Hanukkah
By Charlie and Valerie
Who celebrates it?
Hanukkah is celebrated by the religion Jewish. It was started after in the year 165 BCE. It is celebrated on December 6 and ends on December 14.
Background
Hanukkah is also called Chanukah which means "dedication". triumph of jewish people over religious persecution. Chanukah commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the second temple of jerusalem, where according to legend jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt.
Dreidel
Each side of the dreidel bears a letter of the Hebrew (Nun),(Gimel), (He),(Shin)
latkes (potato pancakes)
Latkes are traditionally eaten during Hanukkah and serve as a symbol of the legend of the jar of oil that lasted for eight days.
Star of David
Represents the High Holy Days. It is often an accompaniment of the Menorah.
Customs
Ma'oztzur (Rock of Ages) is usually sung after the lighting of the candles, each night for eight days straight. Menorah means "candelabrum" and it refers to the nine-branched ceremonial lamp in which the hanukkah candles are placed and blessed each night of the holiday. the Menorah has nine branches which it contains eight candles which you light one every day through out the whole holiday. The Torah reading for each day of Hnukkah, is taken from Numbers 6:22-8:4, which recounts the dedication of the Mishkan (temporary, movable place of worship) by the isrealites in the dessert.
How changed
Many decades ago Hanukkah was just a small holiday to the jews but now it became one of the most celebrated holidays for the Jewish religion.
Food
Latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts)—foods cooked in oil—are traditionally eaten during Hanukkah and serve as a symbol of the legend of the jar of oil that lasted for eight days. In Israel, pastry shops specialize in creating delicious and creative sufganiyot.