Hanukkah Traditions
What is the traditional name for the fried potato pancakes eaten during Hanukkah?
A latke, a type of potato pancake or fritter in Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine that is traditionally prepared to celebrate Hanukkah.
What is the central candle on the Hanukkah menorah called?
shamash (helper candle). It's the one you use to light the other candles. Light it first.
Finish the lyrics: "I have a little dreidel, I made it out of ____."
Clay
What historical event does Hanukkah commemorate?
The rededication of the Second Temple
What sweet treat is often associated with Hanukkah and shaped like coins?
Gelt
How many candles are in a Hanukkah menorah?
nine candles: one for each of the eight days, and one to light the rest. The Hanukkah menorah is more accurately called a hanukkiyah.
What type of oil is traditionally used for frying latkes?
Using schmaltz, aka rendered chicken fat, is the traditional way to fry latkes, imparting a rich flavor to the potato pancakes
Who is the composer of the popular Hanukkah song "Ma'oz Tzur" (Rock of Ages)? (English version)
The English version of the Hanukkah song "Ma'oz Tzur" (Rock of Ages) was written by 19th-century American Jewish leaders: Marcus Jastrow, Gustav Gottheil.
Who was the ruler of Syria during the time of the Hanukkah story?
Antiochus IV
What dairy product is commonly eaten during Hanukkah?
Cheese
What spinning top game is commonly played during Hanukkah?
dreidel, a popular spinning top game commonly played during Hanukkah.
What is the name of the nine-branched menorah used during Hanukkah?
A Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.
What song is often sung while lighting the Hanukkah candles?
Ma'oz Tzur" also a widely known English version as "Rock of Ages", is a Jewish liturgical poem or piyyut. It is written in Hebrew, and is usually sung on the holiday of Hanukkah, after lighting the festival lights.
How many days did the oil miraculously last in the menorah during the rededication of the Second Temple?
Eight days
Besides potatoes, what other vegetable is commonly used to make latkes?
What is the significance of the Hanukkah miracle?
oil used to light the Temple's menorah somehow miraculously burned for eight days. Hanukkah commemorates this event.
What is the significance of the dreidel game's letters Nun, Gimel, Hey, and Shin?
The letters form an acronym for the Hebrew saying Nes Gadol Hayah Sham, which can be translated to "a great miracle happened there," referring to the miracle which Hanukkah is centered around.
Name the Adam Sandler song that humorously recounts various celebrities who celebrate Hanukkah.
The Chanukah Song
The Maccabees
In Jewish cuisine, what is the Yiddish term for a jelly-filled doughnut, often eaten during Hanukkah?
Sufganiyah
In what year did the Maccabees rededicate the Second Temple in Jerusalem?
udas Maccabaeus, son of Mattathias, restored and rededicated the Second Temple in Jerusalem on November 21, 164 BC.
In which month of the Jewish calendar does Hanukkah usually occur?
Normally it occurs between late November and December, although the exact dates change every year. This is because Hanukkah is always on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar
n the song "Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah," what is the phrase that follows "Spin the dreidel, light the lights"?
"Eat the potato pancake while it's hot"
What is the name of the Hanukkah prayer recited while lighting the menorah?
Hanerot Halalu
What is the significance of eating foods fried in oil during Hanukkah?
Symbolizes the miracle of the oil lasting eight days