Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Hanukkah. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Hanukkah is one of the most important celebrations in the Jewish calendar. It means the Festival of Lights. It is an eight-day holiday that takes place each year in November or December. The festival is to celebrate a miracle that happened in the Second Temple in Jerusalem. A Syrian king took the temple from the Jews. In 164BC, a small group of people called the Maccabees revolted against the king and took back their temple. Their leader Judah Maccabee decided to cleanse the altar by burning olive oil in a special candle holder called a Menorah. They only had enough to burn for one day, yet miraculously, it burned for eight days and nights. Jewish elders declared an eight-day holiday to commemorate this miracle.
Today the festival is observed by lighting the lights of the family Menorah. One light is lit on each night of the holiday until there are eight lights on the final night. Families also say prayers throughout the festival, especially after meals. In Israel, schools close for a week to celebrate Hanukkah. Families exchange gifts and eat festive food. Potato pancakes and fruit-filled doughnuts are the most traditional food, but there is also a custom of frying or baking food in olive oil. Hanukkah is also a time for singing and playing games. There are more songs for Hanukkah than for any other Jewish celebration. The most traditional game is played using a four-sided spinning top, called a dreidel, and coins or tokens.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
one of the most important celebrations
a.
miracle that happened
2
an eight-day holiday that takes
b.
eight days and nights
3.
The festival is to celebrate a
c.
place each year
4.
A Syrian king took the temple from
d.
burning olive oil
5.
cleanse the altar by
e.
in the Jewish calendar
6.
it burned for
f.
the Jews.
Paragraph 2
1.
One light is
a.
prayers throughout the festival
2
Families also say
b.
spinning top
3.
schools close
c.
eat festive food
4.
Families exchange gifts and
d.
lit on each night
5.
there is also a custom
e.
for a week
6.
a four-sided
f.
of frying or baking food
LISTENING GAP FILL
Hanukkah is _________________ important celebrations in the Jewish calendar. It means the Festival of Lights. It is an eight-day holiday _________________ each year in November or December. The festival is to celebrate a miracle that happened in the Second Temple in Jerusalem. A Syrian king _________________ from the Jews. In 164BC, a small group of people called the Maccabees revolted against the king and took back their temple. Their leader Judah Maccabee decided to cleanse the altar _________________ oil in a special candle holder called a Menorah. They only had enough to burn for one day, yet miraculously, it burned for eight days and nights. Jewish elders _________________ holiday to commemorate this miracle.
Today the festival is observed by _________________ of the family Menorah. One _________________ each night of the holiday until there are eight lights on the final night. Families also say prayers throughout the festival, ___________________. In Israel, schools close for a week to celebrate Hanukkah. Families exchange gifts and eat festive food. Potato pancakes and fruit-filled doughnuts are the most traditional food, but there _________________ frying or baking food in olive oil. Hanukkah is also a time for singing and playing games. There are more songs for Hanukkah than for any other Jewish celebration. The most traditional game _________________ four-sided spinning top, called a dreidel, and coins or tokens.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Hanukkah is one of the __________ important celebrations in the Jewish calendar. It means the Festival of Lights. It is an eight-day holiday that takes __________ each year in November or December. The festival is to celebrate a __________ that happened in the Second Temple in Jerusalem. A Syrian king __________ the temple from the Jews. In 164BC, a small group of people called the Maccabees revolted against the king and took __________ their temple. Their leader Judah Maccabee decided to cleanse the altar by burning olive oil in a special candle holder __________ a Menorah. They only had enough to burn for one day, yet miraculously, it __________ for eight days and nights. Jewish elders declared an eight-day holiday to commemorate this __________.
back miracle miracle most burned took called place
Today the festival is __________ by lighting the lights of the family Menorah. One light is __________ on each night of the holiday until there are eight lights on the __________ night. Families also say prayers throughout the festival, especially after meals. In Israel, schools close for a week to __________ Hanukkah. Families exchange gifts and eat festive food. Potato pancakes and fruit-__________ doughnuts are the most traditional food, but there is also a custom of frying or baking __________ in olive oil. Hanukkah is also a time for singing and playing games. There are more __________ for Hanukkah than for any other Jewish celebration. The most traditional game is played using a four-sided spinning top, __________ a dreidel, and coins or tokens.
filled songs final celebrate observed called food lit
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Hanukkah is one of the most / mostly important celebrations in the Jewish calendar. It means the Festival of Lights. It is an eight-day holiday that took / takes place each year in November or December. The festival is to celebration / celebrate a miracle that happened in the Second Temple in Jerusalem. A Syrian king mistook / took the temple from the Jews. In 164BC, a small group / groups of people called the Maccabees revolted against the king and took back their temple. Their leader Judah Maccabee decided to cleanse the altar by / for burning olive oil in a special candle holder called a Menorah. They only had enough to burn for one day, yet / still miraculously, it burned for eight days and nights. Jewish elders declared an eight-day holiday to commemorate this miraculous / miracle.
