CHANUKAH: THE MIRACLE OF EIGHT CANDLES
a play created and performed by the Bet Class of 5766, plus three students from the Aleph Class

The Shamash:
Nikki Rubin

Candle One:
Daniel Shapson

Candle Two:
John Burriesci

Candle Three:
Ryan Moore

Candle Four:
Loren Mangia

Candle Five:
Alexis Wittlin

Candle Six:
Ira Taub*

Candle Seven:
Jennifer Taub*

Candle Eight;
Natalie Taub*

*Aleph Class members

THE PLAY'S SCRIPT

Shamash

Well, candles, this is it! "Zote Chanukah", as they say.

Candle 1

"Zote Chanukah?" Who says that?

Shamash

Well, just about everybody. Tonight anyway! "Zote Chanukah" means "this is Chanukah". The eighth night, the last night. This is it for the whole year.

Candle 2

Yeah, sure.. .this is the last night. But, what does Chanukah mean?

Candle 3

Come on, we all know what Chanukah means! It means people having fun, eating latkes, spinning dreidels..,.

Candle 4

Getting presents!

Candle 5

Lots of presents! On Chanukah, I wouldn't mind being a person. I mean.. .not that it could ever compare to being a candle. But on Chanukah, it wouldn't be so bad!

Candle 2

But what does "Chanukah" really mean?

Candle 1

It means that we have a very important job to do. We, candles, give light on very dark winter nights.

Candle 3

It means we provide warmth. We make a room cozy.

Candle 4

Chanukah means that people are happy. They sing and celebrate, and our job is to make them even happier.

Candle 5

It means we light up the outside, too, when we shine through the window.

Shamash

Have the other candles answered your question, Candle 2?

Candle 2

Not exactly.

Shamash

They tried, but let's see if I can help. After all, "Zote Chanukah". They're all correct. We do play a very important role by providing light. But it's not just ANY old light. It's Chanukah light And what does the word "Chanukah" mean?

Candle 1

Beats me.

Candle 3

Hmmm.. .1 never thought about that.

Candle 4

I guess it would be good to know

Shamash

Chanukah means "Dedication".

All Candles

(EVERYONE) Ohhh!!

Candle 5

Well, that clears that up. Dedication?

Shamash

You've all heard the story about the brave Maccabees, right?

Candle 1

They're the Jewish guys who fought the Syrian-Greeks who wanted to make the Jews pray to idols???

Candle 2

Right!! The Maccabees fought hard and won the Temple back so that Jews could worship freely without anyone telling them what to do.

Shamash

Exactly!! But you see, when they won the Temple back, it was in bad shape. No....lousy shape. No..... .awful shape. No.....worse than awful. How can I put this nicely? It was all but DESTROYED!!

All Candles

(EVERYONE) DESTROYED?

Candle 4

Wait, wait... .1 know what happened. The Maccabees went into the destroyed Temple. They wanted to fix things up. They found a little bit of oil to light the "Ner Tamid", the Eternal Light. Enough for maybe ONE day.

Candle 5

And so they lit the Eternal Light and they went to get more oil. But, of course, it took a while because the whole city was in bad shape from the battle. But that little bit of oil.. .enough for one day.. .lasted for EIGHT WHOLE DAYS!!!

Candle 1

You mean until more oil could be found and brought to the Temple??

Shamash

That's right!! That little bit of oil.. ..well, it was a MIRACLE!

All Candles

(EVERYONE) A MIRACLE!!!

Shamash

That's why we call this holiday, Chanukah — "Dedication". After a terrible thing happened, a holy place was destroyed, and with a little bit of oil, the Temple was brought back to life. The Maccabees were dedicated to their task, and the Temple was REDEDICATED to G-d.

Candle 3

So, here we are, "Zote Chanukah".

All Candles

(EVERYONE) "ZOTE CHANUKAH!"

Shamash:

We better get started. The sun is all but down.

Candles 2 & 4

(2 AND 4 STEP FORWARD TOGETHER) Shamash?

Shamash

Yes, Candles 2 and 4?

Candle 4

We know we're only little candles. And this Chanukiah.. .Well, it's not in the Temple. It's just in someone's living room window. And they are having a great Chanukah —Singing songs, playing dreidel.

Shamash

What's your point?

Candle 2

Well, we were wondering. Is this Chanukah... OUR Chanukah, a dedication?

Shamash

What do you think, Candle 5?

Candle 5

I don't know. That's why Candles 2 and 4 are asking.

Shamash

I think YOU know, Candle 1. Tell me, is this Chanukah a Dedication?

Candle 1

Well, with our light—our little light—we are reminding people that a great miracle occurred.

Shamash

Yes, Candle 1. A great miracle occurred there.

Candle 2

That's right. So, I think....it IS a dedication!!

All Candles

(EVERYONE) "ZOTE CHANUKAH!"

THE SHAMASH MOVES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, LIGHTING EACH CANDLE BY STANDING IN FRONT OF EACH CANDLE. WHEN ALL ARE LIT, THEY SING MA'OZ TZUR"