Chanukah 5781
The Basic Story
Nearly 2,200 years ago, there was a Greek-Syrian ruler named Antiochus IV who tried to force Greek culture upon peoples in his territory. Jews in Judea—now Israel—were forbidden their most important religious practices as well as study of the Torah. Although vastly outnumbered, religious Jews in the region took up arms to protect their community and their religion. Led by Mattathias the Hasmonean, and later his son Judah the Maccabee, the rebel armies became known as the Maccabees.
After three years of fighting, in the year 3597, or about 165 BCE, the Maccabees victoriously reclaimed the temple on Jerusalem's Mount Moriah. Next they prepared the temple for rededication—in Hebrew, Chanukah means “dedication.” In the temple they found only enough purified oil to kindle the temple light for a single day. But miraculously, the light continued to burn for eight days.
The Blessings
Songs of Chanukah!
Ma'oz Tzur
Words by Mordechai
13th century poet
Ma-oz tsur y’shu-ati,|
l’cha na-eh l’shabei-ach
Ti-kon beit t’filati
v’sham toda n’zabeiach
L’eit tachin mat-beiach
mi’tzar ham’na-bei-ach
Az egmor b’shir mizmor
Chanukat ha-miz-beiach (2x)
Rock of ages, let our song
praise your saving power.
You amidst the raging foes
were our shelt’ring tower.
Furious they assailed us, but
your arm availed us.
And your word broke their sword
when our own strength failed us (2x)
Ocho Kandelikas
Ladino - by Flory Jagoda
1/ Chanukah linda sta aki,
ocho kandelas para mi (2x)
Chorus:
O ---
una kandelika,
dos kandelikas,
tres kandelikas,
kuatro kandelikas
sintyu kandelikas,
sej kandelikas,
siete kandelikas,
ocho kandelas para mi!
2/ Muchas fiestas vo fazer,
kon alegriyas y plazer (2x)
Chorus
3/ Los pastelikos vo kumer,
kon almendrikas y la myel (2x)
Chorus
O Chanukah O Chanukah
O Chanukah O Chanukah,
Come light the menorah
Let’s have a party,
we’ll all dance the hora
Gather round the table,
we’ll give you a treat
Dreydels to play with
and latkes to eat
And while we are playing,
the candles are burning low
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
S'vivon
Words: L. Kipnes
S’vivon, sov sov sov!
Chanukah hu chag tov.
Chanukah hu chag tov.
S’vivon sov sov sov!
Chag simcha hu la-am,
Nes, Gadol, Haya, Sham
Nes, Gadol, Haya, Sham,
Chag simcha hu la-am
Thursday, December 10 - First Night,
Light the Shamash plus One Candle
Join Michael Sigman and Stacey F.
for Our Gift Shop Sale
with Chanukah Specials - 6:00pm
Thank You for Attending
Friday, December 11 - Second Night,
Light the Shamash plus Two Candles
New Member Mingle at 7:15pm;
2nd Friday Shabbat at 8:00pm
Saturday, December 12 - Third Night,
Light the Shamash plus Three Candles
Celebrate Chanukah and Havdalah
with Rabbi Michael and the Siegel JCC
7:00pm
Sunday, December 13 - Fourth Night,
Light the Shamash plus Four Candles
Secret Sisters
Chanukah Gathering
7:00pm
Monday, December 14 - Fifth Night,
Light the Shamash plus Five Candles
Sufganiyot and Sweet Treats
with Hershey Schloss
Sharing the sweetness of
Chanukah with members of the
JCC Senior Center,
Clients of JFS, and
Residents of Kutz and Lodge Lane
6:00pm
Tuesday, December 15 - Sixth Night,
Light the Shamash plus Six Candles
Sharon Rosengarten along with
the Hebrew school, will lead us
in the Chanukah prayers
followed by a sing-along with
Shari and Seth Walter.
6:00pm
Wednesday, December 16 - Seventh Night,
Light the Shamash plus Seven Candles
BBYO with Chapter Presidents
Lauren Berkowitz (BBG) and
Jack Berkowitz (AZA)
and Jewpardy
6:00pm
Thursday, December 17 - Eighth Night,
Light the Shamash plus Eight Candles
Tikkun Olam with
the Glazier Family and
Stacey F.
6:00pm
Derech's Light into Darkness Chanukah Program
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
7:00pm - 8:00pm
Featuring New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer,
the work of Friendship House, and Candlelighting.
The theme is working together to meet the real
challenges of our larger community. After registering,
you will receive a confirmation email with link and
instructions for joining program.