JCC Association's Early Childhood Curriculum Project 'This New Month'

Introduction:

During Hanukkah, we discuss the miracle of the small amount of oil that lit the Temple menorah for 8 days. This activity, submitted by Marcy R. and Paula R. at the Orlando JCC, is a fun way to begin talking about the story of Hanukkah and the miracle of oil.

Materials:

paper
markers or colored chalk
paintbrushes
cooking oil

Directions:

Make a cut out of an oil jug. (Provide pre-cut jug shapes for the youngest children and have older children cut out their own jugs.)
Deocorate the jug with markers or colored chalk.
Use a paintbrush to lightly apply cooking oil to the jug and discuss the miracle of oil.
Let the students' jugs dry and then hang them as decorations in the classroom

A Little Something Extra:

Discussion Topic

"To be Small does not mean to be Insignificant"

The special prayer for Hanukkah entitled al hanissim refers to miracles. The miracles they are referring too are not the little vessel of oil that burned for 8 days but the little band of people who persevered to this very day, that is the Jewish people who are small-- 12,000,000 in a world of 5 billion. The story of the Maccabees is about a small group, basically one family, who slowly but surely gathered strength until they defeated a whole empire--"the few" against "the many". Elazar, one of the brothers of Judah the Maccabee even attacked a warrior elephant carrying the Greek general invading Israel. The elephant was like a tank and Elazar was on foot. This story helps us to appreciate the miracle of our ability with God’s help.

How can a small person defeat a larger one?
How can one of little inherent strength hold out so long?
Discuss how the vessel of oil is a model for understanding the power of the little .