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The story behind Hanukkah is one of a miracle. This miracle occurred a few thousand years ago during old testament times around 165 B.C.E. During this time the Jewish lived in Israel and had just won a revolt against the Syrians allowing them complete autonomy.

During the battle the temple in Jerusalem was looted but it was still intact, unfortunately they found that there wasn’t enough oil to keep their Menorah lit.

The Menorah is a candelabrum with seven branches to hold candles or with a well filled with olive oil. Some say it symbolizes the burning bush Moses saw on Mount Sinai. In the temple of Jerusalem the Menorah was supposed to be kept lit twenty four hours a day, but there was only enough oil to keep it lit for one day and it was going to take them eight days to make more oil. Nevertheless, the Jews lit the Menorah with what oil they had and worked on making more olive oil. Miraculously the Menorah stayed lit for the full eight days. Now Hanukkah is an eight day celebration of this miracle filled with nightly ceremonies, gift giving and the lighting of a new candle each day.

In recent years Hanukkah has blended somewhat with the tradition of Christmas and many families with both Christian and Jewish parents celebrate a blended holiday coyly termed, ‘Chrismukkah.’

If you are looking to celebrate Hanukkah, alone or along with Christmas, you can find there are plenty of decorations and party supplies available for the event. It’s become something of a tradition to have a small gathering either on the first night of Hanukkah or the last night. For this event you can pick up lots of Hanukkah themed plates, napkins and tablecloths and since they are paper they make for easy clean up. Although it’s traditional for just kids to get small gifts on each night of Hanukkah you can certainly expand on that to include all of your guests with some fun Hanukkah party favors.

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has a huge selection of free party games, coloring pages, word find, word scramble, printable baby and bridal shower activities. Hanukkah Party Games (Hanukkah-fun.com), holiday party planning tips, trivia, history, recipes, printable activities and free coloring pages.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gail_Leino

Some celebration ideas for your class at Chanukah including sites for party planning, songs, recipes, games and more.

Try some of these party ideas and activities.

a. Bring a menorah and some brightly colored candles. Light the first one with the class.

b. Play some games with dreidels using chocolate coins. You can also have a contest to see which dreidel spins the longest.

c. Have a song-a-thon using traditional songs and teach them to the kids.

d. Kids like to cut and color. Bring in colored paper and have students make festive decorations of the menorah, dreidel and oil-jug cutouts, a menorah and a chocolate dreidel box.

e. Have kids bring latkes served with apple sauce and sour cream and doughnuts.(be sure to fry in low fat oil)

f. Have kids distribute their greeting cards to each other.

g. Play classroom Bingo on the words from the previous lessons on Chanukah.

h. Have a story round with either you or the kids.

Have fun. Feel free to leave a response and share your latest Chanukah celebrating ideas or experiences. Happy Chanukah to all of you.

Chanukah is a good reason for having a class party. Kids love to celebrate and the class is a perfect time to bring in holiday cheer. After you already pre taught them about the holiday using the former article on Chanukah and kids already did some activities on the holiday, you are ready to prepare the party. You might want to share some Chanukah recipes for potato pancakes and some quick doughnuts.

Article Source:
http://newteachersupport.suite101.com/article.cfm/chanukah_celebration_ideas

As known to all, young and old, Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days, commencing on the 25th day of the month of Kislev, to commemorate the victory of the Jews over the Hellenist Syrians in 165 BCE.

Following the victory, the Maccabees entered the holy temple in attempt to cleanse it from the damage the Syrian invaders have done. They searched and searched but could not find enough undefiled oil with which they would light the lamps. However, they finally came across one small cruse of oil which would have normally lasted only one evening. Miraculously, this small amount of oil kept the temple lights burning for all eight nights until new oil fit for the temple use can be obtained.  This is the miracle we commemorate today by the kindling of the Hanukkah Lights.

Hanukkah, the festival of lights, begins this year, 2007 at sundown on December 4. With blessings, games and festive foods, Hanukkah is celebrated in triumph by all.

The Menorah
From the age of just three, every child can tell you enthusiastically why we light a menorah on this holiday. The menorah, a candle stand with nine branches, eight-which are the same height, and one taller one in the center or back is the most important Hanukkah tradition. The menorah symbolizes the burning light of the temple, as well as marking the eight days the candles burned, and therefore each evening of Hanukkah one more candle is lit with a special blessing.

The Dreidel
Ask any age child on the street what his favorite part of Hanukkah is and he’s sure to answer you: The dreidel game. Although it is a long favorite Hanukkah toy it actually once had a serious purpose. Whrn the Syrians forbid the Jews to learn Torah, they obviously did not obey, and when the Syrians came to spy on them, the quickly hid their holy books and took out their spinning tops-dreidlach which they always kept on hand and pretended that they had only been playing. Today it is a great idea to play with the children to commemorate the great miracle.

Hanukkah Foods
Get ready for another exciting part of this high holiday! In remembrance of the oil that burned in the temple, many Hanukkah foods are cooked in oil. Most popular today is latkes, potato pancakes, doughnuts and many more.

Celebrate Hanukkah with style! Zion Judaica carries a magnificent selection of exciting products for the upcoming Hanukkah Holiday. At Zion Judaica, where quality and service matter, we bring you the best in Chanukah Menorahs, draydels, Hanukkah gifts, and much more. We are pleased to import the very best from around the world to please you, our dear customer however much we can. With a massive selection like ours, we guarantee, you’ll be happy you decided on us.

Our Chanukah Menorahs, made exclusively to fit every taste and budget, is sure to highly impress you. Treat yourself and your kids with a beautiful new piece of silver. For the real young ones make this mitzvah an exciting one by purchasing one of our adorable sculptured menorahs which is sure to get your child up in up in the clouds with excitement! Now don’t forget the draydel game your kids are anticipating with much enthusiasm. So don’t disappoint them, just be sure to browse through our thrilling collection and variety of different draydels, and treat them one night to a major surprise Dreidel game!!

For many more exciting Hanukkah products, browse our website and you’ll be surprised!

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