Hanukkah Basics
"What does the word 'Hanukkah' mean?"
What is dedication?
"Who were the Maccabees fighting against?"
Who were the Syrian-Greeks?
"Why do we play dreidel during Hanukkah?"
What is to remember how Jews studied Torah in secret?
"Two miracles happened that made Hannukah possible. Can you name a modern miracle you’ve experienced?"
(Open-ended; encourage personal sharing!)
"How many nights is Hanukkah celebrated, and why?"
What is eight nights, to commemorate the miracle of the oil?
"What practices did the Greeks outlaw?"
What are studying Torah, observing Shabbat, and circumcision?
"Spin a dreidel. What do the letters on the dreidel stand for?"
What is 'A great miracle happened there'?
"The Maccabbess fought bravely for religious freedom from Antiochus the Wicked, who led the Syrian Greeks. Can you share an experience in which you had to stand up for your Jewish beliefs?
(Open-ended, encourage participants to share examples!)
"What is the Shamash, and what is its role?"
What is the helper candle used to light all others?
"What did the Maccabees find in the Temple?"
What is one jar of pure oil?
"Why do we eat fried foods like latkes and sufganiyot?"
What is to remember the miracle of the oil?
The most important mitzvah (good deed) of Hannukah is lighting the menorah. It is the sharing of light. "What Jewish value or message do you want to share, and how?"
(Open-ended; participants reflect on their values.)
"What miracle does Hanukkah celebrate?"
What is the oil that lasted eight days?
"Name a key leader of the Maccabees."
Who is Judah Maccabee?
"What is the difference between the dreidel in Israel and elsewhere?"
What is the Shin replaced with a Pei for 'here'?
The Syrian-Greek persecution was just one of many episodes of Jewish persecution throughout history. "Why do you think Jewish traditions have endured for thousands of years?"
(Open-ended; spark a discussion on resilience and faith.)
"What were the Maccabees fighting for?"
Group of Jewish fighters led by Judah Maccabee.Fighting for religious freedom--Greeks forced them to worship idols and pray to Greek gods
"How did Eleazar Maccabee tragically die?"
What is attempting to defeat an elephant in battle?
"Why is sharing light a key theme of Hanukkah?"
What is to inspire hope and connection through the menorah?
The sole purpose of the shamash candle is to kindle the other candles of the menorah. Who do you know who reminds you of the shamash candle?
(Open-ended; encourage personal sharing!)
"Name one parallel between the struggles of the Jewish and African-American communities and how these struggles have shaped their identities."
Both groups have faced systemic oppression, violence, and cultural erasure but have also shown remarkable resilience. These shared experiences create opportunities for empathy and mutual understanding.