The festival of Hannukah is a holiday that is quite popular with children.  They love games and the dreidel is actually a top that contains four letters, one on each side.  The four Hebrew letters are: Nun, Gimmel, Hey and Shin.  These are the first letters of the phrase "Nes Gadol Haya Sham", "a great miracle happened there".  In modern-day Israel, the last letter has been changed to a Pey.  The Pey stands for Po (here) and the translation would be, "a great miracle happened here."  Hannukah is also marked by lighting the candles in a Hannukiah and receiving traditional gifts of money (Hannukah Gelt).  The dreidel has also become an art form and collectors' item since so many interesting ones are being created.

The Etrog is a citrus fruit with an exceptionally delicate and pleasing aroma.  It is used in conjunction with the Lulav (the Palm branch) during the holiday of Sukkot ( Feast of Tabernacles) as one of the four species proscribed for celebrating the season.  The Bible (in Leviticus) describes the fruit of the goodly tree.  It is believed that the Etrog is, in fact, that fruit.  The ritual use of the Etrog dictates that it be unblemished.  Therefore, many carry the Etrog in a container to protect it.  An Etrog box has become an accepted Judaic symbol as Jews the world over carry both the Lulav and the Etrog to and from the synagogue with them.

Hannukah, also known as the festival of lights, falls on the 25th day of the month of Kislev (usually in the middle of December).  It has its origins in the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians in 165 b.c.e. and the rededication of the Temple which had been destroyed.  When the Maccabees were victorious they found a cruse of oil in the Temple sufficient to burn for one day.  Miraculously, however, the oil lasted for eight days.  Therefore, the eight day celebration.  The holiday is marked by the lighting of candles each of the eight days.  One candle is lit on the first night and another candle is added each night.  A special candelabra, called a Hannukiah, is utilized to hold the candles.  Hannukah can be contrasted with Purim.  They both are symbolic of anti-Jewish acts.  Purim demonstrates the attempt to physically harm the Jews while Hannuka is the attempt to destroy the Jewish religion and try to have the Jews convert to pagan practices. 

Hannukah is celebrated for eight days.  Those eight days commemorate the Jewish victory over the Syrians in 165 b.c.e.  The reason for the eight day celebration is because of the one day supply of oil found in the Temple which actually lasted for eight days.  The Hannukiah can take many forms and can be made of any material.  There are certain requirements, however.  There are a total of nine places to accommodate candles.  One of these is for the Shamash (the head candle) which is lit each night.  The Shamash is then used to light each of the other candles.  The Shamash must be placed on a level that is higher than the other candles and the other candles should be at identical heights.  No candle should be higher than any other candle.  Today,  the Hannukiah is built from many different materials, including pottery, glass and various metals.  It can be lit with either oil or candles.

The word Havdalah actually means separation, coming from the Hebrew verb, L'Havdil,  meaning to separate or distinguish.  Most commonly, Havdalah refers to that ceremony which separates the Sabbath from the other days of the week.  At the conclusion of the Sabbath, when three stars appear in the sky, Havdalah may be recited.  It is a short and colorful ceremony in which several objects are used. The first is the braided Havdalah candle.  The second is the spice box which holds spices with fragrant smells for all to inhale.  Finally, there is a Kiddush cup which holds the wine that is consumed at the conclusion of the Havdalah service.
It is customary that the children are invited to participate in the ceremony.  In the synagogue, children will approach the Bima (pulpit) and will hold the candle in a special holder.  The ceremony also is recited to mark the end of  holidays as well as Shabbat (the Sabbath).

A Jewish marriage certificate is known as the Ketubah. The Ketubah is actually a contract and it details what the groom must provide for his bride.  Prior to the marriage ceremony (Kiddushin) the ceremony of Erusin (engagement) is held whereby mutual relationships between the families are agreed to and the mothers of the bride and groom break a dish to symbolize the entrance into a new union.  The Ketubah has become an art form for many centuries.  It was considered a great honor to have a handsomely decorated Ketubah.  It is increasingly common for couples to spend a great deal of time prior to the wedding searching for the perfect Ketubah.  The traditional document is written in Aramaic and is signed by two witnesses who attest that the groom made certain declarations and obligations to his bride.

Kiddush is the Hebrew word meaning to sanctify or to separate for a holy purpose.  The Torah tells us that "You shall be holy for I, the Lord your God, am holy."  Every Sabbath and Holiday is ushered in by the lighting of candles and the recitation of the Kiddush, which is the blessing over the wine.  The Sabbath and Holiday meals are generally quite festive. The family uses its finest china and linens to greet these special days.  The Kiddush cup, from which the wine is consumed is also a special symbol.  Traditional families have a Kiddush cup for each member of the family.  Most Kiddush cups are made of silver, although this is not a requirement and they can be crafted from ceramics as well.  Kiddush is recited at the evening meal to usher in the Holiday or Sabbath and is also recited at the noon meal the following day.  Kiddush is recited in most synagogues to provide for one who is not able to otherwise hear the Kiddush recited.

The Festival of Sukkot occurs less than a week after Yom Kippur.  Concerning that holiday, we are commanded in Chapter 23 of Leviticus "On the first day (of Sukkot) take the fruit of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees and willows of the brook and rejoice before God for seven days."  These four symbols are comprised of the Lulav palm tree branches, the willows (aravot), hadassim ( thick trees) and the Etrog being the fruit of the goodly trees.  A blessing is pronounced while holding the Lulav in the right hand and the Etrog in the left hand.  The Lulav is pointed in six different directions to symbolize God's presence everywhere.

