Hanukkah, Oh, Hanukkah! (Part II)

We had a fun and exciting class on Sunday. We talked all about Hanukkah traditions. Your child came home with their very own dreidel (sevivon in Hebrew) kit with everything you need to bring the tradition of playing the dreidel game to your home. In case your instructions get lost here is a copy of the ones I sent home: 

How to Play Dreidel (Sevivon)

Playing with the dreidel is a traditional Hanukkah game played in Jewish homes all over the world, and rules may vary. Here's how to play the basic dreidel game:

1.      Any number of people can take part in this great game.

2.       Each player begins the game with an equal number of game pieces (about 10-15) such as pennies, nuts, chocolate chips, raisins, matchsticks, etc.

3.      At the beginning of each round, every participant puts one game piece into the center "pot." In addition, every time the pot is empty or has only one game piece left, every player should put one in the pot.

4.      Every time it's your turn, spin the dreidel once. Depending on the outcome, you give or get game pieces from the pot:

   a)      Nun means "nisht" or "nothing" [in Yiddish]. The player does nothing.
   b)      Gimmel  means "gantz" or "everything" [in Yiddish].  Player gets everything in the pot.
   c)      Hey means "halb" or "half" [in Yiddish]. The player gets half of the pot. (If there is an odd number of pieces in the pot, the player takes half of the total plus one).
   d)      Shin (outside of Israel) means "shtel" or "put in" [in Yiddish]. Peh (in Israel) means "pay." The player adds a game piece to the pot.

5.      If you find that you have no game pieces left, you are either "out" or may ask a fellow player for a "loan."

6.      When one person has won everything, that round of the game is over!

(adapted from My Jewish Learning)

Here are some fun photos of the kids with their dreidel kits: 

In honor of winter break I thought I would take a break from my usual array of postings and stick to the fun and light stuff this week. Think of it as my Hanukkah present to you. In fact, I think I will leave you with EIGHT fun hanukkah links to play with over break. 

Happy Hankkah:

1. A couple of you requested the link for the Maccabeats video that was shown during Tefillah on Sunday  . . .  They are an a capella  group from Yeshiva University. 

2. They have a new Hanukkah video this year. It is sweet, but I don't like it as much. But you decide. 

 3. The Dreidel kits we made in class this week came from a great listing a Hanukkah crafts that I found here: 

Babble: 25 Hanukkah Crafts

4. This is an easy latke recipe that is kid friendly and uses frozen hashbrowns.I used it my kindergarten class. It is totally cheating but great for beginners, picky eaters or those of us who don't have time to make latkes from scratch. 

Super Easy Kid Friendly Latke Recipe:

1 package frozen shredded hash browns (30oz), defrosted

1 cup diced onion (optional)

3 eggs

1 teaspoon sea salt (to taste)

2-4 tablespoons flour

Vegetable oil

In a large mixing bowl, combine potatoes, onions, eggs, salt and flour.

Take a golf ball size amount of batter and pat until mostly flat, repeat.

Fry latkes in a hot frying pan with vegetable oil until golden brown on each side.

Place done latkes on paper towel to drain. Then serve with apple sauce or sour cream.

5. Want to try something different in the Latke department this year? This website has some great recipes including "green latkes" and "apple pear latkes". Check out the whole list at Kveller.com: Not Your Mama's Latkes 

6. Our youngest class members and some of our younger siblings might really enjoy this cuteness (Baby Bear playing Dreidel)

7. If you haven't yet discovered Oy Songs!  check it out. It is the Jewish equivalent of itunes. Right now, in the lower left hand corner they have a special Hanukkah section with tons of great Hanukkah songs to buy for your ipod or computer.

8. I thought for my last little Hanukkah web "gift" I'd leave you with some more fabulous photos of your awesome kids. Enjoy!

(for the life of me I cannot get these last two to rotate, but they were too cute to pass up. I swear that sign was all Leo's idea!) 

I will be taking a break from posting over break. We will see you and your back on Sunday Jan 8th for a family day. 

Have a great vacation and happy new year!!

-Suzan

Hanukkah, Oh, Hanukkah!

Wow! Can you believe that we are already starting to talk about Hanukkah? Yup, it is that time of year again. Even Target is on board this year with a great selection of Hanukkah decorations and gifts (at least at my Target in Emeryville)

(I Love this plate I saw there last week)

But on a more serious note, Hanukkah can be an overwhelming time for families. It can bring up feelings for kids and parents alike. Sometimes we feel left out, or like we have to compete with Christmas. In interfaith families it can be hard to juggle different traditions and emotions. This week and next week I will try to offer you some fun and interesting resources to help you sort it all out. . . though this is only the beginning there is so much out there  . . .so lets start at the beginning.

If you need help with the basics, such as the meaning of Hanukkah or the blessings, start here:
Interfaith Family: Guide to Hanukkah 

and there is even a great video about how to light the Hanukkah candles:

For those who are looking how to bring a little more meaning to Hanukkah gift giving here is a great article about how to decrease some of materialism of Hanukkah while still having fun: 


Ritual Well: Hanukkah Gifts


In this article Rabbi Rona Shapiro of Rituwell offers the following ideas for gift giving:

• Big Gift Night (when each child gets one big gift from us)
• Grandparent Night (when they open gifts from their grandparents)
• Book Night ( a book from us)
• Music Night (when we sing, sometimes with friends)
• Cooking Night (when we make latkes and enjoy them with friends)
• Tzedakah Night (when we wrap presents to deliver to a children's hospital or other charity)
• Homemade Gifts (lots are drawn before Chanukah and each member of the family makes a gift for someone else).

Obviously, there is room to do lots more here. Each year before Chanukah I draw up a list of which night will be what and post it on the refrigerator, so everyone knows what to expect."

Here is article about "The December Dilemma" and how Hanukkah's proximity to Christmas has influenced how it is received and celebrated. Great food for thought and really interesting reading. 

My Jewish Learning: December Dilemma 

 


And lastly, so you have plenty time to check them out for Isaiah's Library or your local library or to order online in time for gift giving, here are a couple of my favorite Hanukkah books for young kids:

Enjoy! I'm looking forward to seeing you all this Sunday 12/4 for a Family Day!!
-Suzan