chanuka story

The The HistoryHistoryLong, long ago, the Jewish people prayed in the Temple in Long, long ago, the Jewish people prayed in the Temple in

Jerusalem. Jews came from all over the land of Israel Jerusalem. Jews came from all over the land of Israel to worship there. They celebrated Shabbat and to worship there. They celebrated Shabbat and festivals with old and new friends, and they offered festivals with old and new friends, and they offered sacrifices to God there.sacrifices to God there.

The The HistoryHistory

At that time, over 2,000 years At that time, over 2,000 years ago, the land of Israel was ago, the land of Israel was ruled by the Syrians. The ruled by the Syrians. The Syrians followed Greek ways. Syrians followed Greek ways. They dressed in Greek Robes, They dressed in Greek Robes, they spoke the Greek they spoke the Greek language, they read Greek language, they read Greek books, and they played Greek books, and they played Greek games.games.

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are needed to see this picture.

Many Jews also followed Greek Many Jews also followed Greek ways, but there was one thing the ways, but there was one thing the Jews would not do. They would Jews would not do. They would not worship the Greek gods. No not worship the Greek gods. No matter what the Jews looked like matter what the Jews looked like on the outside, on the inside they on the outside, on the inside they remained faithful to God.remained faithful to God.

The ProblemThe ProblemThere came a new king of the Syrians named There came a new king of the Syrians named

AntiochusAntiochus. Antiochus commanded:. Antiochus commanded:

All the Jews of Israel must worship Greek godsAll the Jews of Israel must worship Greek gods







The Jews may not celebrate The Jews may not celebrate Jewish holy days and festivalsJewish holy days and festivals

The Jews may not observe ShabbatThe Jews may not observe Shabbat..

The Jews may no longer study TorahThe Jews may no longer study Torah

Finally, Antiochus said:Finally, Antiochus said:

WHOEVER DOES WHOEVER DOES NOT OBEY MY NOT OBEY MY

ORDER WILL BE ORDER WILL BE PUT TO DEATH!PUT TO DEATH!

What Happened NextWhat Happened Next

The wicked king and his soldiers put Greek The wicked king and his soldiers put Greek idols in the temple. They tore down the idols in the temple. They tore down the stone alterstone alter..

They put out the eternal lightorNer Tamid.

They took our Temple away

from us

Who will be our Who will be our heroesheroes??

In a small town, not far from Jerusalem, In a small town, not far from Jerusalem, there lived a Jewish priest namedthere lived a Jewish priest named

“I will not bow down the Greek idols,” declared Mattathias, “All who are for God,

follow me”!

Mattathias was a brave man. He had faith in God and he was not afraid of the

Syrians

MattathiasMattathias..

A Small ArmyA Small Army

Mattathias Mattathias and his and his five sons five sons hid in the hid in the mountainmountainss

One of Mattathias’ sons was their leader .His name was

Judah and his army became known as the

Other Jews joined them and they soon

had a small army.

Judah

Maccabees

The HISTORICAL The HISTORICAL MiracleMiracle

Antiochus had a huge army with thousands and Antiochus had a huge army with thousands and thousands of soldiers. Some rode on elephants so thousands of soldiers. Some rode on elephants so large that the earth shook when they marched. The large that the earth shook when they marched. The Syrians laughed at Judah and his tiny army. The Syrians laughed at Judah and his tiny army. The Syrians thought no one could defeat themSyrians thought no one could defeat them..

But Judah and the Maccabees knew the land well. They know the best places to hide and the best places to fight. They moved fast among the rocks and over the hills. Their faith in God made them brave.



The HISTORICAL The HISTORICAL MiracleMiracle

For three long years the small group of courageous Jews fought the huge Syrian

army. Finally, the Maccabees drove Antiochus’ soldiers out of Jerusalem .



At last the Jews took back the Temple

Work to DoWork to Do

Imagine how happy the Jews were to have the Temple back !



But they had lots of work to do. They destroyed the Greek idols. They cleaned the Temple from floor to ceiling. They

rebuilt the alter. And they re-lit the Eternal Light. The Eternal Light was an oil lamp that burned in the Temple night

and day.