Mezuzah literally means doorpost, which is where the mezuzah is displayed.  We are reminded in the paragraphs of the Shema prayer that we must remember the words of the Shema in our going and our coming.  A small metal, wooden or ceramic case is attached to the doorpost and the first two sections of the Shema, written on parchment, are placed inside it.  The scriptural lesson contained in the verses is to remind Jews of their obligation to love God, remember that he is one God and obey his commandments.  The case of the Mezuzah is placed on the right doorpost of the house and the doorpost of each room that is used for living purposes.

We are commanded to wash our hands before we partake of a meal.  The water is to be poured from a cup and a prayer for washing (Al N'Tilat Yadaim) is recited.  Between the time of washing and the prayer for bread (Hamotzi) that begins a meal, one is not supposed to speak.  It is quite common to see cups that are specially set aside for this ceremony.  Cups can be made from any material, but most often are ceramic or metal.  The cups will generally have two handles to allow for proper washing from all sides.

Pesach (Passover) has its origins in the Book of Exodus.  The holiday lasts for seven days in Israel and is observed for eight days by most Jews outside the State of Israel.  It commemorates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt where they had been enslaved.  You will recall that the Jews had originally come to Egypt at the time of great famine at home and had remained there and grown in numbers.  Led by Moses and his brother, Aaron, the Jews won the right to leave Egypt after ten plagues were inflicted upon the Egyptians.  The final plague had been the slaying of the first-born sons of the Egyptians.  God, however, passed over the houses of the Jews and spared their children.  From this, the word Passover has been derived.  The holiday begins with the Seder (a festive meal) where the story of the exodus is retold and explained to all family members.  One of the many symbols of the holiday is the eating of Matzah, a bread that does not rise and is symbolic of the wandering in the desert when there was not time to allow the dough to rise. Judaic craftsmen have taken pride in creating beautiful Seder plates and Matzah covers and holders. 

Purim is one of the most fun-filled days in the Jewish calendar.  It falls annually on the 14th day of Adar (February or March) and marks the survival of the Jews of Persia from Haman's plot to exterminate them.  The story of Purim is detailed in the Book of Esther.  The central characters in the Book are Ahashverus, the Persian king, Mordechai, a Jewish member of his court and Esther, Mordechai's niece and a wife of the king.  This book is in the form of a scroll known as a Megillah and is known as the Scroll of Esther (Megillat Esther).  It is read aloud in the synagogue in a special chant and it is customary to make great noises when the name of Haman or his sons is mentioned in the reading.  The noise is made with a noisemaker known as a greger (in Hebrew, Ra-ashan).  The greger itself, has become an art form.  One can see people going to synagogue with their beautiful and colorful and noisy gregers.  It is a fun time in the synagogue.  Purim is a holiday where tradition tells us we should get so drunk that we do not know the difference between blessed Mordechai and cursed Haman.

For a description of the Scroll of Esther, please see the description of Purim above.

The Seder is the festive that marks the beginning of the Passover holiday.  It is acknowledged that the Seder is the most widely observed Jewish custom in the world.  More people attend a Seder than any other Jewish ritual.  A book, called the Haggadah, is used as the basis for retelling the story of the exodus from Egypt.  It also reminds us to regard ourselves as if we had personally gone out of Egypt at that time.  The Seder is an enjoyable family experience in which the children participate.  The youngest traditionally asks four questions of the leader of the Seder (the Maggid).  These questions refer to the rituals of the night and why certain customs are practiced.  There are certain Judaic items at the Seder that have taken on art forms themselves.  These are the Kiddush cups, the Matzah plate and cover and the Seder plate itself, which displays the symbols of the Seder.

There are many symbols surrounding Sukkot, the fall holiday which is a time of thanksgiving at harvest time.  Sukkot commemorates that time when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness and lived in booths.  A sukkah is a booth and Sukkot is the plural form and the name of the holiday.  It is one of the three festivals in the Jewish calendar, the others being Pesach and Shavuot.  We are commanded to live in booths (Sukkot) for the duration of the holiday which lasts for seven days in Israel and is celebrated for eight days by most of those living outside of Israel.  Other symbols include the Lulav and Etrog which are explained elsewhere in this Glossary.  The bible tells us that the eighth day is to be a feast of conclusion known as Shemini Atzeret.  Concurrent with that (or on the eighth day in the diaspora) Simhat Torah is celebrated when the reading of the Torah is completed and begins anew.  This is a most joyous holiday time and, like Purim, is an opportunity to let loose and drink and be merry.

Zedakah literally means charity.  It is one of the oldest traditions in Jewish life and is specifically commanded in the Torah where it is described in complete detail as to how to provide for the poor and less fortunate.  Throughout the ages there has always been a "pushke" (charity box) in a Jewish household to provide for charitable contributions.  The giving of charity in modern times has become more institutionalized through the development of communal charitable organizations.  The charity box, however, remains part of every Jewish household.  Artisitic Zedakah boxes have been created by Jewish craftsmen to become a part of the home to remind everyone of the importance of the mitzvah (commandment) of charitable deeds and giving.