{"id":4307,"date":"2021-11-29T07:25:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-29T12:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/blog\/?p=4307"},"modified":"2023-04-21T09:15:08","modified_gmt":"2023-04-21T13:15:08","slug":"how-to-learn-about-and-celebrate-hanukkah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-about-and-celebrate-hanukkah.html","title":{"rendered":"How to learn about and celebrate Hanukkah"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"How<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re Jewish or want to teach your students more about this popular observance, we unpack the holiday and list activities and worksheets that you can use to celebrate Hanukkah!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although it doesn\u2019t rank among the most important of the Jewish holidays, Hanukkah<\/a> is one of the most widely observed Jewish celebrations. This eight-day \u201cFestival of Lights\u201d illuminates what is, for many in the northern hemisphere, the darkest, coldest season of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hanukkah brings light, joy, and warmth to our homes and communities.  The holiday\u2019s central ritual of lighting candles of a menorah each day literally brings light to the darkness.  Metaphorically, the presence of light is reflected in an emphasis on charitable donations and, for some Jews, a commitment to social action and social justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celebrate Hanukkah by Learning it’s Origins<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hanukkah (sometimes spelled Chanukah) recalls the second-century BC victory of a small group of Jewish rebels (led by Judas Maccabeus and his brothers, known together as \u201cthe Maccabees\u201d) over the armies of the Seleucid Empire<\/a>.  The Maccabees seized control of Judea and founded the Hasmonean dynasty, which ruled for over 100 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hanukkah means “dedication” in Hebrew, because the major accomplishment of the Maccabees was a rededication of the Jerusalem Temple, which for many years had been used for the worship of Persian<\/a> and Greek deities.  The Maccabees were also responsible for expanding the boundaries of Judea and reducing the influence of what they considered pagan Hellenism<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The miracle of Hanukkah, which is reflected in the lighting of candles and eating foods prepared in oil, comes from the story that when the Maccabees rescued the Temple from the Seleucids, they could only find one small cruse of oil that bore the seal of the priests.  All the others had been profaned.  There was only enough oil to light the Temple\u2019s menorah for one day.  Instead, by a miracle, the oil lasted eight days and nights \u2013 long enough for the priests to prepare and consecrate new oil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why does the date of Hanukkah change every year?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hanukkah always starts at sundown on the 25th day of the month of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar.  All days on the Jewish calendar start at nightfall.  The secular date of Hanukkah changes every year because the Hebrew calendar is based on the lunar cycle<\/a>.  Hanukkah can occur anytime between November 28th and December 26th.  This year it begins at sunset on December 10, 2020.  In 2021, Hanukkah begins on the evening of November 28.  The annual festival of lights happens in 2022 starting on December 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Free and Premium worksheets and activities to celebrate Hanukkah<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Help Teaching has surveyed many Hanukkah-related educational resources for you to download and use.  Here are the highlights:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our own Hanukkah-themed resources include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n