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I found a really nice article on Jewish homeschooling and wanted to post it. While resources are limited for Jewish families, there seems to be more resources popping up when you google Jewish homeschooling.
As you begin observing Hanukkah, you may read stories about this important time to your children. You may also come upon certain terms associated with Hanukkah which you may want to explain to your children. Here are some of the more important terms used.
Chanukah or Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights. It is commemorated by lighting a Menorah or candelabra which has eight branches or candleholders. In addition, it also has a Shamash or the master light with which you light the other eight.
The Dreidel is a four-sided spinning toy which has four distinct Hebrew letters on each side symbolizing the sentence “Nes Gadol Haya Po” which translated means “A great miracle has happened here.” The Dreidel is used to play a game in which each player spins and depending upon the letter that is displayed on the Dreidel, they add to, take half, take all or take nothing from the center of the table. These may include candies and coins which each player contributes before the start of each game.
The Torah is composed of the five books of Moses. Due to the fact that Jews were prohibited from studying the Torah under the rule of Antiochus, they would use the Dreidle as a ruse whenever the Greeks happened to pass by. Thus, the Greeks would think a game was being played as the Torah was always hidden from them.
The Menorah is lit on the first night of Hanukkah in commemoration of the miracle of the oil. It symbolizes the time when the Maccabee fought Antiochus’ army and were victorious. After which, they restored the Holy Temple and though they only had enough oil to light the Menorah for one night, it remained lit for eight days.
The Mezuzah or more commonly known as door post is usually seen outside the front door of a home and attached to the right side of the doorway. It is a small case which houses the first two sections of the Shema inside of it. It is a reverent prayer which affirms one’s Jewish faith. This prayer is said every morning and evening by religious Jews.
This is a great appetizer and not as hard to make as it sounds.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup chopped green olives
3/4 cup chopped kalamata olives
1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
3/4 cup chopped macadamia nuts
5 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
4 Roma (plum) tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
3 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh garlic
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Salt and pepper
1 (8 ounce) jar grape leaves packed in brine
Instructions:
Once everything is chopped and crumbled put it in a big mixing bowl and toss with salt and pepper to taste. You want to chop everything small and fine because you want them to come out bite sized for appetizers. Lay each grape leaf flat and spoon some of the mixture to the middle. Roll them up and stick with an appetizer toothpick to hold. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Hanukkah comes from the Hebrew word meaning dedication. The history of Hanukkah begins with Alexander the Great who, after conquering Syria, Egypt and Judea, allowed all people to continue to observe their chosen religions. It wasn’t until later that the successor of Alexander the Great, Antiochus IV, caused a great upheaval in among the Jewish population.
Under the reign of Antiochus, the Jewish people were required to worship Greek Gods. In 165 BCE, Judah’s son Maccabee decided to rebel against this law and formed a crusade against Antiochus. Having defeated the Greek Army, Maccabee and his allies found a sacred temple which had been left in ruins as a result of Antiochus’ army, and they restored the temple to its former glory.
Thus, on the 25th day of Kislev, they dedicated the temple by lighting a restored Menorah. Although they were only able to find enough oil to keep the Menorah lit for one day, a miracle occurred in which the Menorah stayed lit for eight days.
Thus, the Festival of Lights was born to commemorate that day in the temple when the miracle of the Menorah first occurred. All Jews celebrate the miracle of the oil by placing eight candles in the Menorah and lighting one candle on each of the eight days of Hanukkah.
Although not considered a holy day, Hanukkah is nevertheless celebrated by Jews around the world in observance of the miracle of the oil that occurred in the temple. Hanukkah traditionally begins on the 22nd of December and ends on the 31st of December. This year it begins December 5 through the 12th.
Research also reveals that there are two types of Menorahs: one is 7-branched and one is 8-branched. There was a prohibition against the use of a 7-branched Menorah similar to the one used in the original temple.
The Chanukah (another way of spelling Hanukkah) Menorah has a place for eight candles as well as a ninth candle set apart from the rest. It is said that the eight candles commemorate the miracle of the oil while the ninth candle, the Shamash, symbolizes light.
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