there was a time when the land of israel was part of the syriangreek empire, dominated by syrian rulers of the dynasty of the seleucids in order to relate the story that led up to chanukah, we shall start with antiochus iii, the king of syria, who reigned from 3538 to 3574 222186 b.
Eight hanukkah stories for eight nights of hanukkah. It is an informative, albeit a tad cursory, history of the beginnings of hanukkah. Since karaites historically did not celebrate hanukkah, some might find it odd that i am offering a hanukkah gift to the jewish masses. We have accomplished the nes milhama, the miracle of military victory, and now we must proceed to the nes shemmen, to the miracle of the conquest of the jewish spirit. You may wish to read the series introduction and the preceeding stories first summary. Today, the holiday reminds jews to rededicate themselves to keeping alive the flame of jewish religion, culture, and peoplehood so that it may be passed on to the next. Discover what a dreidel and a menorah are for, and who the maccabees were. Find more activities, book lists, interviews, and recipes. Page 2 of 2 the story of kwanzaa cant find what youre looking for. Celebrate each year to remember the destruction and restoration of a holy temple, a war for. These books tell the story of the small band of jewish fighters who liberated the land of israel from the syrian greeks. Hanukkah and oil are synonymous in the eyes of jews everywhere not only because of the story of hanukkah, but the connotations of food and family that it holds. Students will learn about symbols and traditions of the festival of lights.
They make potato latkes and eat doughnuts that symbolize the oil, they play dreidel, and they light the hanukkiah. Oct 19, 2015 hey everyone, this is the story of hanukkah, based on our hanukkah app. Arrange students in small groups to focus on a different but related aspect of hanukkah. The story of hanukkah for people who celebrate hanukkah, the season is steeped in tradition and ritual.
Each year, jewish families come together to celebrate hanukkah. The story of hanukkah did you know that the only place hanukkah is mentioned in the bible is in the new testament. The story of hanukkah is not included in the bible. In fact hanukkah isnt even that important a holiday in the jewish culture, but nonetheless, it is interesting to know the story of hanukkah. The hebrew word hanukkah actually means dedicationthis is why the apostle john referred to it as the feast of dedication in john 10. The ancient israelites, led by judas maccabeus, did vanquish the oppressor antiochus but greek rule would only be shaken off 20 years later under judas younger brother. King antiochus counted many jews among his subjects, and, just like so many of us today, our jewish ancestors lived their lives according to jewish custom and tradition. Rilke, in the poem above, expresses this need and the pathos of the soul who seeks god. This hanukkah story explicitly addresses our intense yearning to feel gods presence in our lives.
The candles could be celebratory, but may also convey another message. Holidays were spent at the beautiful temple, where the gates were covered in gold and silver. Dec 12, 2017 the candles could be celebratory, but may also convey another message. Introduce the story of hanukkah and the history of this jewish holiday through videos and classroom activities. This one page printable features the hanukkah story for kids in a very short version. Hanukkah is the holiday that fits this description. The story of hanukkah is a childrens picture book written by david a. The talmud explains the holiday as a commemoration of the rededication of the temple after the maccabean revolt. Explore the rich traditions and history of hanukkah, with our lessons, printables, activities, and resources. Hey everyone, this is the story of hanukkah, based on our hanukkah app. The hanukkah story is one of bravery and vigilance. According to jewish sources today, hanukkah spreads holiday cheer in every jewish household.
Page 1 of 2 the story of kwanzaa the story of kwanzaa. The temple contained many beautiful objects, including a tall, golden menorah. The eightday festival of hanukkah is celebrated in jewish homes each year. And here she is telling the story of hanukkah at an aimee mann concert from last year. More than 2000 years ago there was a time when the land of israel was part of the syriangreek empire, dominated by syrian rulers of the dynasty of the seleucids. Adler and illustrated by jill weber is a informative picture book on the history of hanukkah.
