Dear Kitah Alef Families:
Today we began our study of Hanukkah or
Chanukah. There are two Hanukkah miracles: first, that a small band of Jews
defeated a mighty pagan empire, and second, that a small jar of oil could last
for eight days. We learned about eating
latkes and sufganiyot (Israeli donuts) because they are cooked in oil. We began to sing Hanukkah songs, like Dreidel
and Mattathias Bold. We went over the blessings and the proper way
to light the Hanukkiah, or Hanukkah menorah.
The first night, say three blessings, including
the shehecheyanu. The other nights, say
only the first two blessings. Candles
are placed in the Hanukkiah the way we write Hebrew, but are lit the way we read
English, the newest first.
STORY: We read
the book THE FIRST NIGHT OF HANUKKAH, which tells how we
celebrate the holiday. It reviewed the
story of the fight for religious freedom in detail--how Judah and the Maccabees
rededicated the Temple, how their victory over the Syrian-Greeks (led by King
Antiochus) saved Judaism. We saw how one
extended family celebrates with candles, food, dreidels, and gifts.
CRAFT: Our
project today is a gift for you—a Hanukkah magnet with a picture of your child
from the first day of class. You might
use it on your refrigerator to hold your child’s papers.
HEBREW: Our
Hebrew letter today is ×› “kaf,”
the first letter in “kippah,” “karpas,” and “kelev” (dog),
We look forward to seeing you learning with us next Sunday at the Hanukkah program
from 10:30-12 noon. We will learn more
about Hanukkah and make an oil lantern.
Shavua tov!
Esther
and Tzipporah (Judy and Cheryl)
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