Sheilah Kaufman: Hi! I am Sheilah Kaufman and today we are going to learn about
Hanukkah. Now we are going to learn about the history of Hanukkah.
Over 2000 years ago, the Syrian king Antiochus sized Jerusalem and
desecrated the temple there by letting swine rambles and trying to get Jews
to worship Greek idols. After a successful revolt against the Syrian king
by the High Priest, Mattathias and his five sons, the temple was recaptured
and rededicated. During the cleansing for the re-dedication, only one small
cruse of oil was found enough for just one day. The miracle that happened
at Hanukkah was the one days' worth of oil lasted for eight while the priest
were able to prepare the new holy oil needed in the temple. It was during
this time the Judith, a beautiful widow went to one of the Syrian Generals
and invited him to dinner. When he came, she plied him salty cheese
dishes and when he fell asleep drunk, she took his sword and beheaded
him and the remainder of his army fled. The Maccabees were very
inspired by Judith and in recent years more and more people have added
eating cheese dishes, which we are going to make one, to their Hanukkah
festivities. So this day Hanukkah is celebrated by lighting the Menorah,
one candle for each of the eight days by eating foods cooked in oil,
although back down it was olive oil and by exchanging gifts, singing
songs, and playing games. If you would like to learn more about
Hanukkah, in many areas we will send you, for free, this wonderful
brochure with some history, recipes, candle lighting times, and the proper
blessings to say over the candles, and the proper way to light the candles.
So that's a little bit of history about Hanukkah. Now we are going to learn
about Menorahs and the proper lighting of Menorahs to celebrate this
wonderful festival.
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