Lesson video

Hello, my name is Mr. Womack, and I'm really excited to be working with you today.

I just have a feeling that we're going to do brilliantly.

Today's lesson comes from the unit Jews: how does remembering maintain Jewish identity? The lesson today is called The story of Hanukkah.

By the end of the lesson, you'll be able to retell the story of Hanukkah and explain how it is interpreted by different Jews.

The keywords today are: Hanukkah, which is a Jewish festival of light celebrated in autumn; oppressed, which means treated in a different way that is cruel or not fair; sacred, an object or place that is set apart to be holy; desecrate, to destroy the sacredness of an object or place; and finally, menorah, a seven-branched candle holder used as a symbol of Judaism.

We're going to revisit these keywords as we go through the work today.

So in the first part of the lesson, we're going to look at what story is told at Hanukkah, and in the second part of the lesson, we're going to look at how do Jews interpret the story of Hanukkah? And so we're going to start with, what story is told at Hanukkah? So have a look at this picture.

What can you see in that picture? Pause the video and think, what's in the picture? I wonder what you spotted.

Maybe you saw the presents at the front and maybe you thought to yourself, this might be a celebration.

Maybe you even saw the candle holder at the back and thought, I remember this from the keywords.

You might have noticed that it's a little different from the definition that we used at the beginning.

That's because this is a special menorah called a hanukkiah.

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that takes place every year.

It is known as the festival of lights.

The story associated with Hanukkah commemorates a historical event that took place in Jerusalem over 2000 years ago.

At the time, the Jewish people were oppressed and were not allowed to practise their religion in the way that was important to them.

The story of Hanukkah reminds Jews that sometimes they have to fight for their beliefs and stand up for their freedom to be Jewish.

So let's check how we're understanding with a quick question.

The story of Hanukkah remembers a time when A, Jews had religious freedom; B, Jews were not interested in religion; or C, Jews did not have religious freedom.

Pause the video and think, which one of these is the right option? So the right option is C.

The story of Hanukkah remembers a time when Jews did not have religious freedom.

Well done if you got that right.

So now let's learn about the story of Hanukkah.

Long, long ago, the land of Israel was ruled by a wicked king called Antiochus Epiphanes.

King Antiochus had many Jewish subjects.

These Jews had lived there peacefully for generations, living their lives according to Jewish custom and tradition.

They celebrated Jewish festivals and worshipped at the ancient temple in the city of Jerusalem.

The temple was the holiest of sacred places, the centre of Jewish life.

Life was good until one day everything changed.

King Antiochus decided that he did not want people to dress differently, worship differently, or eat differently.

Everyone should worship the same gods and follow Greek customs, he demanded.

Antiochus forbade the Jews from celebrating Shabbat and observing the festivals.

He also forbade them from reading or studying the Torah.

Many Jews were afraid for their lives and felt they had no choice but to follow the king's harsh new rules.

Some tried to carry on their Jewish traditions in secret at home.

Worst of all, King Antiochus forbade Jewish worship.

His soldiers marched into the holy temple.

They knocked over sacred objects and set up new golden statues of Greek gods.

They lit fires to honour their idols right in the heart of the Jewish sacred place.

Antiochus and his soldiers tried to make the Jewish people bow down to the idols instead of worshipping God in the temple.

So let's test our understanding with a true or false question.

Antiochus gave the Jews freedom to worship in their own way.

Pause the video and think, is this true or false, and why? The answer is false.

Antiochus tried to force the Jews to bow down to idols.

Jews are only allowed to bow down and worship God.

Well done if you got that one right.

Now back to the story.

But not everyone was willing to obey the king.

One group stood tall and said, "No, we will not give up our traditions.

We will continue to follow God's law and worship as we have done for many generations.

We will not bow down to idols.

We only worship God." This brave group was led by a man named Judah Maccabee.

He was tough, fearless, and determined to protect the Jewish way of life.

Compared to King Antiochus' mighty army, the Maccabees were small in number, but they had something much stronger: courage and faith.

