Hanukkah in Candyland LOLLIPOP WOODS (LIGHT) After the Maccabees’ victory over the Greeks, there was only enough oil for the menorah to burn for one day in the Temple. Miraculously the oil burned for eight days. Lighting the Hanukkah menorah commemorates this miracle. Each night of Hanukkah, add a candle to your menorah while reciting these prayers. Candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but candles are lit from left to right. The blessings are said before the candles are lit.
Hanukkah Blessings ֲא ֶׁש ר ִק ְּד ָֽׁשנּו ְּב ִמ ְצ ֺוָת יו ְוִצ ָּֽונּו ְל ַה ְד ִל יק ֵנר ֶׁש ל ֲח ֻנָּכה, ֶֽמֶל ְך ָה עֹוָל ם, ְיָי ֱא ֹלֵֽהינּו,ָּב רּוְך ַא ָּת ה Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah. Blessed are You, Ruler of Time and Space, who gives us mitzvot and commands us to kindle the Hanukkah lights. ֶׁש ָע ָׂש ה ִנ ִּס ים ַל ֲא בֹוֵֽתינּו ְוִא ּמ ֹוֵֽתינּו ַּב ָּיִמ ים ָה ֵה ם ַּב ְּזַמ ן ַה ֶּזה, ֶֽמֶל ְך ָה עֹוָל ם, ְיָי ֱא ֹלֵֽהינּו,ָּב רּוְך ַא ָּת ה Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, she-asah nisim laavoteinu v’imoteinu bayamim hahaeim baz’man hazeh. Blessed are You, Ruler of Time and Space, who performed wonderous deeds for our ancestors in days of old at this season. First night only: ֶׁש ֶה ֱח ָינּו ְוִק ְּיָמ נּו ְוִה ִּג יָע נּו ַל ְּזַמ ן ַה ֶּזה, ֶמ ֶל ְך ָה עֹוָל ם, ְיָי ֱא ֹלֵה ינּו,ָּב רּוְך ַא ָּת ה Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, shehecheyanu v'kiy'manu v'higiyanu laz'man hazeh. Blessed are You, Ruler of Time and Space, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.
Hanukkah in Candyland LICORICE LAGOON (SYMBOLS) The Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is designed to evoke the menorah that stood in the Temple 2,000 years ago. Hanukkiahs have a central branch with four branches on each side. The central flame is called the shamash. The dreidel is a four-sided top with a different Hebrew letter on each side. When Jewish learning was forbidden, the Jewish people would study Torah (the five Books of Moses) in secret. When soldiers were approaching, they would quickly hide their books (or, back then, scrolls) and take out the tops and pretend to be involved in a game. In ancient times (before electricity!), the menorah was lit with olive oil. The jug reminds us of the small amount of oil used to miraculously keep the menorah alight for eight days after the Maccabee’s victory. The Star of David, known as a Magen David (Shield of David) is a commonly found symbol for Judaism and Israel. Although not specially a Hanukkah symbol, the Jewish star is used for decoration during the Hanukkah season!
Hanukkah in Candyland GUM DROP HILLS (DREIDEL) The 4 Hebrew letters on the dreidel – Nun-Gimel-Hey-Shin – stand for the sentence Nes Gadol Hya Sham - a great miracle happened there. (Did you know that in Israel the letter Shin is replaced by a Peh for the work Poh - “A great miracle happened here?) Today, we play as a way to celebrate a rich history and have fun with friends and family! Here’s how to play: 1) Any number of people can take part. 2) Each player begins the game with an equal number of pieces (about 10 - 15) such as chocolate gelt, pennies, nuts, chocolate chips, raisins, matchsticks, etc. 3) At the beginning of each round, every participant puts one game piece into the center “pot.” In addition, every time the pot is empty or has only one game piece left, every player should put one in the pot. 4) Every time it’s your turn, spin the dreidel once. Depending on the side it lands on, you give or get pieces from the pot. Nun means “nisht” or “nothing.” The player does nothing. Gimel means “gantz” or “everything.” The player gets everything in the pot. Hey means “halb” or “half.” The player gets half of the pot (if there is an odd number, take half of the total plus one. Shin means “shtel” or “put in.” The player adds a game piece to the pot. 5) If you have no game pieces left, you are out. 6) When one player has every game piece, the game is over.
Hanukkah in Candyland CHOCOLATE MOUNTAIN (HANUKKAH HOPSCOTCH AND TRIVIA) Although they were small, they were mighty! The Jewish family of Mattathias became known as the Maccabees, from the Hebrew word for "hammer," because they were said to strike hammer blows against their enemies. The Maccabee family is more commonly known as the Hasmoneans.
Like other rulers before him, King Antiochus underestimated the brains, will and strength of his Jewish adversaries and sent a small force to fight the Maccabees. When the small force was defeated, Antiochus led a more powerful army into battle only to be quashed once again. In 164 BCE, Jerusalem was recaptured by the Maccabees and the Temple purified, which is the event that inspired the holiday that we call Hanukkah today! Hanukkah means “rededication,” which references how the Maccabees reclaimed their temple.
Hanukkah in Candyland COOKIE COMMONS (COOKIE DECORATING) As you decorate your Hanukkah treat, we invite you to take a few moments to think about the power of strength, the brightness of light, and the sweetness of coming together. “Hannukah tells us not to curse the darkness, but instead to bring light to the world. It tells us to fight back and not to be afraid.” -Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks “The candle of one person can bring light to many.” -Talmud, Shabbat “Jews light lights not to banish the darkness, but to be reminded of the miracles of everyday life.” -Rabbi Barbara Penzner, A Guide to Jewish Practice “Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.” -Anne Frank “Just as one olive yields oil for light only when it is pounded, so are human’s greatest potentials realized only under the pressure of adversity.” -Talmud
Hanukkah in Candyland FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS FOR HOME LOLLIPOP WOODS: What do you think about when you light the menorah? We are taught to place our lit menorah in a window to shine our light on others. What does it mean to you to shine a light? How can you brighten some of the darkness in your life andn the life of others?
LICORICE LAGOON: What Jewish symbols can you find in your house? Where do they come from? Why is it important to display symbols? If you could define yourself using one symbol, what would it be?
GUMDROP HILLS: What is a miracle? What miracles are you grateful for? What would you consider daily miracles? What is a miracle the world could really use?
CHOCOLATE MOUNTAIN: As a family, what are you dedicated to? What can you rededicate yourselves to this year? The Maccabees had to be creative when they fought against King Antiochus. When was a time when you had to think outside of the box?
COOKIE COMMONS: Which quotation did you connect to the most? Why? What is your favorite holiday song? What is a holiday tradition that your family shares together?