Dreidel is fun game that we love playing around Hanukkah. It is a simple fun family game. Want to learn how to play? Of course you do.

Supplies:

1. Dreidel

2. Gelt(chocolate coins wrapped in foil), M&M's, beans, or anything thing you like.

How many people do you need to play? You need at least 2 players and  you can have as many people as you like to play the dreidel game.

If you don't have a dreidel well don't fret cause you can make your own. Just google it and you will find many ways to make one.

Basic Rules: 

At the beginning of the game each player is given gelt, candy (we use M & M's), or you can use dried beans. I like to start with around 15 pieces in the middle.

At the beginning of each round, every one puts 1 piece into the center "pot." They then take turns spinning the dreidel, with the following meanings assigned to each of the Hebrew letters: 

*Nun (נ)-nischt - "nothing" - the next player spins 

*Gimmel (ג)-gantz - "all" - the player takes the entire pot

*Hey (ה)- halb - "half" - the player takes half of the pot, rounding up if there is an odd number

*Shin (ש)- shtel - "put in" - the player puts one or two in the pot

If a player runs out of game pieces they are "out."

Origins of the Dreidel:

A game similar to the dreidel game was popular during the rule of Antiochus. During this period Jews were not free to openly practice their religion, when they gathered to study Torah they would bring a top with them. If soldiers would appear, they would quickly hide what they were studying and pretend to be playing a gambling game with the top.

Meaning of the Hebrew Letters on a Dreidel:

A dreidel has one Hebrew letter on each side. Outside of Israel, those letters are: נ (Nun), ג (Gimmel), ה (Hay) and ש (Shin), which stand for the Hebrew phrase "Nes Gadol Haya Sham." This phrase means "A great miracle happened there [in Israel]."

After the State of Israel was founded in 1948 the Hebrew letters were changed for dreidels used in Israel. They became: נ (Nun), ג (Gimmel), ה (Hay) and פ (Pey), which stand for the Hebrew phrase "Nes Gadol Haya Po." This means "A great miracle happened here."

The miracle referred to in both versions of the Hebrew phrase is the miracle of the Hanukkah oil, which lasted for eight days instead of one.

Have fun playing dreidel!

 

Tonight starts the first night of Hanukkah! Happy Hanukkah. Yeshua is the light of the world!

Hanukkah is best shared with family and friends!

May you have a blessed Hanukkah and celebrate Yeshua (Jesus) being the light of the world!

Join use over at Tots and me...Growing up Together! and Life on Chickadee Lane.

 

 

*

 Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Hanukkah. Yeshua (Jesus) is the light of the World!

A lot of fried foods are eaten around Hanukkah and as much as I enjoy an excuse to eat fried foods. I can only handle so much fried foods and even after those latkes I still crave this yummy dish!

 There is another food that is often enjoyed on the Jewish Holidays and the Biblical Feast Days and that is Kugel.  

Kugel is a traditional dish that can be so versatile. It can be made as a side dish or even as a dessert. You can add pecans and brown sugar, any kind of fruit, and even chocolate chips!

 As much as I love playing around with Kugel this recipe is my favorite. The holidays are my excuse to make this comfort food that is so satisfying. 

Sweet Noodle Kugel

Preheat oven to 350* and grease a 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. 

Total Time: Prep. 20 minutes. Bake time is 50+ min. plus standing time

1 Package (1 pound)  of Egg Noodle
1/2 Cup butter, melted
8 Eggs
2 Cups of Sugar
2 Cups(16 ounces) Sour Cream 
2 Cups (16 ounces) Cottage Cheese
2 TSP. Vanilla
1 Cup of Raisins
2 Apples Diced small

Topping:
Cinnamon to taste

Cook Noodles according to package: drain. Toss with butter, and set aside.  Cover raisins in a small sauce pan with water and bring to a boil, and drain. (this makes the raisins soft).

In a large bowl, beat eggs, sugar, sour cream, cottage cheese, vanilla, raisins, and apples until well blended.  Stir in the egg noodles. 

Transfer to the greased baking dish. Sprinkle cinnamon on top. You can also put some of the raisins on top or make rings out of another apple to dress it up.

Bake uncovered for 50-55 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160*.  Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting. You can serve warm or cold.

**A few tips I put my dish on a cookies sheet as it always seems to bubble over. I also like to put aluminum foil over the dish half way through cooking.

Jesus, is truly the light of the world. May your Hanukkah be a blessed time to reflect on Him.

 

Hanukkah is coming up December 24^th thru January 1^st. Every year we pull out some favorite books to read during Hanukkah in our homeschool. It’s a wonderful family tradition that we have done since the beginning of our homeschool journey.

 
Here's a few of our favorites:

Hanukkah at Valley Forge by Stephen Krensky

 A soldier tells George Washington the miraculous story of how an army of Jewish soldiers defeated a much larger force of powerful Greeks, a tale that provides just the kind of inspiration the General needs. 

This is a favorite story for my history loving family. The illustrations are done in a beautiful array of watercolors. What a wonderful reminder that even during the darkest of nights that miracles do still happen.

Papa's Latkes by Michelle Edwards

 (This is kinda of a sad story but, well worth the read) For Selma and her little sister, this is their first Chanukah without Mama. When Papa comes home carrying all the ingredients for latkes, Selma is worried. Can they make the latkes without Mama? Selma comes to realize that while Chanukah — and especially latkes — will never be the same without Mama, Selma can still celebrate, and will always remember.

Just a reminder to be grateful for what you have.

Alexandra's Scroll: The Story of the First Hanukkah by Miriam Chaikin

I read this book awhile back and I’m excited to read it to my kids for the first time this year.

A young girl’s account of life in Jerusalem in 165 B.C. The hated Syrian-Greek king fills ancient Jerusalem with statues of Greek gods and destroys the Jewish temple, feisty Alexandra takes up reed pen, ink, and sheet of papyrus and turns “scribe.”

In her scroll Alexandra records the everyday happenings of her life, as well as the events of the Jewish rebellion led by the Maccabees. When her father joins the resistance against the Greek authorities, Alexandra must leave her friends and the city she loves. The victory of the Maccabees three years later returns the family to Jerusalem—to old friends, new ones and, for Alexandra, a new life.

Place and time are recreated in this story of a girl caught up in the events that led to the rebuilding of the temple, the miracle of oil that burns eight days, and the celebration of the first Hanukkah.

What are some of your favorite Hanukkah books to read? Since my kids are getting older I wanted to find a something more for there age. I have a few different books on order and I can’t wait to share them with you after we read them.

The Homeschool Crew Review is sharing some of their favorite reads around the holidays so don't forget to stop by and see what books are their favorites.