Hava Nedaber Ivrit: Celebrating Chanukah In Israel
Each month in this space,
L'Chayim will present a Hebrew
lesson entitled, "Hava Nedaber
Ivrit!" (Let's Speak Hebrew), whose
aim is to encourage further study of
Hebrew. The lesson will include a
brief story utilizing the Hebrew
words to be studied, a vocabulary
list with English translations and a
family activitiy which involves using
the new words. The lessons will be
prepared by Nira Lev, associate
professor of Hebrew language and
literature at the Midrasha College of
Jewish Studies. Mrs. Lev also
teaches Hebrew language and
literature at the Community Jewish
High School at the United Hebrew
Schools.
Following is this month's
lesson:
David oleh chadash from
Roosia. Hoo nirgash to celebrate
his first Chanukah in Yisrael. Hoo
ohev to hear the story of Chanukah.
Hoo ohev to hear about Ha-
Macabeem ha-geeboreem who
fought against ha-melech Antiochus
when he tried to make Jews give up
the practice of Judaism. David ohev
6t,
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QC Chanukah Ritual
Once Forbidden
According to the Scroll of the
Hasmoneans, the Syrian-Greek ruler
Antiochus Epiphanes issued
decrees that forbade the
observance of circumcision, the
Sabbath and the holidays.
Discuss why the Greeks
specifically chose each of these
three decrees. What were their
ultimate aims in instituting these
anti-Jewish laws?
The Talmud in Tractate Shabbat
describes three different practices
for the displaying of the lit
Chanukah lights. The first practice
suggests placing the chanukiah
outside the house in the doorway
opposite the mezuzah. The second
allows placing the chanukiah in the
window facing the street if one lives
in a highrise or the front of the
house is inaccessible. The third
practice requires that if there is a
potential danger, one should display
the chanukiah inside the home on a
table.
What is your family practice? Is
your family consistent with the
suggestions of the Talmud?
—Submitted by
Dr. Mark Smiley,
Principal, Hillel Day School
L-8
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1988
leekroh about the neetzachon of
Yehuda Ha-Macabee from the town
of Modi'in, who, together with a
small group of lochameem
succeeded in driving the Syrians
out.
David margish proud of and
inspired by this neetzachon of
me'ateem neged rabeem by the
gvoora, emunah and mesirut-ha-
nefesh of the Macabeem. Like all
of his friends, David ohev to learn
the story about pach ha-shemen.
When the Macabeem came to Belt
Ha-mikdash, they found only one
pach shemen which lay untouched
and undefiled. This pach shemen
contained sufficient shemen for
yom echad. However, a ness
occurred and it lasted shmona
yamim. Since then Chanukah is
celebrated for shmona yamim.
These eight days are filled with
simcha and fun for David and his
mishpacha. The children enjoy not
only the vacation from school, but
also the different minhageem of
Chanukah. This is a family holiday.
Every evening, the mishpacha
gathers for Hadlakat ha-nerot. They
sing Chanukah songs and play with
the svivon. They all enjoy the
preparation of the levivot and the
soofganee-yot, the traditional
Chanukah foods.
Vocabulary (Meelon)
oleh
an immigrant to Israel
chadash
new
oleh chadash
a new immigrant
Roosia
Russia
hoo
he
nirgash
excited
ohev
loves, likes
ha-Maccabeem
the Maccabees
geebor
a hero, a brave person
geeboreem
heroes, brave people
Ha-geeboreem
the brave
ha-melech
the king
leekroh
to read
neetzachon
victory
Yehuda Ha-Maccabee
Judah the
Maccabee
lochameem
fighters
lochem
a fighter
margish
feels
me'ateem
few
rabeem
many
neged
against
me'ateem neged rabeem
few
against many
gvoora
courage, bravery
emunah
faith, belief
mesirut nefesh dedicatio'n, devotion
mesirut ha-nefesh the dedication
pach
a cruse, a flask
shemen
oil
pach ha-shemen
the cruse of oil
Beit Ha-mikdash
the Temple
yom echad
one day
ness
a miracle
shmona yamim
eight days
yom
a day
yamim
days
simcha
joy, happiness
mishpacha
family
minhageem
customs
minhag
custom
hadlakatnerot
lighting candles
hadlakat ha-nerot
the lighting
of the candles
svivon
dreidel
levivot
latkes
leviva
a Iatke
soofganeeyot
doughnuts (jelly)
soofganeeya
a doughnut