CHANUKAH

More than 2000 years ago, a Syrian King named Antiochus, tried to force the Jews to give up their religion. Judah Maccabee led his people in a fight to drive the Syrians out of Israel. The Jews finally won back the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. They scrubbed and cleaned it and polished the huge menorah. But when the priests were ready to begin services they could only find a tiny jar of pure oil to burn in the menorah, only enough for one day. By a miracle, the oil burned on and on for eight days.

For eight days each year, the chanukiyah, or eight-branched candelabrum, is lit to recall the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem and to give thanks for the great miracle of the survival of the Jewish people. We learn about the Chanukah story in school in a simple manner with emphasis on the importance of being proud of what you are and standing up for what is right. We dramatize the story, sing songs, and make Chanukah gifts, chanukiyot and decorations. We also light the chanukiyah each day.

Taken from The Jewish Kids Catalog, 1985

CHANUKAH DINNER/SERVICE

Friday, December 7

6:30 p.m. Chanukah Dinner

Begin the Chanukah season at synagogue, with your synagogue-family and join in a delicious dinner with latkes! We’re asking people to bring in their favorite chanukiyah for a contest – oldest, most unusual, most creative, fanciest, etc. This is a great chance to share your fun or treasured chanukiot with others. Everyone is invited to this delicious and welcoming dinner when we celebrate Chanukah together. Cost is $12 adult/$8 children, up to a max of $35 per immediate family.  To make reservations by December 4, To make reservations, please call Holly Long at 216-464-1330, ext. 118, or e-mail at Hlong@fairmounttemple.org. 

7:30 p.m. Chanukah and Shabbat Evening Service

This year’s service will celebrate the season with light and with music.  This service will also include the musical talents of many generations through the Junior Choir, the Chorale, and the Choir, followed by a festive Oneg Shabbat

CHEVREI TIKVA CHANUKAH PARTY

Chevrei Tikva Annual Chanukah party, Saturday, December 8, 7 p.m. at a home.  Pot luck supper, white elephant gift exchange, world famous latke contest.  You haven't tasted latkes until you've tasted sweet and sour spicy latkes.  Cathy Lipton at 216-464-1330, ext. 126 or Clipton@fairmounttemple.org

Chanukah Chappening

Sunday, December 9

9:30 a.m. – noon,

Come for all or part of the morning – but COME CELEBRATE CHANUKAH!

NEW:

            Make gourmet latkes with master chef Michael Lyons

            Wrap Toys for others in need; this is a long-tradition at Fairmount Temple that this year will be part of the Chanukah Chappening activities.

            Buy last minute presents for the end of Chanukah – Barnes and Noble Book Store will be here with a wide selection of gift items (and free gift wrapping) and CLEFTY is returning for their Boutique.  This is a fun stop of the morning (no parents or grandparents allowed!) as children shop on their own with a member of the youth group.

This isn’t all!   There will also be a light bagel brunch with latkes, rafts and activities for children, from preschool age to sixth grade, and older siblings and parents can help with activities and the Toy Wrap.  Reservations are recommended by calling Cathy Lipton, 216-464-1330, ext. 126 or Clipton@fairmounttemple.org. This free program is open to the entire community and a donation of one unwrapped toy (prefer dolls, trucks/cars, or board games) which will be donated to Cops & Kids for distribution to Cleveland area children in need..
 

Frequently Asked Questions

How should the Chanukah candles be placed in the chanukiyah?

Always place the candles in the chanukiyah beginning from the far right and continuing to the left. The shamash (head candle) is the ninth candle and is used to light the other candles.

What is the order of kindling the Chanukah lights?

Candles are lighted from left to right – one candle and the shamash on the 1^st night, two candles and the shamash on the 2^nd night, three candles and the shamash on the 3^rd night, and so on through the eighth night.

When should the Chanukah candles be kindled?

Candles may be lit immediately after sundown if that is possible. On Friday evening, the Chanukah candles are kindled before we light the Shabbat candles.

Where do we place the chanukiyah?

In front of a window or the like in order to share our joy. One may light the Chanukah candles on behalf of the entire family, but in many homes, each person lights his/her own. The glow of the candles adds a special feeling of warmth and beauty.

