History
What was the name of the leader of the Maccabees?
Judah. Before, his father Mattathias, led the group. Judah's four brothers, Simon, Jonathan, Eleazar, and Jon Gaddi, were also key figures.
How many nights do we celebrate Hanukkah?
Eight, like Sukkot and Passover.
Fill in the blank: "I have a little dreidel, I made it out of _______."
For the purposes of this question, "clay" is the answer. But dreidels can be made of so many other materials! Wood, LEGO, plastic, etc. Get creative!
How many candles are there in the Hanukiyah?
Eight. (Nine is also acceptable, though technically the helper isn't considered a candle.)
What are the Hebrew letters on the dreidel?
nun, gimmel, hey, and shin, or נ,ג,ה,שׁ
Where was the Temple that the Maccabees and their followers rededicated?
Jerusalem, at the time Judea's capital.
What is a latke?
A potato pancake, usually served on Hanukkah.
What does "ocho kandelas" mean in English?
"Eight candles." "Ocho kandelikas" means "eight little candles." "Ocho kandelikas" is written in Ladino, a language that combines elements of Spanish and Hebrew.
When are we supposed to light the Hanukiyah?
The Hanukkah lamp can be lit at any time between sunset and when the first member of the family goes to bed.
How do you play dreidel?
Each player begins with an equal number of game pieces (usually 10–15). The game pieces can be any object, such as chocolate gelt, pennies, raisins, etc.
What was the name of the Greek king who the Maccabees fought against?
Antiochus.
What are sufganiyot (סופגניות)?
Donuts, traditionally served on Hanukkah, usually filled with jelly or custard.
Sing the first stanza of the song, "Hanukkah, O, Hanukkah"!
"Hanukkah, Oh, Hanukkah
Come light the menorah
Let's have a party
We'll all dance the hora.
Gather 'round the table
We'll give you a treat,
Dreidels to play with and latkes to eat."
True or false: the height of the candles on the Hanukiyah doesn't matter.
False. All eight candles are supposed to be the same height, since no day of Hanukkah is better than another, and the shamash can be higher
What do the letters on the dreidel stand for? (In Hebrew, not in the game.)
Nun, or נ: Neis, נֵס.
Gimmel, or ג: Gadol, גָּדוֹל.
Hey, or ה: Hayah, הָיָה.
Shin, or שׁ: Sham, שָׁם.
"A great miracle happened there."
In Israel, the fourth letter is פּ, which stands for the word פֹּה. "Poh" means "here."
What was the date that the Maccabees and their followers rededicated the Temple? (Hint: it's the day of the start of the holiday of Hanukkah.)
The 25th day of Kislev.
What does the word Hanukkah mean?
It means "dedication."
What is the Hebrew name of the Hanukkah song, "Rock of Ages"?
Maoz Tzur, or מָעוֹז צוּר.
What is the Hebrew name of the helper candle on the Hanukiyah?
The shamash, שַׁמָּשׁ.
What language does the word "dreidel" come from?
Yiddish. It comes from the word dreyen, "to turn."
When Antiochus set out to crush the Maccabees at Bet Zur, he gathered an enormous group of weapons and soldiers, including an unusual animal to use in the battle. What was that animal?
Elephants. There's a story that says that Eleazar Maccabee was killed when he stabbed one of the Greeks' war elephants and it fell and crushed him.
Does Hanukkah appear in the Torah?
No. Hanukkah is the only important Jewish holiday not mentioned in the Torah.
Name a Hanukkah song other than: "I Have a Little Dreidel," "Hanukkah, O, Hanukkah," "Ocho Kandelikas," or "Rock of Ages."
So many! Some ideas:
"Mi Yimalel" (מי ימלל), "Al HaNissim" (עַל הַנִסִּים), "Ner Li" (נֵר לִי), "The Latke Song," "Not By Might, Not By Power," "Sevivon Sov Sov Sov," "The Hanukkah Song" etc.
Which candle do we light first (after the helper)?
We start with the newest candle first, left to right.
What is the Hebrew word for dreidel?
S'veevon, or סְבִיבוֹן.