Hanukkah is a sacred holiday to the Jews. It commemorates the rededication of the Holy
Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt. Other wise referred to as Chanukah it is the Jewish eight-day wintertime “festival of lights.” It is celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting. It also consists of special prayers and fried foods.
The Hebrew word Chanukah means dedication. It has this name because the holiday celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple. In the second century BCE, the holy land was ruled by the Syrian-Greeks who tried to force the people of Israel to accept Greek culture and tradition. This would go against their beliefs of mitzvah observance and belief in God. Against all odds a small band of faithful Jews led by
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When the Jews wanted to light the Temple’s Menorah, which is a seven branched candelabrum, they found only a single cruse of olive oil. It had escaped contamination by the
Greeks. Miraculously, the lit Menorah and the one day supply of olive oil lasted for seven extra days. After that there was enough new oil to be prepared under conditions of ritual purity. To commemorate and publicize these miracles, the sages instituted the full story and the festival of Chanukah.
The dates of Hanukkah are determined by the Hebrew calendar. Hanukkah officially begins at the 25th day of Kislev and concludes on the 2nd or 3rd day of Tevet. The Jewish day begins at sunset ironically. Potato latkes and doughnuts are requirements. And brisket is some traditional main courses. Some other foods include brisket, short ribs, noodle kugel, and of course doughnuts.
There are many symbols that represent Hanukkah. The Jews used olive oil to light the Menorah. The Menorah has an extra place for the sham mash which is the extra candle that is used to light all the other candles. Foods are fried in oil which reminds Jews of the oil used to light the Menorah. There are also many traditions as well. One is fasting. Another