History
What was the great miracle that happened in the Hanukkah story?
The amount of oil available to light the menorah and rededicate the second temple was very little. This amount could last only for a night. A great miracle happened when the oil lasted for eight nights.
What is the traditional game played during Hanukkah?
Brownie points if you can name the four Hebrew letters used in the game.
Dreidel (Nun, Gimel, Hey, Shin)
How many candles are lit in a hanukkiah during Hanukkah?
Brownie points: What is the order in which you light the candles on the hanukkiah?
Eight candles are lit in a hanukkiah, with an additional light used to light these candles
You place the candles in the hanukkiah right to left and light them left to right (lighting the newest candle first each night)
What is the name of the fried potato pancakes that are often eaten during Hanukkah?
Latkes
True or False: Hanukkah is celebrated at the White House every year?
True
Who led the Jewish people in the final stretch of the Maccabean revolt against the Anticochus IV and the Greek-Syrian army?
Judah Macabbee
What type of food do Jewish people traditionally eat during Hanukkah?
Fried food
What Jewish holiday do we light at least two candles every week?
Shabbat
What is the money/chocolate given as presents during the festival of Chanukah referred to as?
Gelt
In which decade was the first chocolate gelt produced?
The first chocolate gelt was produced in the 1920s by Americans
When does the Jewish festival of Hanukkah begin?
The 25th of Kislev
What oil is traditionally used to light the menorah?
Olive Oil
We place our menorahs in front of windows. Where do the Algerians place their menorahs?
Algerians hang their menorahs on walls near their doorways
Name the round jelly doughnuts enjoyed especially during Chanukah.
Sufganiyot
How many ways are there to spell Hanukkah?
Where did the Hanukkah story take place?
Historically, gelt was the only gift given at Hanukkah. The tradition has evolved . What do many American Jewish families give to each other nowadays?
Presents!
Note: Some families have chosen to include nightly gift exchanges in their Hanukkah celebrations, while others compromise and give cash to stay more in keeping with the authentic holiday tradition
Every week to close out Shabbat, we light a Havdalah candle. How many wicks does the Havdalah candle have to have?
At least two because the prayer over the candle is plural - "We praise You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, Creator of the lights of fire"
An Italian Jewish Hanukkah Tradition is to eat pollo frito. What does that translate to in English? (Hint: think KFC)
Deep fried chicken! (coated in flour and spices)
How many sufganiyot are eaten in Israel every year?
More than 17.5 million donuts!
When does the Hanukkah story take place? (Which century)
In the 2nd century
Instead of lighting eight candles, Afghan Jews fill eight plates of something else? What do they fill their plates with?
Instead of lighting eight candles, they fill eight plates of olive oil and set them beside each other
Name two other Jewish holidays that we light candles for that are NOT Shabbat and Hanukkah.
Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Passover, and Shavuot.
Besides sufganiyot and latkes, what is one other worldwide fried food cooked during Hanukkah? (Hint: part of Hanukkah is is to consume dairy products)
Loukoumades --> deep-fried puffs dipped in honey or sugar to represent the cakes the Maccabees ate
Jalebi (pronounced zalabia) --> Middle Eastern funnel cake made out of a flour-based dough, deep fried, and then soaked in a sugar syrup
Fried cheese --> Deep fried haloumi cheesen can be found in almost every dairy restaurant in Israel!
Which oil is used by the Indian Jewish community to light the menorah?
While olive oil is traditionally used to light the menorah, Indian Jews use coconut oil