Happy Hanukkah

9th December 2007

THE FESTIVAL OF HANUKKAH

 

Hanukkah, the Jewish Feast of lights, begins on the evening of the 25th day of the Hebrew month called Kislev. This usually corresponds to the month of December. This festive occasion usually lasts for about eight days, and each one is filled with songs, games, food, and the lighting of the Hanukkah candles.

Hanukkah reminds people of the miracle which took place in Israel over 2,000 years ago.

 

THE STORY OF HANUKKAH

 

King Antiochus of Syria was not a Jew, and he was very cruel and unkind to the Jewish people. He wanted the Jews to worship the Greek god Zeus, and wouldn't let them worship their own god at their temple in Jerusalem. This made the Jews very angry, and they decided to fight the Syrian King. Even though they were greatly outnumbered they won their battle.

When they returned to their temple, they found that the army had made a terrible mess. So they had to clean it in order to make it holy once again.

They did this by re-lighting the temple's candle called a Menorah. This candle was really meant to burn all the time. They could only find one jar of oil to light the flame, and this they thought would only last for one day. But instead it kept the lamp burning for eight days and nights. And so Hanukkah celebrates this miracle.

 

WHAT HAPPENS DURING HANUKKAH TIME?

 

            

 

 

The candle-lighting ceremony takes place in the evening usually before the evening meal. This meal always includes fried foods, and this often means pancakes or Potato Latkes. The oil used to fry these traditional pancakes is a reference to the cleaning and re-dedication of the temple in Jerusalem.

On the first night, Jewish families gather around the Menorah, or eight-branched candlestick , while one candle is lit. On the second night, two candles are kindles, and so on, until the eighth night. At this time two blessings are recited, and then the lighted Menorah is placed in a window so that everyone can see it and rejoice together.

For children, the highlight of the evening comes when they receive Hanukkah gelt, or presents of money, and gather around the in a circle to play with a dreidel.

 

Traditions

 

  Children play with a spinning top called a 'dreidel' and they also get small presents each night.

  Families eat 'latkes' or potato fritters and other oily food to remember the miracle of light.

  The holiday is celebrated by lighting an eight-branched candlestick called a Menorah, one candle a night.

Let's make POTATO LATKES!!

Potato Latkes

To make ten potato latkes, you will need:

• 2 large potatoes
• 2 tablespoons plain flour
• 2 eggs
• salt and pepper
• oil for frying
• a mixing bowl, whisk, frying pan and fish slice, potato peeler and grater

All you need to do is:

1. Peel and grate the potatoes.
2. Drain off any excess liquid.
3. Add well-beaten egg, seasoning and flour
4. With the help of an adult, heat the oil in a frying pan.
5. Drop in spoonfuls of mixture, flattening it as you put it in.
6. When brown on one side, turn and brown the other.
7. Drain on paper kitchen towels.