The Gainesville Sun
Dozens of families turned out Sunday at the Lubavitch Jewish Center in northwest Gainesville for the sixth annual "Chanukah Factory," an afternoon of fun and games to teach the children about their Jewish faith.

Also known as Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday begins Dec. 25.

Children who were contestants in a trivia game were quizzed about their knowledge of the holiday with Rabbi Berl Goldman presiding as the game show host. The children also played "Jewpardy" after the TV game show Jeopardy, testing their smarts about Judaism.

Growing faith at Hanukkah

The Gainesville Sun

Dozens of families turned out Sunday at the Lubavitch Jewish Center in northwest Gainesville for the sixth annual “Chanukah Factory,” an afternoon of fun and games to teach the children about their Jewish faith.

Also known as Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday begins Dec. 25.

Children who were contestants in a trivia game were quizzed about their knowledge of the holiday with Rabbi Berl Goldman presiding as the game show host. The children also played “Jewpardy” after the TV game show Jeopardy, testing their smarts about Judaism.

“All right, kids, on the fourth night of Hanukkah, how many blessings do we recite for candles?” Goldman asked three of the contestants who received help from their parents. “Is it A, 1; B, 2; C, 3; or D, 4?”

A girl tapped her bell and said, “It’s B, it’s B!”

“Right you are!” Goldman said in a vaudeville manner similar to that of Alex Trebek or Bob Barker.

The game shows, along with menorah and dreidel making and other Hanukkah-related arts and crafts, were meant to help children find meaning in their religion.

“This event brings the ancient Jewish text to life,” Goldman said. “A child needs to feel their faith, see their faith and touch their faith. They gain a better understanding of Judaism and the meaning of Hanukkah if they can see it in action.”

Hanukkah, which lasts for eight nights, is a celebration of the Jewish nation gaining its freedom for a second time and the miracle of the oil, Goldman said.

When the Syrians destroyed the temple of the Maccabees in Jerusalem more than 2,000 years ago, they broke the seals on all but one of the small oil containers used to light the menorah, Goldman said.

The oil was only supposed to burn for one day, but it burned for eight nights and was considered a miracle of God, Goldman said.

For that reason, Jewish people eat many foods made with oil during Hanukkah such as latkes (potato pancakes) and doughnuts, Goldman said.

In America, a gift is given each night of Hanukkah, but traditionally, gelt, or money, is given to children.

The holiday, while different in context, encourages the same emphasis on family as other religious holidays.

As she helped her 3-year-old son paint a wooden menorah, Christina Levine, 36, said the event was a nice way to celebrate the holiday and it helped teach her son the meaning of Hanukkah.

“It’s fun to learn about Hanukkah and have this experience,” Levine said. “You get to celebrate with other families too.”

Eliza Levy, 7, said her favorite part of Hanukkah is spending time with her family and lighting a candle on their menorah every night.

“We say prayers and then we get our presents,” Eliza said as she put the finishing touches on her paper menorah decorated with teal-colored sand. “Sometimes we have a party and everyone comes over. I love the chocolate gelt.”

Hanukkah begins Dec. 25 and ends Jan. 2. On Dec. 28, many Jewish followers plan to participate in the “Downtown Chanukah Family Festival” to light a giant menorah in the Downtown Community Plaza in Gainesville at 6 p.m.