Hanukkah Learning Packet

Presenting the Congregation B’nai Sholom/ Fair Lawn Jewish Center Hanukkah Learning Packet.  The contents include:

1) 2025/5786 Dates For Hanukkah

2) Capsule Summary Of The Story/History Of Hanukkah

3) Hanukkah Blessings (Hebrew & Transliteration) With Instructions For Lighting The Candles

4)  The Most “Up-To-Date” Rules For Playing Dreidl

5)  The “Top Six” Songs Of Hanukkah

Take a moment to print a copy of the Hanukkah packet.  It is meant to improve your understanding and appreciation of the holiday of Hanukkah.  If you have any questions,  please don’t hesitate to call or e-mail.

When Is Hanukkah Celebrated This Year?

The 1^st candle of Hanukkah is lit on Sunday, December 14, 2025 after sundown, with the final (8^th) candle lit on Sunday evening, December 21, 2025.

Candle Lighting Events At CBS/FLJC

Sunday Evening, Dec. 14, 7:30 pm-Evening Minyan followed by the lighting of the CBS/FLJC Outdoor Menorah for the 1st Night

Monday evening, Dec. 15, 6:30 pm-CBS/FLJC “ZOOM” congregational candle lighting for the 2nd Night

Tuesday evening, Dec. 16, 6:30 pm-CBS/FLJC “ZOOM” congregational candle lighting for the 3rd Night

Wednesday evening, Dec. 17, 6:30 pm-CBS/FLJC candle lighting at the Fair Lawn City Hall (8-01 Fair Lawn Ave) for the 4th Night

Thursday evening, Dec. 18, 6:30 pm-CBS/FLJC “ZOOM” congregational candle lighting for the 5th Night

Saturday evening, December 20, 6:00 pm-“Hanukkah/Pajamakah” with Havdalah, light meal, & candle lighting for the 7th Night (Reservations required)

Sunday evening, December 21, 6:30 pm-CBS/FLJC “ZOOM” congregational candle lighting for the 8th Night

Capsule Summary Of The Story Of Hanukkah

As with other festivals in the Jewish year, there is a dual origin to Hanukkah-seasonal and historical.  The history of Hanukkah is well known.  The Maccabee family, headed by the father Mattathias and son Judah, led a revolt/civil war against the occupying Syrian forces and the assimilated Temple leadership in Jerusalem around the year 164 BCE.  They succeeded in forcing the Syrians to make peace and give them control of Jerusalem and its surrounding environs.  The Maccabees celebrated the victory with the inaugural celebration of Hanukkah.  Each subsequent year, the holiday was celebrated as a tribute to the Maccabean ruler in power and the great victory of his ancestors.  By the 1st century of the Common Era, the rabbis of the Talmud had grown weary of this celebration honoring descendants of the original Maccabees, many of whom were not worthy of the tribute. Nonetheless, the holiday had found appeal among the people.  Rather than abandon the celebration, the ancient rabbis introduced the “miracle of the oil” attempting to avert attention from the Maccabees.

Not only were the rabbis concerned about paying tribute to less-than-worthy descendants, they were also opposed to promoting the miracle of  “a few prevailing against the many”.  “Miracles,” such as this, encouraged zealotry in the place of reason and sensible decision.

In our day, we have come to understand the two stories of Hanukkah as one:  The Maccabees gloriously re-conquered the Temple and discovered the single vile of oil that burned for eight days!

There is also a seasonal dimension to the holiday.  Long before the Maccabees, there was some form of established winter festival at this time of the year.  The festival had to do with the gradual increase in daylight after the ominous, steadily darkening days of late autumn.  A number of legends connect Hanukkah with this winter solstice celebration.  Another motif had to do with the kindling of fire, reported as an ancient Jewish custom at the dedication of the Temple altar.  A third motif related to the festival of Sukkot.  Some historians believe the Maccabees were engaged in warfare during Sukkot, and thus unable to celebrate the holiday at its proper time.  Therefore, when they concluded their victory on the 25th of Kislev in 164 BCE, the first thing they did was celebrate Sukkot for eight days.  In subsequent years, this winter celebration became known as Hanukkah.

The Art Of Lighting Hanukkah Candles

This year the first candle of Hanukah is lit on Sunday evening, December 14, 2025  The menorah should be put in a place where it is visible to a passerby (like near a window).  The mitzvah of Hanukah is to “publicize” the miracle!

When lighting the Hanukiyah (menorah), the 1st candle is placed in the right side of the menorah (as it faces the one lighting the candles).  On each subsequent evening, the candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but are lit from left to right (the newest candle being lit first).

The following blessings are recited when lighting the Hanukkah menorah.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר

ֹשֶל חֲנֻכָּה.

Baruch ata adonai eloheinu melech ha’olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotov v’tzivanu l’hadleek ner shel Hanukkah

(Blessed are you O Lord our God, King of the World who has sanctified us by the mitzvot and commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah)

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁעָשָֹה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֶם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶה.

