nationwide. The issue was making the candles removable. His cre-
ative mind kept churning and last year, he asked a friend in France
to design an even better menorah.

“We didn’t realize all the changes that we needed to do as well as
preparing everything,” Dahan said. “Sometimes people don’t realize
it takes a lot of time to make.”
One of the most acclaimed dounut shops in Philly will have de-
licious treats for the holiday. Federal Donuts chef Matthew Fein ex-
plained that traditional sufganiyot are yeast-raised donuts, filled
with grape jelly and covered in powdered sugar. However, since Fed-
eral Donuts doesn’t make those, it wanted to find a fun way to offer
a version of sufganiyot using their spiced cake donuts.

“Being that we try to do things out of the norm, we decided to
dip the donuts in honey, rather than cover them in powdered sugar,
and we used a very high-quality raspberry jam instead of the tradi-
tional grape jelly,” Fein said.

At Perelman Jewish Day School’s Forman Center in Melrose Park,
students make various types of menorahs, integrating art, science,
engineering and Jewish studies.

In the younger grades, students make a symbolic chanukiah —
one that is not functional. In Jewish Studies class, children learn
what it means for a menorah to be considered kosher. They create
papier mâché chanukiyot from the tops of egg cartons, using Popsicle
sticks for candles.

Third-graders integrate STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineer-
ing, Art and Math) curriculum into the design process. Students
create a menorah using recycled bottles, aluminum tins, plastic trays
and cups, battery-operated lights, pipes, tubing and other materials.

In fourth grade, they learn about texture and start with a wood
base and use a crinkled tissue paper technique with paint and oil
pastels to create their chanukiyot. Fifth-graders work with clay to
create their own special designs.

At Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy in Bryn Mawr, highlights
of the Chanukah celebration include daily candle lightings and an
assembly led by student leaders, who are known as the JLI (Jewish
Leadership Initiative).

“With six school days this year, we may also try something new
involving dedicating each of the six days to each one of our six
derech eretz pledge values of honor, honesty, humility, community,
fellowship and modesty,” said Rabbi Judd Kruger Levingston, di-
rector of Jewish Studies at the school.

“We will connect themes in the Chanukah story and celebration
to themes in the six derech eretz values.”
At Temple Judea preschool in Furlong, there is a school-wide
gathering, where family members are invited to hear the children
sing Chanukah songs and the staff performs a play telling the
story of Chanukah. This is followed by lunch with latkes, jelly
donuts and gelt.

“We love when we are actually in school during the holiday, as
we will be this year, rather than the holiday coinciding with our win-
ter break,” said Preschool director Sheryl Milstein.

Throughout the week, a menorah is lit in every classroom each
morning, giving the children a chance to hear the prayers. Some of
the children learn about making oil from olives and have a chance
to give it a try. A couple of weeks before the holiday, the Parent As-
sociation also holds a Chanukah Secret Shop.

“I love the fact that in this small way, the children are beginning
to learn to give and not just to receive,” Milstein said. “Although we
know that Chanukah is certainly not the most important holiday
on the calendar, to preschoolers, it would be hard to find something
to top it.” l
At Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy in Bryn Mawr, highlights of
the Chanukah celebration include daily candle lightings and an
assembly led by student leaders, who are known as the JLI
(Jewish Leadership Initiative).

The Federal Donuts spin on sufganiyot includes a honey bath
before raspberry preserves can crown spiced cake donuts.

Contact: jcohen@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0747
JewIsHexponenT.CoM WINTER HOLIDAY GUIDE
noVeMBeR 19, 2015
47