Chapter 17
The Miracle of Hanukkah

“Search the piles of shards behind the Temple. Try to find an unbroken jar of oil for the menorah,” said Judah. “If we do not find any, we must wait to rededicate the Temple until new oil can be prepared and consecrated.”

Devorah knew from her Sunday school studies that the holy oil Judah needed would take many days to prepare. She also knew, from the story of Hanukkah, that someone would find one small jar of oil. Maybe she could be the one! She hurried outside to search a pile of broken pottery off to the side of the Temple.

One by one the people re-entered the Temple shaking their heads. Benjamin returned, holding a small broken fragment from an oil jar. Devorah was the last to return. While searching through a small pile of fragments, she had found an unbroken jar of oil! Cradling it, she walked slowly into the Temple.

Devorah lifted up the jar. “I found some,” she whispered.

Judah took the jar from her and raised it high in the air. “We have our oil!”

Devorah, smiling, backed up into the cheering crowd. Then she hurried to her brother and pulled him aside.

“Benjamin,” she said softly. “Let’s go.”

“What do you mean, let’s go?”

Devorah opened a small cloth she was holding. The jar of oil was not the only thing she had found in the rubble.

“The dreidel! You’ve found Bubbe’s dreidel!” But the smile that spread across Benjamin’s face was quickly replaced with a frown.

“We can’t go now! We’ll miss the celebration! And besides, you didn’t find enough oil. That tiny jar won’t last more than one night. We have to help them find more oil.”

“They have enough oil. Don’t you remember the Hanukkah story? The little jar of oil lasted eight days! That’s the miracle of Hanukkah. Everything will be fine. This is their celebration, Benjamin. Let’s go home and have ours.”

Benjamin agreed. With the celebration going on behind them, the children sat down on the ground. Placing their hands on the dreidel, they gave it a slow spin. They let go and the top spun faster and faster. The Temple whirled with it, around and around. The children watched dizzily until the dreidel slowed its frantic dance and stopped—just like that. The golden Gimmel was face up.

Gimmel means you get everything!