A Festival of Lights
At sunset on Tuesday, Dec. 18, Jewish people around the world will begin the eightday celebration of Hanukkah (HAHN-UHkuh). This week, The Mini Page learns more about this special holiday and the faith of the Jewish people.
What do Jews believe?
Jewish people practice a religious faith called Judaism (Joo-dee-iz-um). They believe in one god who created the universe and controls nature.
Jews also believe that their god chose them especially to receive his message. For example, God sent his message about the Ten Commandments through Moses.
The word “Jew” comes from Judah, the name of an ancient land where modern Jerusalem is located. The people who lived there later moved into many different areas, including Europe and eventually the Americas.
Where do Jews worship? synagogue
Jewish people go to a (SINa-gog) for prayer services led by a rabbi (Rab-eye) and a cantor, a special religious singer. “Synagogue” comes from a Greek word meaning “assembly.” In most synagogues, a special cabinet holds the scrolls of the Torah. The Torah is the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament.
The Hanukkah story
In ancient Israel, a king named Antiochus (an-tie-uh-kuss) tried to make all the people in his kingdom adopt one religion. He dishonored the Jewish temple in Jerusalem and said they could not practice their religion.
People in the area, led by Judah Maccabee, revolted, or rose up, against Antiochus.
They won their religious freedom and later rededicated, or blessed, their temple. (“Hanukkah” means “to dedicate.”)
Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration when Jewish people remember their struggle and their victory against Antiochus.
Observing Hanukkah
During Hanukkah, Jews light candles in a special candelabrum called a menorah (mehNOR-UH), which holds nine candles. On each of the eight nights of
Hanukkah, another candle is lighted.
It is said when ancient Jews were rededicating their temple, they could find enough oil to burn in the menorah for only one night. However, that small amount of oil kept burning for eight days and nights. The menorah lighting tradition is in honor of the miracle of the oil.
Jewish people light one more candle every night and say prayers. They use the middle, or shamash, candle to light the others.
Dreidel
The dreidel (Dray-duhl) is a special toy top that Jewish children play with.
It has four sides with the Hebrew symbols for the words meaning, “A great miracle happened there.” In Israel, dreidels read, “A great miracle happened here.”
The dreidel goes back to ancient times when Jews could not worship as they wanted. They would meet in secret, and someone would read the service. If an enemy came near, they would get out a dreidel and start playing. This way the enemy soldiers didn’t know the Jews were worshipping.
Gifts
Jewish boys and girls may receive gelt, or money, during Hanukkah. Sometimes this is chocolate candy coins.
They may also receive gifts. Some get gifts on only one night, and others get one gift every night.
Food
Families gather to enjoy delicious foods during Hanukkah.
Many of the foods are fried in oil, in remembrance of the miracle of the light. Potato pancakes called latkes (Laht-kuhs) and jam-filled doughnuts are other special traditions.