Today the festival is observation / observed by lighting the lights of the family Menorah. One light is light / lit on each night of the holiday until there are eight lights on the finally / final night. Families also say prayers throughout the festival, especially after meals. In Israel, schools close for a week for / to celebrate Hanukkah. Families exchange gifts and eat festive food. Potato pancakes and fruit-filled doughnuts are the most traditional food, but there is also a customs / custom of frying or baking food in olive oil. Hanukkah is also a time for singing and played / playing games. There are more songs for Hanukkah than for any another / other Jewish celebration. The most traditional game is played using a four-sided spinning top, called / calling a dreidel, and coins or tokens.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Hanukkah is one of the most (1) ____ celebrations in the Jewish calendar. It means the Festival of Lights. It is an eight-day holiday that takes (2) ____ each year in November or December. The festival is to celebrate a miracle that (3) ____ in the Second Temple in Jerusalem. A Syrian king took the temple from the Jews. In 164BC, a small group of people called the Maccabees revolted (4) ____ the king and took back their temple. Their leader Judah Maccabee decided to cleanse the altar by burning olive oil in a special candle (5) ____ called a Menorah. They only had enough to burn for one day, yet miraculously, it burned for eight days and nights. Jewish elders declared an eight-day holiday to commemorate (6) ____ miracle.
Today the festival is (7) ____ by lighting the lights of the family Menorah. One light is lit on each night of the holiday (8) ____ there are eight lights on the final night. Families also say prayers throughout the festival, especially after meals. In Israel, schools close for a week (9) ____ celebrate Hanukkah. Families exchange gifts and eat festive food. Potato pancakes and fruit-(10) ____ doughnuts are the most traditional food, but there is also a custom of frying or baking food in olive oil. Hanukkah is also a time for singing and playing games. There are more songs for Hanukkah (11) ____ for any other Jewish celebration. The most traditional game is played using a four-sided spinning top, (12) ____ a dreidel, and coins or tokens.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
importance
(b)
important
(c)
importantly
(d)
imports
2.
(a)
place
(b)
placed
(c)
placing
(d)
places
3.
(a)
happened
(b)
happening
(c)
happens
(d)
happen
4.
(a)
for
(b)
versus
(c)
back
(d)
against
5.
(a)
holds
(b)
hold
(c)
holding
(d)
holder
6.
(a)
than
(b)
this
(c)
these
(d)
that
7.
(a)
observation
(b)
observes
(c)
observed
(d)
observe
8.
(a)
until
(b)
yet
(c)
still
(d)
after
9.
(a)
at
(b)
to
(c)
for
(d)
so
10.
(a)
filled
(b)
fills
(c)
fill
(d)
fill up
11.
(a)
that
(b)
this
(c)
then
(d)
than
12.
(a)
calling
(b)
call
(c)
called
(d)
calls
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
one of the most important crlsieoabten
2.
The festival is to celebrate a raceilm that happened
3.
lsneeac the altar
4.
unibngr olive oil in a special candle holder
5.
miyrlucusaol, it burned for eight days and nights
6.
Jewish elders declared an eight-day holiday to crtammoemeo this
Paragraph 2
7.
the festival is vredbsoe by lighting the lights
8.
say prayers ttrhuouogh the festival
9.
Families excgaenh gifts
10.
eat visteef food
11.
a oscmut of frying or baking food in olive oil
12.
The most otarliandti game is played
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
traditional game is played using a four-sided spinning top, called a dreidel, and coins or tokens.
( )
declared an eight-day holiday to commemorate this miracle.
( )
to cleanse the altar by burning olive oil in a special candle holder called a Menorah. They only had enough to burn
( )
playing games. There are more songs for Hanukkah than for any other Jewish celebration. The most
( )
of people called the Maccabees revolted against the king and took back their temple. Their leader Judah Maccabee decided
( )
happened in the Second Temple in Jerusalem. A Syrian king took the temple from the Jews. In 164BC, a small group
( )
Today the festival is observed by lighting the lights of the family Menorah. One light is lit on each
( )
after meals. In Israel, schools close for a week to celebrate Hanukkah. Families exchange gifts and eat
( 1 )
Hanukkah is one of the most important celebrations in the Jewish calendar. It means the Festival of Lights. It is an
( )
night of the holiday until there are eight lights on the final night. Families also say prayers throughout the festival, especially
( )
of frying or baking food in olive oil. Hanukkah is also a time for singing and
( )
for one day, yet miraculously, it burned for eight days and nights. Jewish elders
( )
eight-day holiday that takes place each year in November or December. The festival is to celebrate a miracle that
( )
festive food. Potato pancakes and fruit-filled doughnuts are the most traditional food, but there is also a custom
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
one is Hanukkah celebrations important most the of
2.
miracle is that to happened celebrate The a festival
3.
altar burning oil the by olive cleanse
4.
eight , days it and burned nights for miraculously
5.
commemorate - this day miracle holiday an to eight
6.
lights the Menorah the of family lighting
7.
also prayers the Families say throughout festival
8.
exchange and festive Families gifts eat food
9.
of baking olive custom or in a frying food oil
10.
top a four spinning called a sided , dreidel -
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Hanukkah. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Hanukkah. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
4. POSTER: Make your own poster about Hanukkah. Write about what will happen on this day around the world.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
ANSWERS
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
