What miracle took place in Hanukkah?
miracle of the one cruse of oil
When did the miracle of Hanukkah happen?
According to I Maccabees, the celebration of Hanukkah was instituted by Judas Maccabeus in 165 bce to celebrate his victory over Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid king who had invaded Judaea, tried to Hellenize the Jews, and desecrated the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
Where is Hanukkah mainly celebrated?
Jerusalem, Israel Perhaps the most traditional and obvious place to celebrate Hanukkah is the Jewish homeland of Jerusalem. Hanukkah began in Israel, and many travel here for the holiday to see where it all began.
What is the biblical meaning of Hanukkah?
Hanukkah, which means “dedication” in Hebrew, begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar and usually falls in November or December. Often called the Festival of Lights, the holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods, games and gifts.
Why do you eat jelly donuts on Hanukkah?
On Hanukkah, Jews observe the custom of eating fried foods in commemoration of the miracle associated with the Temple oil. These sofganim were likely syrup-soaked fried cakes, akin to modern zalabiya in the Arab world.
Why do we eat latkes on Hanukkah?
Why latkes? The simple answer is that they’re meant to remind Jews of the miracle of the oil associated with Hanukkah. During the Jewish holiday, eating crispy, fried, slightly oniony potato pancakes represents perseverance, and a little bit of magic.
Why do Jews have latkes?
In short, latkes are generally consumed on Hanukkah to commemorate the miracle of the oil lasting eight days in the story of the event Hanukkah comemorates, the rededication of the Holy Temple. Hanukkah, as a holiday, celebrates rededication to the Jewish identity after it was compromised by oppressors in 168 B.C.E.
Why do we eat cheese on Hanukkah?
The Jewish tales of Judith also made their heroine clever. “By the 14th century, there’s quite a strong tradition that people eat cheese on Hanukkah and it’s associated with Judith giving cheese to the enemy to make him drunk,” Weingarten says.
What’s the story behind latkes?
Of course we associate potato latkes with Hanukkah, but in reality latkes descends from Italian pancakes that were made with ricotta cheese. After the Spanish expelled the Jews from Sicily in 1492, the exiles introduced their ricotta cheese pancakes, which were called cassola in Rome, to the Jews of northern Italy.
What ethnicity are latkes?
A latke (Yiddish: לאַטקע; sometimes romanized latka, lit. “pancake”), is a type of potato pancake or fritter in Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine that is traditionally prepared to celebrate Hanukkah. Latkes can be made with ingredients other than potatoes including cheese and zucchini.
When did Jews start eating latkes?
The latke, it turns out, has its roots in an old Italian Jewish custom, documented as early as the 14th century. That, it seems, is where Jews first fried pancakes to celebrate Hannukah. Only back then, they were made of cheese.
What is a shamash?
Shammash, also spelled shamash or shammas (Hebrew: “servant”), plural shammashim, shamashim, or shammasim, salaried sexton in a Jewish synagogue whose duties now generally include secretarial work and assistance to the cantor, or hazan, who directs the public service.