And on hanukkah the jews of latkeland gather at the confluence of the two rivers, so they can top their latkes. Dedicated to the death a messianic jewish exhortation for israel and all disciples of yeshua geoffrey, kevin on. He had waged war with king ptolemy of egypt over the. The story of hanukkah does not appear in the torah because the events that inspired the holiday occurred after it was written. The story of chanukah under syrian rule more than 2000 years ago there was a time when the land of israel was part of the syriangreek empire, dominated by syrian rulers of the dynasty of the seleucids. Dec 23, 2016 theyll tell the story of eight nights the new york a cappella group called the maccabeats rewrote songs from the hit musical hamilton to tell the origin story of hanukkah. Hanukkah is a wonderful time filled with games, food, family, and fun. Hanukkah, which means dedication, is the festival that commemorates the purification and rededication of the temple following the greek occupation of that holy place. Unlike menorahs of today, this one had seven rather than nine branches. Read it aloud to your child over the holidays to introduce him to the reason people celebrate hanukkah. Dedicated to the death a messianic jewish exhortation for israel and all disciples of yeshua. Now added a crossover with the ktonton jewish childrens stories.
The story of hanukkah discover first fruits of zion. Hanukkah, according to josephus and maccabees 12, is a story of civil. Jul 14, 2017 the canonically approved story of hanukkah is an exceedingly strange one. As the story goes, they only had enough oil to burn for one day, but miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days and eight nights. In 1979, hadassah magazine published a story about the karaite jews of cairo. Because he left no children able to lead his empire, alexander divided it among four of his generals.
For those that dont know how hanukkah came to be it is worthy of some research. There are entertaining games for children, storytelling, songs, and prayers. The last two pages of the story briefly explain how hanukkah is celebrated today, and i love the last line of the book. The story of the courageous maccabees is retold in simple yet dramatic text, accompanied by vibrant paintings of the battle, the temple of jersua.
Hanukkah differs from other holidays in the jewish calendar because it celebrates the role of human beings, rather than god. Children celebrating the story of the jewish holiday of hanukkah or chanukkah. As a christian, i celebrate hanukkah because jesus did see john 10. Hanukkah also spelled chanukah is a religious holiday celebrated by jewish or hebrew people, or those who practice a religion called judaism. Fact and fiction, nehemia gordon explains that the real story of hannukah, where the rabbinic tradition of lighting candles for eight days comes from, and how the victory should be celebrated today. The story of hanukkah began many centuries ago when israel was known as judea and the jews living there worked as farmers and shepherds. The roots of hanukkah may lie even before the maccabeesthe ancient jewish historian josephus refers to a jewish winter. The story is told through song starting around the 3.
The story of kwanzaa printable texts and skills sheets. Creative writing focuses on selfexpression and teaches kids the basic rules of language. The chanukah story audio by chaim clorfene and simcha gottlieb this actionfilled radio play portrays the miracle of chanukah as a victory of jewish spirit over the forces of assimilation. Dec 19, 2014 in 1979, hadassah magazine published a story about the karaite jews of cairo. The eightday jewish celebration known as hanukkah or chanukah commemorates the rededication during the second century b. Religious freedom is an important value in our home and in my daughters school so it was a great fit for us. Friends and family gather for festive meals of delicious potato pancakes and pastries. Perhaps the most famous part of the story is what happened next. Use the story of hanukkah above andor a book or two from the resources list below. These story starters are great creative writing prompts to help your kids develop their creative writing skills. However, this detail does not appear in any jewish texts until 600 years later in the talmud, mentioned in a larger discussion of why hanukkah observance is so important. The talmud states that a jew should sacrifice to buy the lights. The eightbranched candelabra called a chanukkiah or hanukkah menorah is lit. It is a time when the jewish people came together to overthrow a syrian ruler and take back their land.
In order to relate the story that led up to chanukah, we shall start with antiochus iii, the king of syria, who reigned from 3538 to 3574 222186 b. The most famous story about that rededication comes from our talmud, where we read that, when the maccabees walked into the temple, they found only enough oil to light the menorah lamp for one day but miraculously, that small amount of oil lasted for eight days, which is exactly how long it took to get new oil. Use this handout to introduce the african american holiday of kwanzaa, including its history, symbols and traditions. A long, long time ago in the land of israel, the most special place for the jewish people was the temple synagogue in jerusalem. Night after night, the candlelight increases, and we make our way into. But the generals all fought among themselves for control, and in the end, two dominant generals emerged seleucus. Thank you for your dedication in getting the truth out and helping to dissolve fiction so that fact can shine. Click on an image below to go to the story starter page.
1563 169 328 363 40 422 1054 1609 282 652 1126 1089 9 1597 1237 1372 7 659 860 705 693 1187 1491 362 906 547 1158 382 774 839 1247 549 270