The SPIRITUAL MiracleThe SPIRITUAL Miracle

There is a legend that when Judah entered the Temple to light the Eternal Light, he

found only one jar of oil .

But when Judah lit the lamp, the oil burned brightly for eight days!

It was enough to burn for just one day.

Why We Call it Why We Call it ChanukkahChanukkah

From all over Israel the Jewish people came to the Temple. They brought offerings and sang songs of thanks to God.

The Jewish people rejoiced that they could worship God once again in the Temple. The celebration was called

Chanukkah, which means “dedication,” because they were re-dedicating the

Temple to God .







The Chanukah The Chanukah MiraclesMiracles

What is the miracle that we celebrate on What is the miracle that we celebrate on Chanukah?Chanukah?

- The oil lasting for 8 days (instead of 1)- The oil lasting for 8 days (instead of 1)

- Defeating the mighty Greek army- Defeating the mighty Greek army

. . .. . .

The Chanukah MiraclesThe Chanukah Miracles

Both of these, the historical and the spiritual, are the miracles of the Both of these, the historical and the spiritual, are the miracles of the Chanukah story. However, the real miracle is that of the Jewish Chanukah story. However, the real miracle is that of the Jewish survival; the continuation and endurance of the Jews, and their survival; the continuation and endurance of the Jews, and their willingness to make a stand against impossible odds in the name of willingness to make a stand against impossible odds in the name of God.God.

The Greeks didn’t want to destroy the Jews– they wanted to take The Greeks didn’t want to destroy the Jews– they wanted to take away what was most important to them: their beliefs and their away what was most important to them: their beliefs and their customs -- their religion. They sought to convert the Jews to their customs -- their religion. They sought to convert the Jews to their religion. The Greeks prohibited the Jews from observing their laws, religion. The Greeks prohibited the Jews from observing their laws, forced them to worship Greek gods, and desecrated the Temple (Beit forced them to worship Greek gods, and desecrated the Temple (Beit HaMikdash). Had all the Jews agreed to do so, they would have been HaMikdash). Had all the Jews agreed to do so, they would have been spared a lot of suffering and would have lived in peace among their spared a lot of suffering and would have lived in peace among their Greek neighbors. Instead, a group of Jews refused to abandon their Greek neighbors. Instead, a group of Jews refused to abandon their religion and their God, and stood together to fight the threat. Some religion and their God, and stood together to fight the threat. Some fought by continuing to learn in caves despite decrees forbidding it. fought by continuing to learn in caves despite decrees forbidding it. Others chose to fight with the Maccabees, standing up to the mighty Others chose to fight with the Maccabees, standing up to the mighty Greeks and finally defeating their control.Greeks and finally defeating their control.

The Chanukah story reminds us that there are values for which it is The Chanukah story reminds us that there are values for which it is worth fighting, and that truth always prevails.worth fighting, and that truth always prevails.

The Festival of LightsThe Festival of Lights

The miraculous light that burned on the Menorah for 8 The miraculous light that burned on the Menorah for 8 days.days.

The light of the Jewish people that refused to be The light of the Jewish people that refused to be extinguished.extinguished.

Today we remember the Menorah lights by lighting our own Today we remember the Menorah lights by lighting our own Chanukiot for 8 nights. This special light symbolizes the Chanukiot for 8 nights. This special light symbolizes the inner light shining forth from every person, and from the inner light shining forth from every person, and from the entire nation. When we see this light burning, it reminds us entire nation. When we see this light burning, it reminds us that we are able to be strong even when things are tough. that we are able to be strong even when things are tough.

Candle LightingCandle Lighting

BlessingsBlessingsWe recite three blessings the first night, and two every other night. They are;We recite three blessings the first night, and two every other night. They are;


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And on the first night only we addAnd on the first night only we add;;

Laws – Laws – HalachotHalachot Where do we place the Chanukiah, and Where do we place the Chanukiah, and

why?why?– Outside, or by the front window, so everyone knows Outside, or by the front window, so everyone knows

about the miracle.about the miracle.

