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, bct t czt w 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