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Chanukah
Hints for Families with Young Children
by Noam Zion and Shira Ackerman-Simchovitch
From
"A Different Light: The Chanukkah Book of
Celebration"
Edited by Noam Zion and Barbara Spectre
Parents are the "high priests" of informal
Jewish family education and their homes are the "temples"
for a wealth of learning experiences. With an appropriate
vision and plenty of ideas..." 
The
Meaning of Hanukkah
From
"Becoming A Jewish Parent" by Daniel Gordis
. Three Rivers Press N.Y. 1999
What
is Hanukkah? It is, in fact, a victory celebration.
But as our kids get older, particularly as they enter
their teen years and become somewhat more cynical,
we should point out that it’s a very strange
victory celebration. For even though Hanukkah originally
celebrated a stunning military victory, the rabbis
of the Talmud were never entirely comfortable with
the holiday’s theme.
Although the
story of Hanukkah took place a long time ago you can still visit
the places where the Maccabees lived. The events in the Hanukkah
story took place in the mountains and valleys around Jerusalem.
When you come
to Israel you can enjoy a visit to these special places. Until then,
you can take a virtual Hasmonean walk
The "Amirim" Class , Ganei Hayim, Jerusalem. A
few words about myself:
My name is Linda Pereg. I've been working with young
children for the last 24 years. I am a graduate of
the Efrata Teachers College in Jerusalem. I majored
in Jewish Studies. My specialties include the arts
and the design of educational space.
A few words about my gan
I work at the Reform Movements Early
Childhood Center in Jerusalem on the Hebrew Union
College campus. My group is one of four. I have ...
.
Much is to be learned
from Chanukkah activities taking place in ganim (nursery schools
and kindergartens) in Israel.
Enjoy these Chanukkah photos taken in three Israeli ganim.
Ilana's gan
Rachel's gan
Tiki's gan
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The
mid-winter holiday of Chanukah, which begins
on the 25th of Kislev, is an ancient religious-national
holiday which celebrates the victory of the
Maccabees (a family from the priestly tribe)
in 164 BCE over the Seleucid Greeks and their
cruel king Antiochus Epiphanes. A candelabrum
is lit for eight nights, in celebration of the
Maccabees' rededication of the defiled Holy
Temple, and in celebration of
freedom.
