Hanukkah · Worksheet 1
Eight Nights of Light
Read the story. 英文を読もう。
1More than 2,100 years ago, a king took over the Temple in Jerusalem. He put an altar for a Greek god inside, and he told Jewish people to stop their religion. A small family army called the Maccabees said no. They fought for about three years, and in the end they won the Temple back.
2The Maccabees cleaned the Temple and gave it to God again. In Hebrew, this is called hanukkah, and it means dedication. There is also a famous story about oil. The Temple lamp needed pure olive oil, but people found only one small jar. It was enough for one day, but the lamp burned for eight days.
3So today Hanukkah lasts for eight nights. Families use a special lamp with nine branches. Each night, they light one more candle than the night before. The ninth candle is called the shamash, and it is the helper. It gives its fire to the other candles. Many people put the lamp in a window, so people outside can see the light.
4Hanukkah is also a time for games and food. Children spin a top called a dreidel and play for chocolate coins. Families eat food fried in oil, like potato pancakes called latkes. In Israel, jelly doughnuts are the big favorite, and people eat millions of them.
5Some people call Hanukkah the Jewish Christmas, but that is not right. It has its own story, and it started long before Christmas. Its message is simple and strong. In the darkest weeks of winter, a small light can grow a little brighter every night.
- temple 神殿、寺院
- altar 祭壇
- dedication 奉献、ささげること
- pure 清い、まじりけのない
- jar つぼ、びん
- last 続く
- branch 枝
- shamash シャマシュ（点火係のろうそく）
- spin 回す、回る
- fried 揚げた、油で焼いた
- miracle 奇跡
- message メッセージ、伝えたいこと