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Hanukkah Facts & Worksheets

Hanukkah is the annual Jewish Festival of Lights that starts on the 25th day of Kislev.

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Hanukkah is the annual Jewish Festival of Lights that starts on the 25th day of Kislev, as per the Jewish calendar. The date varies every year according to the western calendar.

See the fact file below for more interesting Hanukkah facts or alternatively you can download our comprehensive worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment. 

Background:

  • It is an eight-day festival of religious observance by Jews across the world. Hanukkah celebrates the victory of Jewish troops led by Judah Maccabee over the Greek soldiers, the miracle of purified oil, which lit Menorah for eight days continuously, and the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.Hanukkah is spelled in several ways.
  • Some spell it “Chanukkah” and “Hanukah”, while the majority of people spell it “Hanukkah”. It is a Hebrew word which means dedication.

Hanukkah Observance:

  • Lighting of the Menorah is the main Hanukkah tradition. The Hanukkah candles are added onto the special candelabrum from right to left, but are lit only from left to right. According to Hanukkah tradition, the candles on the candelabrum should not go out until the end of the festival. It is also known as the Hanukiah. Traditionally, it is placed outside the door. In today’s practice, it is placed outside the window of Jewish homes.
  • Hanerot Halalu, an ancient Hanukkah song, is recited or sung while lighting the candles together with the Psalms of Praise known as Hallel and the passage “Al Hanissim.”
  • Traditional Hanukkah food is cooked during the festival. Oil is the key ingredient of the foods, which is a sign of tribute to the miracle of purified oil. In addition, families eat potato pancakes known as latkes and sweet jelly-filled donuts called as sufganiyot.
  • Children are encouraged to study the Torah in exchange for gifts and money. Furthermore, chocolate coins are given to children as gelt. Gelt is a Yiddish word for money.
  • A game called “dreidel” is a popular Hanukkah tradition. People play this game not as a form of gambling. Most people play this game with chocolate coins. Dreidel is a four-sided spinning toy with Hebrew letters on all sides. The fours letters are read as ‘Nas’, ‘Gadol’, ‘Hayah’ and ‘Sham’, which mean shin, gimel, lay, and nun.
  • The Scroll of Antiochus contained many legends about Hanukkah and was once read on the holiday.
  • In Germany, huge bonfires are lit during the last night of Hanukkah. People dance and sing around the fire until the small hours of the morning. While in Yemen, children do door-to-door collections of wicks for the Menorah.
  • The Hanukkah celebration is somewhat synonymous with Christmas, which is rooted in Jewish religious beliefs and are celebrated through family dinners, gift giving, and festivities.

Hanukkah Worksheets

This bundle includes 11 ready-to-use Hanukkah worksheets that are perfect for students to learn about Hanukkah which is the annual Jewish Festival of Lights that starts on the 25th day of Kislev as per the Jewish calendar. The date varies every year according to the western calendar

This download includes the following worksheets:

  • Hanukkah Facts
  • The Festival of Lights
  • All Jewish
  • Hanukkah Greeting
  • Hanukkah in Eight Days
  • Celebrating Holidays
  • What’s on the Menu?
  • Dreidel
  • Hanukkah Around the World
  • Crossword
  • Happy Hanukkah

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Link will appear as Hanukkah Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 25, 2022

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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