Heilicher Observes Chanukah Through Dedication and Sanctity

Chanukah is a beloved Jewish holiday with a complicated history. Because it is eight days long and makes relatively few ritual demands, it remains a widely observed Jewish holiday. Its proximity to Christmas has influenced its perception and celebration in modern times. While many Chanukah customs seem designed for children (spinning a dreidel, Chanukah gelt, etc.), its central themes are serious and sophisticated. 

The Chanukah story weaves together three important events and four important ideas:

1. The central plot element of the Chanukah story describes the revolt of the Jews against the Greeks in 167 BCE to assert their right to practice the mitzvot (commandments) required by the Torah.
2. A lesser known subplot is the civil war between the Jews over the issue of assimilation: how much Greek culture could you adopt before losing your Jewish distinctiveness? It is worth noting the first fatality of the Maccabean revolt was a Jew killed by a Jew because of this issue.
3. The best-known feature of the Chanukah story is the miracle of one cruze of oil lasting for eight days. Most people are surprised to learn this story does not appear at all in the Book of Maccabees and only shows up hundreds of years later in the Talmud when the rabbis ask, “What is Chanukah?” (Babylonian Talmud Shabbat 21b). In the rabbinic mind, though, the true miracle is the defeat of the many (the Greeks) by the few (the Jews), accomplished only with God’s help. Either way, like Purim and Pesach, the third element of the Chanukah story emphasizes God’s intervention, miraculously, in history.
4. The story of the oil highlights a fourth idea: the importance of dedicating or sanctification of sacred space. Sanctity doesn’t just happen; it requires preparation.

Heilicher will celebrate Chanukah with all the “usual suspects”: candle lighting, latkes, dreidels, songs, etc. Additionally, the school is engaging with the concept of dedication and sanctity by involving the entire school in a design-thinking exercise focusing on how to improve the aesthetics of our communal prayer spaces. This will serve as the foundation for a long-term commitment to arts projects to create a more uplifting context for spiritual reflection.

Chag Urim Sameach! (Happy Festival of Lights!)

Dr. David Ackerman (Doc)

In case you missed it, Heilicher Board President Robyn Schein sent a Chanukah update. Read her message to stay in the know.

Torah Thoughts from Doc

Read a brief message about this week's Torah portion, Parashat Vayeishev. Compare the The Book of the Maccabees' Judah and the Torah's Joseph, representing particularism and universalism, respectively.

Mark Your Calendars!

• Thursday, December 15 - Midwinter Extracurricular and School's Out Registration Opens
• Monday, December 19 - All-School T'filah Chanukah Celebration, 9:30 a.m., Dolly and Edward Fiterman Theatre
• Tuesday, December 20 - Chanukah Drone Photo, 8:45 a.m., Barry Family Campus Field
• Wednesday, December 21 - Holidays Under Glass Heilicher Choir Performance, noon, IDS Crystal Court, 80 S. Eighth St., Minneapolis
• Friday, December 23- Monday, January 2 - NO SCHOOL: Winter Break
• Sunday, January 8 - Mitzvah Project, 10-11:30 a.m.

View the full Heilicher calendar online

Key Dates for 2022-2023

Midwinter Extracurriculars Start in Late January

We're coming up on our midwinter season starting January 23, and we're excited to share Heilicher's extracurricular offerings. Along with HaBonim, students will be able to participate in

• K-2 and 3-4 Basketball,
• K-2 and 3-4 Theater,
• 5-6 and 7-8 Volleyball,
• 2-4 Fencing, and
• K-1, 2-4, and 5-8 Snapology.

See more details about the activities and athletics offerings on the Heilicher website. Registration is open on Jumbula. Registration for each class closes one week before the program start date or when the roster is full, whichever comes first.

Look Ahead for School's Out in January and February

Heilicher will offer School's Out on the afternoons of Friday, January 13, and Friday, February 3. Programming will take place from 12-4 p.m. Students must bring a cold, dairy or parev lunch from home.

January's programming will include slime-making with Kidcreate Studio. A professional yo-yo player will perform for February's School's Out.

Registration for January School's Out is available on Jumbula. February School's Out registration will open soon. Each costs $55. Registration for each class closes one week before the program start date or when the roster is full, whichever comes first.

Fifth-Grade Hosts a Mitzvah Project

Mitzvah Project Drive 

On Sunday, January 8, the fifth grade is hosting a mitzvah project from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The morning will be filled with mitzvah stations and activities. In order to make this event a success, we need the help of the Heilicher school community. A Mitzvah Project Drive will take place to gather items for blessing bags/care packages. We ask that students in each grade bring different items to school between January 3 and 6 so we have them for the January 8 event.

• K-2 brings socks
• 3-4, brings hand warmers 
• 5-6 brings granola bars 
• 7-8 brings lip balm

All items can be dropped off outside the Heilicher office. Please bring items no later than Friday, January 6, at 10 a.m. 

Mitzvah Project Day

The fifth grade has planned a day for hands-on activities with the goal to raise money for charities related to cancer research/support, animals, and children's hospitals. Some of these activities include making blessing bags with the Drive items, making cards for isolated people, and friendship bracelets for first responders. We ask that everyone attending please bring a canned food item to donate day of.

What: Fifth grade presents the Mitzvah Project

When: Sunday, January 8, 10-11:30 a.m.

Where: Heilicher cafeteria and library

Watch Last Week's Parent Ed Webinar

If you were unable to attend last week's parent education screening or wish to review it, you can watch the recorded webinar, Gift of Failure.

The Heilicher Spirit Shop is Open!

Order Heilicher apparel and accessories online at the Heilicher Spirit Shop.

Volunteer Opportunities

Sign up to help at All-School Lunch and/or All-School T'filah.

• All-School Lunch: Help set up and clean up our all-school lunch on Wednesday(s) in the auditorium 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• All-School T'filah: Help us set up for all-school t'filah (prayer) Monday(s) in the theater 8:15-9 a.m.

Grade-level volunteer opportunities will be sent out by room parents.

Jewish Summer Camps

Summer camp registration is open or opening soon, and there are a number of Jewish day and overnight camp options in Minnesota and the Midwest. Click the camp logos below to learn more about the camps.