They did not back down.

They fought bravely using clever tactics to outwit the king's powerful forces.

Despite the odds, the Maccabees won an amazing victory.

The king's army fled, and Judah Maccabee and his friends marched triumphantly into Jerusalem.

The holy temple was theirs again.

But when Judah Maccabee and the other freedom fighters saw the temple, their hearts sank.

It was a disaster.

The beautiful altar was broken, idols were everywhere, and sacred objects had been damaged.

Instead of giving up, they rolled up their sleeves and got to work.

The Maccabees tidied up the temple and rebuilt the altar.

They removed all the foreign idols and lovingly cleaned every inch of the temple.

After days of hard work, it was time to rededicate the sacred space and light the menorah, the lamp that symbolised God's eternal presence.

But there was a problem.

The Maccabees could only find one tiny jug of pure oil, just about enough to keep the menorah burning for a single day.

Still, they lit it, trusting that things would work out.

So let's check our understanding with a quick question.

The menorah in the temple symbolised, A, the presence of God; B, the Ten Commandments; or C, the freedom to worship.

Pause the video and think, which one of these is the correct answer? The correct answer is A.

The menorah in the temple symbolised the presence of God.

Well done if you managed to remember that that was what the menorah in the temple symbolised.

Let's get back to the story.

And then came the miracle.

The menorah did not burn for just one day or two or even three.

It burned for eight whole days and nights.

This gave just enough time for the people to make fresh oil to keep the menorah burning in future.

That is why Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah every year.

Jewish families around the world light candles for eight nights.

Every time they light the Hanukkah candles, they remember the courage of the Maccabees and the miracle of the oil.

They remember that even when things seem impossible, hope and determination can light up the darkest nights.

Well, what a fantastic story.

Let's keep learning and dig a little deeper.

Hanukkah means dedication.

The eight days of Hanukkah remind Jews of the rededication of the temple after it had been desecrated.

The oil lasted long enough for the temple menorah to stay illuminated for eight days.

The story of Judah Maccabee and the freedom fighters is a celebration of this miracle of the oil.

Jewish people believe this to be one of the greatest miracles in Jewish history.

Well, let's check our understanding again with a question.

What was the miracle of the oil? Is the answer A, the oil and the menorah was saved from Antiochus? Or B, the oil kept the menorah lit for eight days? Or C, the oil had been made in secret by Judah Maccabee? Pause the video and think, which one of these is the correct answer? So the correct answer is B.

The miracle of the oil is that the oil kept the menorah lit for eight days.

Well done if you got the correct answer.

It's time for a task now.

You need to use the pictures to retell the story of Hanukkah.

Try to use the keywords in your retelling.

The keywords are: oppressed, desecrate, sacred, and menorah.

Pause the video now whilst you complete this task.

I look forward to seeing what you've done.

Well done for completing that task.

You might have said something like this.

The wicked King Antiochus oppressed the Jews.

He stopped them from observing Shabbat or studying the Torah.

He forbade worship.

Judah Maccabee led a revolt against the king.

After winning a stunning victory, they found the temple had been desecrated.

The Maccabees cleared up the temple and found the menorah that symbolises God's presence.

There was only a small jug of sacred oil left to light the menorah.

Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days and nights.

This is the miracle of the oil.

Well done for working so hard to complete your work.

That brings us to the next part of our lesson, how did Jews interpret the story of Hanukkah? The symbol of the menorah can be seen in many places.

It is more than a decoration.

The Jewish temple menorah had seven branches.

So this sacred symbol links modern Jews to their ancestors in ancient times.

The nine-branched hanukkiah is the menorah most likely to be used in a modern Jewish home.

You might remember that from one of the picture tasks that we did at the start of this lesson.

So let's check our understanding with a true or false question.

True or false? A menorah is just a decorative candlestick.

Pause the video while you think, is the answer true or false, and why? The answer is false.

A menorah has a deep significance for Jews as a symbol of their beliefs.

Well done if you got that one right.

