Eight Candles | Eight Rituals
Something Special to Do for Each Chanukah Night
By Rabbi Paul J. Kipnes, Congregation Or Ami, Calabasas, CA
|
1 |
FIRST CANDLE: Before lighting candles, invite everyone to help recall what they remember about the story of the Maccabees and Chanukah. Following the retelling, challenge family members to find a more complete version of the story to tell in the next few days (look on the web, ask teachers or rabbi, or check out the library)
|
2 |
SECOND CANDLE: Buy a Chanukah book from the local bookstore (and read it) to accomplish three things: (a) expand your Jewish library, (b) encourage the bookstore to expand its Chanukah offerings, and (c) ensure that you read the story of the Maccabees.
|
3 |
THIRD CANDLE: Create a short skit re-enacting a part of the Chanukah story. Retelling the story of the Maccabees is a central part of the Chanukah ritual.
|
4 |
FOURTH CANDLE: Come to Congregation Or Ami’s Chanukah Services (check the calendar for the service date and time. Bring friends, a chanukiah and candles, and your entries into the Creative Chanukiah Making Contest and the Luscious Latke Taste-Off. Join Rabbi Paul Kipnes and Cantor Doug Cotler as we celebrate our festival of freedom.
|
5 |
FIFTH CANDLE: Play the dreidle game by having all the players ante up into a common pot, using M&M’s, pennies or peanuts in the shell. Each player takes turns spinning the dreidle and winning or losing depends on what letter shows when the spinning stops! Nun stands for nothing; the player neither gives nor takes from the pot. Gimel stands for all; the play takes all the pot. Hey stands for half; the player takes half the pot. Shin stands for put in; the player adds one to the pot. (If the pot empties, each player antes up again.) Remember the letters stand for Nes Gadol Haya Sham, a Great Miracle Happened There.
|
6 |
SIXTH CANDLE: Designate this night for the children give Chanukah presents to parent(s). Set aside time earlier in the day for the child to make a present or a card.
|
7 |
SEVENTH CANDLE: Choose organizations that support freedom and/or the needy and as a family send donation checks to Tzedakah in honor of Religious Freedom.
|
8 |
EIGHTH CANDLE: As you end the holiday, have each family member recall the gifts (besides the presents they received for Chanukah) for which they are most thankful.