Books on customs, symbols and holiday dishes enrich the holiday experience, helping to develop anticipation and curiosity before it arrives. This book should also be read together with your toddlers during the holiday, and even when it is over – so that, together, you can think back on the beautiful moments, melodies, colors, flavors and scents.
Lea Naor was born in Herzliya in 1935.
Every time you read this book, try looking for new interesting details in its illustrations – Where’s the parrot? What is it doing in each of the illustrations? What are the father and children doing? Which items and ingredients are on the table? And which objects do you recognize in the kitchen? Perhaps you can also find them in your own home and kitchen.
While making latkes, or any other of your favorite foods, you can take pictures of the preparation process. These pictures can later be incorporated into a small photo album that will help you repeat the correct steps, as well as the names of actions and ingredients.
A recipe for latkes
Ingredients:
5 potatoes
1 large onion
2 eggs
Half a cup of flour
Half a teaspoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
Frying oil
Method:
1. Peel and grate the onion and potatoes. Squeeze out all the fluids, and place in a bowl.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients – the eggs, flour, sugar and salt (as well as other condiments, if you so wish) – to the bowl, and mix them well.
3. Fry the latkes carefully in hot oil (one to one and a half tablespoons for each latke) until golden on both sides.
The Shamash understands that a flame is endless, much like love. What do you think? Can love keep growing like a flame, even after some of it has been given to others? Do we have enough love for all those we care about?
The story of Hanukkah is passed down from one generation to the next. Do you have stories, songs, or recipes that are passed down in your family? After lighting the Hanukkah candles, you may want to tell your child how you celebrated Hanukkah when you were growing up, and add stories you heard from your own family. How about singing a good old family song, or preparing some food for all of you to enjoy?
As you light the Hanukkah candles, watch how they pass the flame from one to the other. Just like the Menorah candles, you could pass the love around in your family: stand in a row, and pass round the love “flame” by giving each other hugs and kisses, or saying something nice. You could go round several times, if you wish, finding new ways of expressing love and passing it round to different family members each time.
This game is similar to a relay race, only instead of passing a baton to the next runner, you pass a candle: each time one of your family members runs with the candle to a set point, where another family member is waiting to receive the candle and run on to the next spot. You may want to create a circular route where you play round and round, or one with a start and finish line. Did you manage to pass the candle on? Good job! Afterwards, you can pass round some cushions and drinks, and rest together.
A Hanukkah Kiss
שְׁמִירָה
Doing some arts & crafts – A de-light-ful greeting card
Hanukkah provides us with a wonderful opportunity to bring joy and light into our loved ones, neighbors, and family’s hearts: you may want to make a greeting card in the shape of a candle in which to write a heartwarming greeting that will light up your holiday and that of its recipient.
![כריכת הספר What? What? A Potato! [Mah? Mah? Tapuah Adamah!]](https://www.pjisrael.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/מה-מה-תפוח-אדמה-כריכה-על-ריבוע-לאתר.jpg)
What? What? A Potato! [Mah? Mah? Tapuah Adamah!] 
A Hanukkah Kiss 
The seven species 
קְרִיאָה
שִׂיחָה
שֵׁמַע
בִּשּׁוּל
יְצִירָה
הַשְׁרָאָה
מִשְׂחָק
– suggestions for game cards and arts & crafts can be found on the PJLibrary Pinterest page.
