Chanukah Comes Alive in the Tel Aviv Classroom!

With new fabric just in, the Tel Aviv All Stars have begun to dress up as Judah Maccabee, his soldiers, King Antiochus and his men. Taking a break from acting out the Chanukah story, Judah and his soldier decide to make a menorah. Soon they will return to confronting the King and his men or possibly to defending the Temple which is under construction in another area. With music playing, building materials out, and new costumes in dramatic play, we are certainly enjoying the spirit of the holiday.
Happy Chanukah to you all!

On this the First Night of Chanukah

Jake helps us welcome in prayer and song the first night of Chanukah.
After lighting the first candle we put the lit candles on the sensory table. We were careful observers... What happened to the candles?
May everyone enjoy this first night of Chanukah with family and friends.

In Celebration with Rabbi Jay

Rabbi Jay came to visit us in the Unicorn room. We read book entitled "What is Hanukah?" and we sang songs with some sign language. Can you guess what the song is about by seeing the motions?
Thank you Rabbi Jay for coming to visit with us and help us sing and celebrate this joyous season and miracle of Chanukah.

What is Hanukkah all about?

Rabbi Jay joined the Rainbow class and spoke to us about the upcoming holiday of Hanukkah. We heard that long ago there was a mean king who made a law that said being a Jew was no longer legal. Judah Maccabbee and his brothers fought to regain the rights of the Jews to practice their religion. When the people cleaned up their temple, they found just enough oil to last one night. When the oil miraculously lasted for eight nights, the Jews decided to always remember their victory and this miracle in the celebration of the Festival of Lights!

The Rainbows enjoyed decorating paper dreidels with markers and stickers. They also made menorahs with playdough and adorned them with Hanukkah candles. Later, at lunch bunch, the Rainbows and a few Unicorn children also had great fun spinning a large variety of dreidels together. Now that's a chance to work on a tricky fine motor task!

Lunch Bunch Boogie

Lunch Bunch Boogie

Sufganiyot

Food fried in oil recalls the legend of the miracle of one small jar of oil lasting for eight days when the Maccabees rededicated the Temple and needed oil to light the eternal lamp. In Israel, a popular Chanukah treat is sufganiyot, or jelly donuts.

2½ cups flour
2 cups hot milk
2 packages dry yeast
¼ cup lukewarm milk
6 egg yolks
2⁄3 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup butter
Rind of 1 lemon or orange
Jam for filling
Oil for frying
Confectioner’s sugar

Sift 1 cup flour into hot milk and beat until smooth; allow to cool. Dissolve yeast in lukewarm milk, add to the flour mixture and set aside for about 30 minutes. Mix the egg yolks and sugar with the vanilla and rind; add to dough. Add remaining flour and the butter. Knead dough and set aside; allow to rise until doubled in bulk (about 45 minutes). Roll out on floured board to ½-inch thickness and cut into rounds. Put a teaspoon of jam in the center of one round and cover with another. Press edges together and allow doughnuts to rise in a warm place. Fry in hot oil, drain and dust with confectioner’s sugar.

Yields about 20 doughnuts.