Between what times can we light Between what times can we light Chanukah candles?Chanukah candles?– From sunset until the last person in town has gone From sunset until the last person in town has gone

to sleep.to sleep.

From which side do we start lighting?From which side do we start lighting?– From the right side, (so from outside it looks like the From the right side, (so from outside it looks like the

left).left).

Laws Laws [ctd.][ctd.]

For how long must the candles burn?For how long must the candles burn?– At least half an hour into the night.At least half an hour into the night.

Which do we light first on Friday night – the Which do we light first on Friday night – the Shabbat candles or Chanukah candles?Shabbat candles or Chanukah candles?– Chanukah candles first – otherwise, it’s already Shabbat!!Chanukah candles first – otherwise, it’s already Shabbat!!

What is the Shamash and why do we use What is the Shamash and why do we use it?it?– It is a helper candle. We use it to the light all the candles, It is a helper candle. We use it to the light all the candles,

because we may not use the Chanukah candles for any because we may not use the Chanukah candles for any reason: even to light the othersreason: even to light the others..

Chanukah Chanukah TraditionsTraditions

There are many traditions associated with There are many traditions associated with Chanukah;Chanukah;

Playing dreidlePlaying dreidle Eating oily foods, like Latkes, Eating oily foods, like Latkes,

and Jelly Donuts and Jelly DonutsGiving Chanukah gelt Giving Chanukah gelt

and giftsand gifts

Lighting the Chanukiah.Lighting the Chanukiah.

That everyone should haveThat everyone should havetheir own Chanukiahtheir own Chanukiah

The DreidleThe Dreidle

Who?Who? The JewsThe JewsWhat?What? A little spinning topA little spinning topWhen?When? When the Greeks When the Greeks

would come looking would come looking to catch Jews who to catch Jews who were learning Torahwere learning Torah

Where?Where? In front of the caves In front of the caves

where Torah was where Torah was being learned in being learned in secret.secret.

Why?Why? The Greeks would see The Greeks would see

the children playing the children playing Dreidle, and would Dreidle, and would turn away believing turn away believing that no one there that no one there was learning Torah.was learning Torah.

How?How? 1 – Everybody is given small change, or Chanukah gelt, and one 1 – Everybody is given small change, or Chanukah gelt, and one

coin from each person is put in the middlecoin from each person is put in the middle 2 – One person starts and spins the dreidle. The letter it lands on 2 – One person starts and spins the dreidle. The letter it lands on

dictates what action to take.dictates what action to take. 3 – The next person3 – The next person gets a turn.gets a turn.

The DreidleThe Dreidle



* In Israel there is a Peh for “Po” instead of a Shin on the dreidle because * In Israel there is a Peh for “Po” instead of a Shin on the dreidle because the miracle happened “here”. In the rest of the world (or the Diaspora), the miracle happened “here”. In the rest of the world (or the Diaspora), the Shin for “Sham” reminds people that it happened “there” – in Israel.the Shin for “Sham” reminds people that it happened “there” – in Israel.

The The letters:letters:

They mean:They mean:A great miracle A great miracle happened happened there.there.

The words the The words the letters stand letters stand for: for: Nes Gadol Nes Gadol Hayah ShamHayah Sham

Chanukah LightChanukah Light

On Chanukah, we should look at we have and shine a On Chanukah, we should look at we have and shine a light on how blessed we are.light on how blessed we are.

We should think about what many people don’t have We should think about what many people don’t have

and shine a light on them by giving Tzedakah. and shine a light on them by giving Tzedakah.

We should think about the light inside ourselves, We should think about the light inside ourselves, how to make it brighter, and how to spread it to how to make it brighter, and how to spread it to

others.others.

We should take advantage of this Festival, not just to We should take advantage of this Festival, not just to remember the story of the Macabees, but to take our remember the story of the Macabees, but to take our

own lives to better and brighter places.own lives to better and brighter places.



chanuka story

Spiritual

jews of israel

group of jews

greek gods

greek idols

greek ways

mighty greek army

greek books

greek language