Download About Hanukkah – Script for Assembly (KS2) Slide 1 – Map showing

About Hanukkah – Script for Assembly (KS2)
Slide 1 – Map showing countries around the Mediterranean

What continents are shown on this map? [Europe, Africa, Asia]

Does anyone know the name of the sea in the middle? [Mediterranean Sea]
The country we are going to look at is Israel. Compared to the larger countries around
it, Israel is a small country; but it has always been a very important country.
Many of the towns and places in Israel are mentioned in the Bible - Christianity started
in Israel. But Israel is the centre of another religion, one much older than Christianity,
called Judaism. Because of Israel’s position (it’s close to the sea, and on the border of
3 continents), it has often been ruled by other countries. Long ago, different powerful
kings and emperors tried to take control of the country and rule it as their own.

Some of you have learnt about empires and ancient civilisations – which ones?
Many of these empires, over the last 4000 years, have had their centres in this part of
the world. The Greek, Roman, Assyrian and Egyptian rulers have all exerted control
over the lands now known as Israel.
Throughout that time, followers of Judaism have managed to keep to their beliefs and
carried on with their ancient traditions - even though, sometimes, the people ruling
Israel have made it very difficult for them.
Today, around most of the world, people of different faiths respect each other. What do
you think I mean by ‘respect’ when I say that?
(guide children towards idea of allowing others to have their own opinion, giving an non-controversial
example, e.g. favourite team, pop singer; rather that subservient respect)
At this school, we believe that everyone should be able to practise their religion
peacefully.
This week, Jewish people celebrate the festival of Hanukkah. They are
commemorating a time, long ago, when the people of Israel fought back against a
harsh king. He had no respect for their ancient traditions - he tried to force the Jewish
people to give up their prayers and rituals... but they weren’t prepared to accept his
cruel rulings.
About Hanukkah – Script for Assembly (KS2)
Slide 2 – The Jewish Temple in Jerusalem
This picture shows the steps of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, an important and holy
place for Jewish people.
A long time ago – over 2000 years – a King from Syria, a country next to Israel, ruled
over the Jewish people who lived in Israel. He was called Antiochus III (“An-TIE-okuss”). Mostly, life was peaceful – until his son took over from him as king. He wanted
the temple in Jerusalem to be for his own religion – for people to worship Greek gods –
rather than the one God of Judaism.

What do you think is happening in the picture?
Antiochus IV put his own priest into the temple – but, while he was away, fighting
another battle, the Jewish people put back their own priest again! When Antiochus
returned, he was so angry that he decided to make it illegal to be Jewish. Possession
of the Torah – the Jewish holy book – became a capital offence and many copies were
seized and burned.

What is a ‘capital offence’?
It wasn’t just the city of Jerusalem that was affected. Antiochus ordered his soldiers to
go to all the towns and villages around the whole country, to make sure that no-one
was practising Judaism. The soldiers put up shrines to Greek gods and forced people
to worship there.

How do you think the Jewish people might have felt when their religion was made
illegal?
About Hanukkah – Script for Assembly (KS2)
Slide 3 – Mattathias and his sons
A group of Jewish people decided to fight back against King Antiochus and his soldiers.
These rebels became known as the Maccabees (this name means ‘the Hammers’).
Their leader was a priest called Mattathias. He had five strong sons who fought with
him. Here they are in this picture.
Mattathias refused to worship other gods at the new shrine the soldiers put in his town.
Because they refused, he and his sons were forced to flee into hiding. They were in
great danger so went to live in the hills so the soldiers couldn’t find them.
The Maccabees believed that people in Israel should be able to live as Jews and carry
on Jewish traditions – it was part of who they were – so they decided to carry on
fighting against the king. Every time a new shrine was put up in a town, the Maccabees
and their supporters tore it down again. Even though there were many more soldiers
than Maccabees, they continued to fight back. More and more people joined them.
After about three years, the support for the Maccabees was so great that they were
able to march on Jerusalem itself! They finally managed to drive out the king and his
soldiers from the city – the Jewish people has won! Over the next 100 years, the
Maccabees and their followers built up a new ‘Land of Israel’.
Slide 4 – A Menorah
When the Maccabees and their supporters entered the great temple in Jerusalem, they
were horrified. Statues of Greek gods had been put up. Animals had been sacrificed
inside and blood was splattered around. It took a lot of work to make the temple clean
again!
This picture shows a menorah - this is a holy lamp that is kept burning in Jewish
temples. Once the Jerusalem temple had been cleaned, the last step was for the
priests to light it as part of their task to purify the temple. But there was a problem!
There was only one jug of oil left – only enough to keep the menorah alight for a single
night.
They expected it to burn itself out - but to their surprise it carried on burning! It burned
for 8 days, giving them plenty of time to prepare a fresh batch of oil. This was declared
a miracle and seen as proof that God was supporting and protecting the Jewish people.
About Hanukkah – Script for Assembly (KS2)
Slide 5 – A Hanukkiyah
Here is another type of menorah – can you spot the difference? [It has 9 candles, not 7.]
This is called a Hanukkiyah (Han-NOO-kee-yer). It has 4 candles on each side – plus
one in the middle – making a total of nine. (The temple menorah had 7 candles.)
After the temple in Jerusalem was dedicated to Judaism again, it was decided that
every year this event should be celebrated. The word ‘Hanukkah’ means ‘dedication’ in
Hebrew, the language spoken in Israel.
At Hanukkah, on the first night, one candle is placed in the Hanukkiyah and lit. Every
night, for eight nights in total, an extra candle is added. The middle candle, the ninth
one – called the Shamash (Sha-Marsh) - is used each time, to light the other candles.
As each candle is lit, special prayers and blessings are said.

Why do you think that Hanukkah celebrations last for 8 days? And why are 8
candles are lit? [8 was the amount of days that the menorah oil lasted for in the temple in
Jerusalem.]
Slide 6 - Foods eaten at Hanukkah
Many religious celebrations have similar features. Families get together, presents are
given and games are played.

Can you think of any examples?
At Hanukkah, special foods are eaten. Cheese dishes are sometimes eaten – this is in
memory of an ancient story about a Jewish heroine called Judith, who saved her town
from invasion through her faith in God and bravery.
Another custom is to eat food that is cooked by frying in oil – such as latke, which are
potato pancakes, as well as sugary doughnuts.
The reason for eating these fried foods has something to do with the Hanukkah story.
On your way out of assembly, I want you to think about what that thing might be – and
if you see me later, come and tell me what you think! [the oil used to fry the foods
commemorates the miracle of the oil in the Jerusalem temple.]