Baruch ata adonai eloheinu melech ha’olam, sh’asa nee’seem la’avoteinu v’emoteinu ba’yameem ha’hem baz’man ha’zeh

(Blessed are you O Lord our God, King of the World who created miracles for our ancestors in their day at this time of year)

On the 1st night only, the following blessing is added:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה.

Baruch ata adonai eloheinu melech ha’olam, she’he’heyanu v’kee’yemanu v’hee’geyanu la’zman ha’zeh

(Blessed are you O Lord our God, King of the World who has kept us in life, sustained us, and allowed us to celebrate this wonderful moment.

The “Official” Rules For Playing Dreidl

In addition to the lighting of an eight-branched menorah, a game of chance developed in Eastern Europe known as dreidl-a derivative of a German gambling game.  The Hebrew word for dreidl is Sivivon.  It is played with a four-sided top.  Each side has a letter inscribed on it: nun, gimel, hay, and shin.  These are the first letters in the Hebrew phrase “a great miracle happened there (in Jerusalem).”  In gematria (Hebrew numerology), the numerical value of nun (50), gimel (3), hay (5), and shin (300) is 358, which is the same numerical value of the Hebrew word  (“Mashiah”, or Messiah).  We hope the celebration of Hanukkah brings us closer to the Messianic era!

Here’s how to play the basic dreidl game:

1. Any number of people can take part in this great game.

2. Each player begins the game with an equal number of game pieces (about 10-15) such as pennies, nuts, chocolate chips, raisins, matchsticks, etc.

3. At the beginning of each round, every participant puts one game piece into the center “pot.” In addition, every time the pot is empty or has only one game piece left, every player should put one in the pot.

4. Every time it’s your turn, spin the dreidel once. Depending on the outcome, you give or get game pieces from the pot:

a) Nun means “nisht” or “nothing” [in Yiddish]. The player does nothing.

b) Gimmel  means “gantz” or “everything” [in Yiddish]. The player gets everything in the pot.

c) Hey means “halb” or “half” [in Yiddish]. The player gets half of the pot. (If there is an odd number of pieces in the pot, the player takes half of the total plus one).

d) Shin (outside of Israel) means “shtel” or “put in” [in Yiddish]. The player adds a game piece to the pot.

5. If you find that you have no game pieces left, you are either “out” or may ask a fellow player for a “loan.”

6. When one person has won everything, that round of the game is over!

And What Would Hanukkah Be Without Song?

Maoz Tzur (Rock Of Ages)
Maoz tzur yeshua-ti
Lecha na-eh li-sha-beyach
Tikone bais ti-fee-lati
Vi-sham todah ni-za-beyach.
Li-ate ta-chin mat-beyach
Mee-tzar ham-na-beyach
Az eg-more vi-sheer meez-mor
Chanukat ha-meez-beyach
Az eg-more vi-sheer meez-mor
Chanukat ha-meez-beyach.

Sivivon, sov, sov, sov
Sivivon, sov, sov, sov
Chanuka, hu chag tov
Chanuka, hu chag tov

 
Sivivon, sov, sov, sov!
Chag simcha hu la-am
Nes gadol haya sham
Nes gadol haya sham
Chag simcha hu la-am.

Chanuka, Chanuka
Chanuka, Chanuka
Chag yafeh kol kach
Ohr chaviv, mi-saviv
Gil li-yeled rach.

Chanuka, Chanuka
Sivivon, sov, sov
Sov, sov, sov!
Sov, sov, sov!
Ma nayim vi-tov.

Chanuka, oh Chanuka
Chanuka, Oh Chanuka, come light the Menorah
Let’s have a party, we’ll all dance the hora
Gather round the table, we’ll all have a treat
Sivivon to play with, and latkes to eat.
And while we are playing
The candles are burning bright
One for each night, they shed a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago.
One for each night, they shed a sweet light
To remind us of days long ago.

Mi Yemalel
Mi ye-ma-lel g’vu-rot Yisrael otan me yim-neh
Hen b’chol dor ya’kum ha’gibor go’el ha’am
 

Sh’ma! Ba ya’mim ha’hem baz’man ha’zeh
Macabi mo’she’a oo’fodeh
uv’yamenu kol am Yisrael
Yitabed ya’kum le’he’gael

Who can retell the things that befell us?
Who can count them?
In every age a hero or sage came to our aid.

Hark! In the days of yore in Israel’s ancient land
Brave Maccabee led the faithful band.
But now all Israel must as one arise.
Redeem itself through deed and sacrifice.

I Have a Little Dreidl
I have a little dreidel
I made it out of clay
And when it’s dry and ready
Then dreidel I shall play!

(Chorus)
Oh dreidl, dreidl, dreidl
I made it out of clay
And when it’s dry and ready
Then dreidel I shall play!
It has a lovely body
With legs so short and thin
And when my dreidl’s tired
It drops and then I win!

 
(Chorus)

 
My dreidl’s always playful
It loves to dance and spin
A happy game of dreidel
Come play now, let’s begin!

(Chorus)

Hag Hanukkah Samayach! May you enjoy of happy and fulfilling Festival Of Light!

Rabbi Howard Siegel