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Year 5

Hanukkah and Jewish identity today

I can describe how traditions associated with Hanukkah support Jewish identity.

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New
New
Year 5

Hanukkah and Jewish identity today

I can describe how traditions associated with Hanukkah support Jewish identity.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Hannukah is celebrated by lighting the menorah each night.
  2. Special food, fried in oil, may be eaten such as doughnuts and latkes.
  3. Games are played such as dreidel and songs may be sung.
  4. Often gifts or money are given on each night.

Keywords

  • Hannukiah - a candlestick with nine branches, used at Hannukah

  • Dreidel - a four-sided spinning top, played during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah

  • Latke - a type of potato pancake or fritter that is traditionally prepared to celebrate Hanukkah

  • Gelt - is money given as presents during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah

Common misconception

A menorah is just a decoration for a window.

A menorah has a deep significance for Jews.


To help you plan your year 5 religious education lesson on: Hanukkah and Jewish identity today, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Pupils could interview a member of the Jewish community in person or online to find out how the celebration of festivals like Hanukkah supports their Jewish identity.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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5 Questions

Q1.
Where might Jewish people go on Pilgrimage?
Karbala
Makkah
Correct answer: Jerusalem
Q2.
What is the ceremony Jewish people have to mark growing up?
baptism
confirmation
Correct answer: bat or bar mitzvah
Q3.
What event do Jewish people remember at Pesach (Passover)?
Correct answer: God rescuing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt
God's covenant with Abraham
the coming of the Messiah
Q4.
What is a Jewish sacred space called?
temple
church
Correct answer: synagogue
mosque
Q5.
What word means a promise between God and humans?
commandments
Correct answer: covenant
commitment

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:hannukiah,a candlestick with nine branches, used at Hannukah
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a candlestick with nine branches, used at Hannukah

Correct Answer:dreidel,a 4-sided spinning top, played during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah
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a 4-sided spinning top, played during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah

Correct Answer:latke,a type of potato pancake or fritter traditional at Hanukkah
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a type of potato pancake or fritter traditional at Hanukkah

Correct Answer:gelt,money given as presents during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah
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money given as presents during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah

Q2.
Which of the following statements is true?
A menorah is just a decoration for a window.
Correct answer: A menorah has a deep significance for Jews.
All Jews light a menorah.
Q3.
In the story of Hannukah, how many nights did the oil last?
4
Correct answer: 8
9
Q4.
Why is fried food traditionally eaten at Hannukah?
It’s a treat because it is a festival.
Correct answer: It's to remember the oil miracle in the Hanukkah story.
It's because of the cultural background of Jewish people.
Q5.
What do many Jewish people learn from the story of the Maccabees?
Correct answer: Keep strong in your Jewish identity.
All Jewish people should light menorah.
Never run out of oil.
Q6.
What do the Jewish letters that spell dreidel stand for?
"The oil lasted 8 days."
"Keep Judaism alive forever."
Correct answer: "A great miracle happened there."