Play dreidel

Scouts is open to everyone. We don’t identify exclusively with one faith, and we welcome people of all faiths and of none.

We know it’s important for people to learn about each other, including understanding different faiths and beliefs. Scouts always respects people’s beliefs, faiths and cultures, and everyone should be open to learn.

As an inclusive and values based movement, we support our members to engage and learn about different faiths and beliefs in an exciting and meaningful way, even if they don’t have a faith themselves.  

Celebrating and understanding differences, including differences in faiths and beliefs, is an important part of our Scout values, which are:

• Integrity: We act with integrity; we are honest, trustworthy and loyal.
• Respect: We have self-respect and respect for others.
• Care: We support others and take care of the world in which we live.
• Belief: We explore our faiths, beliefs and attitudes.
• Co-operation: We make a positive difference; we co-operate with others and make friends.

Our value of Belief and its exploration helps Scouts to learn from other faiths and beliefs. This encourages them to develop or build their personal beliefs and understand their shared values, whether faith-based on not. 

We know that learning about faiths, beliefs and different attitudes can help to break down barriers, helps us all to recognise what we have in common, and teaches us to value and respect other people. It also helps us to build up respect, acceptance and knowledge for each other, leading to a more co-operative and inclusive society. 

In our diverse society, people can sometimes feel cautious talking about  this sensitive subject. However, it's important that Scouts offers young people safe, exciting and open spaces to explore faiths and beliefs. They should be able to engage in personal reflection, as they question and develop their opinions and understanding of the world around them.

Making time for personal reflection and developing our beliefs means exploring the places, people, communities, celebrations or stories which hold meaning for us, and it may not necessarily mean exploring a faith. 

For example, someone’s shared values may be their Scout Values and that person may choose to reflect on them at important times, such as when they make their Promise. Others may choose to reflect at certain times of the year, such as a faith-based festival, birthdays, meaningful events or at New Year. Some people may still celebrate events, such as Christmas, but use it as a time to celebrate family, friends and loved ones, as well as for charity and giving.

Discover more about Faiths and Beliefs in Scouts.

What is Hanukkah?

• Hanukkah is a Jewish festival and it lasts for eight nights.
• The word 'Hanukkah' means 'Dedication' in Hebrew. 
• It’s sometimes known as the Jewish Festival of Lights.
• Chanukah is the Hebrew spelling of Hanukkah, but it's pronounced the same way.

When is Hanukkah?

• It’s linked to the lunar calendar, so the date changes each year, but Hanukkah’s in either November or December.

What is Hanukkah about?

During Hanukkah, people remember when Jewish people won their freedom to practice their religion. This happened over 2,000 years ago in Israel.

What's the story of Hanukkah?

A long time ago a Syrian king called Antiochus banned the Jews from worshipping God. He put a big statue of himself in their temple and ordered them to bow before it.

However, the Jews refused to obey him because the Ten Commandments forbid them to worship anyone other than God.

A small group of Jews called the Maccabees fought back against the king’s army.

After three years, they won the war and recaptured Jerusalem from the Syrians.

When the Jews went back to their temple, they saw that it had nearly been destroyed. They cleaned and repaired the temple.

When they were finished, they rededicated it to God. They did this by lighting the lamp, which was a symbol of God's presence.

They only had one small jar of oil which was only enough for one day. However, miraculously the lamp stayed alight for eight days! That is why Jews light a candle every day of Hanukkah.

What is a menorah?

• A menorah is a type of candelabra, which is a candleholder with arms or branches. A Menorah is used in Jewish worship. They usually have space for seven candles, but a special one is used for Hanukkah, which has space for nine candles and is called a hanukiah.
• Hanukkah is celebrated by lighting one candle on a nine-stemmed candelabrum called a hanukiah each day. The hanukiah symbolises how God looked after the Jewish people during a difficult time. Lots of Jews call this candelabrum a menorah.

What happens during Hanukkah?

• Hanukkah is a very special time for Jews, so people often give each other gifts and Hanukkah money called Gelt. Some families give a small present to children on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah.
• Hanukkah is a great time for eating delicious foods. Some dishes have special significance, such as latkes (a kind of potato fritter), pancakes and doughnuts. This is because they are fried in oil. When they make them, Jewish people remember the miracle of the oil lasting eight days in the temple.

What is a dreidel?

• A dreidel (pronounced drey-del) is a four-sided spinning top, with a Hebrew letter on each side. The dreidel game is often played during Hanukkah.
• There’s a legend, that long ago, when Jewish people were forbidden from studying the Torah, they would read it in secret. When someone came along, they’d close their books and take out spinning tops, pretending they were just playing games.

Fun fact

• In 1993, astronaut Jeff Hoffman celebrated Hanukkah by spinning a dreidel in space for the first time. It was broadcast around the world!