Activities

MOBILES

Make a Chanukah mobile using dough art. Mix flour, water and salt to make clay dough and use a cookie cutter to cut out the symbols. Paint them and dry them and put then on hangars. A cardboard holder for six packs of soda pop can be used to hang the symbols from.

 DREIDEL GAME

On Chanukah we play the Dreidel Game. A dreidel is a top with 4 sides. On each side is a Hebrew letter. The four letters stand for the Hebrew words Nes Gadol Hayah Sham. This means, "A great wonder happened there."

To play, each players needs some candies or pennies. Each player puts one into the "pot." Everyone takes turns spinning the dreidel. If the dreidel falls on:

• Nun – don’t take anything
• Gimmel – take everything in the "pot"
• Hay – take half the "pot"
• Shin – put one back into the "pot"

The player with the most candies or pennies at the end wins.

Recipes

CHANUKAH BUTTER COOKIES

• ½ lb. Butter
• 1 c. sugar
• 2 whole eggs
• 1 tbl. Cold water
• 1 tsp. Vanilla
• 1 tsp. Baking powder
• 1 c. flour
• ½ tsp. Salt
• 2 c. flour

Cream butter, add sugar, cream together. Add eggs, water and vanilla. Sift together baking powder, one cup flour and salt. Combine with first ingredients and beat. (Electric mixer can be used.) Then add two cups flour and beat with wooden spoon. Refrigerate overnight. Roll out, cut in desired forms and bake 10-12 minutes at 400 degrees. These cookies can keep for several weeks.

 CRISP POTATO LATKES

• 3 large potatoes
• 1 sm. Onion
• 2 tbl. Flour
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp. Salt

Grate potatoes and onion. Beat eggs well, add to potatoes. Add salt and flour. Mix well. Fry in frying pan in deep fat, dropping from tablespoon. Turn only when underside is golden brown. Fry on second side. Makes about 18 pancakes.

Delicious with apple sauce or sour cream!

POTATO LATKES FROM MIX

Several potato latkes or pancake mixes are on the market. Add to their flavor by grating one potato into the mix and following the directions on the package.

 CHOCOLATE DREIDELS

Push a colored toothpick into the top of a chocolate candy kiss.

Prayers

Click on audio format to hear singing of Fairmount Temple Junior Choir

Light the Shammash (the helper candle) first and as you kindle the Chanukah lights say or sing:

MP3 (145K); WAV (800K)
Ba-ruch a-ta Adonai, Eh-lo-hei-nu
meh-lech ha-o-lam
a-sher ki-d’sha-nu b-mitz-vo-tav
v’tzi-va-nu l’had-lik
ner shel Chanukah.

MP3 (129K); WAV (708K)
Ba-ruch a-ta Adonai, Eh-lo-hei-nu
meh-lech ha-o-lam,
sheh-a-sa ni-sim
La-a-vo-tei-nu/l’i-mo-tei-nu
ba-ya-mim ha-heim ba-zman ha-zeh.

On the first night we add:

MP3 (114K); WAV (637K)
Ba-ruch a-ta Adonai, Eh-lo-hei-nu
meh-lech ha-o-lam
sheh-heh-cheh-ya-nu v’ki-y’manu,
v’higi-anu la-z’man ha-zeh.

Songs

Chanukah Oh Chanukah (21K MIDI file)
I Have a Little Dreidel (14K MIDI file)

I HAVE A LITTLE DREIDEL

I have a little dreidel, I made it out of clay,
And when it’s dry and ready, then dreidel I shall play.

It has a lovely body, with a leg so short and thin.
And when it is all tired, it drops and then I win.

Chorus: Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay,
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, then dreidel I will play.

LITTLE CANDLE FIRES (ON THIS NIGHT)

On this night, let us light
______ little candle fires.

‘Tis a sight, Oh so bright
______ little candles fires.

They say fight, For the right
Say little candle fires.

So this night, let us light
______ little candle fires.

S’VIVON (Dreidel, spin, spin, spin)

s’vivon, sov, sov, sov
Chanukah hu hag tov!

Chanukah hu hag tov!
S’vivon, sov, sov, sov.

Hag sim ha-hu la am
Nes ga dol ha ya sham!

Hag sim ha-hu la am
S’vivon, sov, sov, sov.

See Calendar of Temple Events.

Links

URJ Jewish Holidays - Chanukah

The World of HanuKat