Here's Mahsa.

Mahsa has a Jewish worldview.

She attends a Sephardi synagogue.

Mahsa says, "I enjoy celebrating Hanukkah.

The daily lighting of candles reminds me that there is light and hope in the darkness of life.

My dad lights one candle on the menorah for each day of the festival.

When we get to the eighth day, all the candles are lit.

Then it is party time." Here's Daniel.

Daniel has a Jewish worldview.

He attends a progressive synagogue.

Daniel says, "At Hanukkah, we light our menorah like everyone else in the Jewish community.

I don't think it is the most important Jewish festival, though.

Hanukkah is not mentioned in the Torah, and it does not have a scroll to tell the story like the book of Esther at Purim." So let's check our understanding with a quick true or false question again.

True or false? Hanukkah is a major festival for Jews.

Pause the video now while you think, is the answer true or false, and why? The answer is false.

Hanukkah is a minor festival, meaning it does not have a scroll.

Despite this, it is celebrated widely by most Jews.

Well done if you got that one right.

Here's Mahsa again.

Mahsa has been thinking about how the story affects her.

She says, "Every festival gives me the opportunity to learn more about my beliefs.

Retelling the stories every year keeps them fresh in our minds, and I find new meanings whenever I hear them.

At Hanukkah, I have been thinking about what it means to really fight for your beliefs as the Maccabees did.

As Jews, we have had to fight for our freedom many times." Let's check our understanding with another question.

For Mahsa, an important message of Hanukkah is, A, it is easy to win freedom; B, you have to fight for your freedom to believe; or C, people in power will always win.

Pause the video and think, which one of these is the correct answer? The answer is B.

For Mahsa, an important message of Hanukkah is that you have to fight for your freedom to believe.

Well done if you got that answer right.

Here's Daniel again.

Daniel has been thinking about the meaning of the story.

Daniel says, "Even though Hanukkah is a minor festival, it still has an important message about freedom.

When Antiochus tried to make the Jews worship Greek gods, he was taking away their freedom to follow God's commands.

Jews do not bow down to idols or statues.

They only worship God." He continues, "Hanukkah is about the victory of the few over the many.

Judah Maccabee showed determination, and with God's help, he was able to overcome those who oppressed the Jews." Here we are with another quick question to check our understanding.

What did Jews remember at Hanukkah? Is the answer A, Judah Maccabee put idols in the temple; B, Judah Maccabee led his people to a new land; or C, Judah Maccabee fought for the freedom to worship? Pause the video and think, which one of these is the correct answer? The correct answer is C.

Judah Maccabee fought for the freedom to worship.

Well done if you got that one right.

It's time for another task.

You need to use the picture and sentence starters as a prompt to write about how Jews interpret the story of Hanukkah and why they celebrate Hanukkah.

The sentence starters are: many Jews celebrate Hanukkah by.

The message of the story of Hanukkah could be.

And another message could be.

So pause the video now whilst you complete this task.

Well done for completing that task.

I wonder what you wrote.

You might have said, many Jews celebrate Hanukkah by lighting candles on the special menorah called a hanukkiah.

They light eight candles altogether.

This is because Hanukkah lasts for eight days, so they light one candle each evening.

The message of the story of Hanukkah could be that Jews had to fight for their freedom to worship God.

Another message could be that the few can overcome the many, like Judah Maccabee.

Great effort on that task.

Well done for completing it.

So now we've reached the end of our lesson.

Let's summarise our learning together.

We have learned that Hanukkah is the Jewish festival of lights.

It recalls the victory and freedom of Jews when they were oppressed by the Greek Empire.

King Antiochus had demanded that Jews bow down to statues of him.

Judah Maccabee led a group of Jews who fought back.

They repaired the desecrated temple and lit the menorah in the holiest place.

The festival traditionally lasts for eight days to celebrate the miracle of the oil lasting eight days.

Well done for completing this lesson.

You've done a really good job, and I have enjoyed learning with you.

I look forward to working with you again really soon.