Make your own Chocolate Gelt at Manchester Jewish Museum
Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor
In the UK, this time of year can be overwhelmingly orientated towards that particular religious holiday which has received the hard backing of capitalism, the American film industry and large bearded men looking for seasonal work for decades. (Oh yeah, and Christians for centuries before that). However, there are many other festivals and celebrations taking place over the next couple of months. Manchester Jewish Museum is a beacon of cultural exchanges, so it’s no surprise they have a feast of activities laid on to celebrate the Jewish holiday Chanukah. Join them to create your own chocolate Gelt and learn about the history and significance of the ‘Festival of Lights’.
A Gelt is a little chocolate coin often given to children around Chanukah. The tradition is thought to be an acknowledgement of the coins the Maccabean victors distributed to the Jewish widows, soldiers, and orphans, possibly at the first celebration of the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. It has since become interwoven with Chanukah celebrations.
While making your own chocolate Gelts there will be a range of fruits, glitter and sprinkles for you to incorporate into your coins. You’ll then create a little origami box to take your Gelts home in, whether you share them with friends and family or gift them to someone else. The workshop is appropriate for all ages and although all the ingredients used are vegetarian, and the chocolate will be dairy free, the food is not ‘Beth Din’ supervised. You can get in touch with the museum ahead of time if you do have any questions or allergies, they aim to be as accommodating as possible.
Entry into the museum is included in the ticket price so it’s well worth sticking about and making a day of it. Amongst the vibrant exhibitions you will also find places to play the traditional Chanukah game of Dreidel as well as being able to take part in the museum’s current candle decorating activity.
Check out the other activities happening at Manchester Jewish Museum over the coming weeks as their programme is always packed with variation and quality.
