Hannukah (or Channukah, or Chanuka, or ...) is the celebration of "dedication" or the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. As many parents remember from history class, Alexander the Great had conquered much of Europe. Unfortunately his successors were much more fanatic than Alexander about religion, and when Antiochus the Fourth came to power he commanded all people to adopt the greek gods and goddesses. He ordered religious leaders killed, and destroyed many buildings and books essential to the Jewish religion. There was an uprising, the soldiers were tossed out, and the land reclaimed. Unfortunately there was a problem. In the Temple there was a lamp which was to burn at all times, the oil for the lamp took 8 days to make and there was only one day's oil left.
The miracle celebrated at Hanukah is that the flame lasted until more oil was made. This is the reason behind celebrating with a menorah. Other traditions of Hannukah are making potato latkes, dreidel spinning, and gelt-giving. Gelts are chocolate coins covered in gold paper. Many Jewish families choose to exchange one gift for each night of Channukah, but this is an adaption of the Christmas celebration...which was an adaption of Solstice. However, unlike Christmas is to Christianity, Chanukah is a minor Jewish holiday.
There are many delightful children's books that center on Hannukah in a thoughtful, engaging way. Consider this list the best of the best. Though most are geared towards children 3-10, many can be enjoyed by the whole family. An ISBN is provided for each book, this will make ordering much simpler when going to a bookstore or most online merchants.
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel. A hilarious story about a villager determined not to let goblins ruin the holiday fun. Excellent, Caldacot Honor illustrations. ISBN 0-8234-0769-1
There's No Such Thing as a Chanukah Bush, Sandy Goldstein by Susan Sussman. A simple story of a little girl dealing with being Jewish at Christmas. ISBN 0-8075-7862-2
The Family Treasury of Jewish Holidays by Malka Drucker. A great book that focuses on the spiritual reasons behind traditional celebrations. Offers crafts, games, recipes, and stories to help explain major and minor Jewish holidays. ISBN 0-316-19343-7
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