Y3 Judaism

Term 1: Chanukah

חנוכה is an eight-day Jewish holiday in the month of Kislev. It commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. Jewish people light candles on a nine-branched Chanukiah - one extra candle on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the last night. The extra light is called a shamash and is usually above or below the rest. Fried food Like doughnuts and latkes (fried potato pancakes) remind Jewish people of the miracle of the oil and the candles that burned for eight days after the Maccabees won back the temple in Jerusalem. Children play traditional dreidle games and exchange gifts.

The story of Chanukkah is an important one for Jewish people because it tells how the Jewish people kept their faith in very difficult times. Chanukah usually falls in December. In Liverpool, there is a community Chanukah lighting event on St George’s Plaza every year!

Term 2: Symbols

Princes Rd Synagogue