Light Over Darkness

Continued from Page L-1

Chanukah Stumpers

victory. Consequently, December
became the month of lights!

1. When did the Chanukah story occur?
2. How many sons did Matithias have? What were their names?
3. What are two meanings for the word Maccabee?
4. What are the two miracles of Chanukah?
5. How many candles will be used during the course of the entire
holiday of Chanukah?
6. How many minutes, minimally, must the candles burn? How many
minutes, minimally, must the candles burn on Friday night of
Chanukah?
7. How many blessings are recited the first night of Chanukah? How
many the remaining nights?
8. Why do we light one candle the first night, two the second, etc. and
not eight the first night, seven the second, etc.?
9. Judah found enough oil for one day. Therefore, the miracle of oil
was only for seven days. Why do we then celebrate eight days of
Chanukah and not seven?
10. Where should the Chanukah menorah be lit? Why?
11. When should the menorah be lit?
12. What is a major halachic difference between Shabbat candles and
Chanukah candles?
13. Why were children traditionally given Chanukah gelt?
14. Why do we eat latkes and/or donuts?
15. Why do we play with a sivivon (dreidel)?
16. If you find a sivivon with Hebrew letters nun, gimel, hey and pey
(instead of shin), what do you know about it?
17. What does the name Chanukah mean?

Now, when Judaism and the
daughter religion Christianity
stepped onto the world stage, this
primitive practice had to be taken
into consideration. Both religions
wisely realized that this ancient
pagan practice, could not be entirely
abolished. And so they took that
pagan custom of kindling lights, but
they invested it with a new and
spiritual interpretation. Jews said:
"Let these candles remind us of the
valiant Maccabees. Let us be
people of good courage." Christians
said: "Let these candles remind us
of the birth of our Saviour. Let us be
people of good will."
What a marvelous message is
to be found in these two traditions.

18. What is the name given the last day of Chanukah? Why?
These Chanukah stompers were contributed by Flo Ziffer of Akiva
Hebrew Day School.

We are living today in a small world
— a world made small by our
inventive technological genius. And
in a small world, we cannot afford
the luxury of small minds.
At a time when so many lights
are being extinguished all over the
world, it devolves upon all people of
good will to build bridges of
understanding. Let others practice
brutality; let us practice
brotherhood. Let others preach
hatred; let us preach hope.
"Hope that the time is nearing,
which will see,
all men free,
tyrants disappearing."
Then, and only then, will peace
reign throughout the world, for "all
nations will walk in the light of the
Lord."

Chanukah Anagram

Complete each sentence below. One letter goes in each blank.
Then put the letters on the corresponding numbered blanks at the
bottom of the menorah. A special Chanukah message will appear.

We signed our names on the Chanukah card with a

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Let's give a

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slippers. Lets play a

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He

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Chanukah

Following are questions about
Chanukah and about Parshat
Vayeshev, the Torah portion for this
Shabbat:
Chanukah (Dedication Day) is
the time when we celebrate the
rededication of the Temple by the
victorious Maccabees in the
struggle against the Syrians and the
Greeks who tried to suppress our
religious beliefs.
— What is the central theme of
Chanukah?
— How can we compare some
aspects of the American struggle for

THE JEWISH NEWS

20300 Civic Center Drive
Suite 240
Southfield, Michigan 48076
December 11, 1987

Associate Publisher Arthur M. Horwitz
News Editor Heidi Press
Jewish Experiences for Families
Advisor Harlene W. Appleman

L-2

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1987

9

One of her Chanukah presents was a

(See Page 11 for Answers)

w

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for the winner of the dreidel game. Latkes are a special Chanukah

5

independence with the holiday of
Chanukah?
— Can we relate the victory of
the few over the many as described
in the Books of the Maccabees, with
other victories of the Jewish people
in later generations?
The portion of the week,
Vayeshev, deals with Joseph, his
dreams, the jealousy of his brothers
that led to his being sold into
slavery in Egypt, and later on his
ability to interpret dreams that
raised him from the dungeons of
prison to the court of the Pharaoh
and becoming second to Pharaoh.
— Can you recall some of
Joseph's early dreams and their
meanings? (See Genesis 37:1-40:23)
— We all dream. Could our
dreams be interpreted?
— Could Joseph put his trust in
man or did he have to turn and put
his trust in God?

— Submitted by
Joseph A. Poisson,
Director of Education,
Temple Israel.

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of dreidel.

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the shamus in his right hand.

shamus lights the other candles.

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of