Celebrating Chanukah
Chanukah—the Jewish festival of lights—is celebrated worldwide this week. We invited Jodi Reiter, parent of children in Grade 3 and Kindergarten (pictured above), to share some of the meaning and traditions of Chanukah with us. Thank you for sharing Jodi, and we wish everybody Chanukah same’ach (Happy Chanukah)!
Chanukah means ‘dedication’ in Hebrew. It is a holiday with many traditions, all to invoke jubilation and to bring and to share light—both literally and spiritually. Chanukah is celebrated for eight days and nights, with the light growing in strength throughout the holiday with the nightly addition of one candle, or lighted wick, on the Chanukiah or menorah, which symbolizes the Creation in seven days, with the center light representing the Sabbath.
Like all Jewish holidays, Chanukah begins and ends at sundown and always falls on the 25th day of the month of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar. The Jewish calendar is different from the solar calendar used in the United States, so the date varies. This year, the first lights of Chanukah are lit on the evening of Sunday, November 28.
Religiously, Chanukah is a minor holiday, though it is often celebrated with fervor around the world alongside other religious and cultural festivals of light. As is typical with joyous Jewish holidays, the Jewish people delight in elevating the celebration through song, food, drink, games, gifts, giving and gathering.
The story of the Chanukah miracle is one of the underdog’s achievements; of perseverance, courage, faith and will. It is said that over 2,000 years ago, King Antiochus from Syria took control of Jerusalem and would not allow Jewish people to practice their religion and traditions. They were forced to worship Greek gods, and King Antiochus erected an altar to the god Zeus in the Jewish temple. After many years of fighting, a small group of Jewish rebel warriors, led by Yehuda (Judah in English), revolted and ultimately defeated the Syrian rulers and were able to take back the Temple in Jerusalem.
Yehuda was nicknamed Yehuda HaMakabi, translated to ‘Judah the Hammer.’ This group of rebels is often referred to as the Maccabees, with many stories and songs about this courageous lot. The Maccabean Jews regained control of their temple and, in order to complete a ritual cleansing and rededication of the temple, they needed to burn uncontaminated oil in the Temple menorah throughout the night, every night. They were only able to obtain one day’s worth of oil for the menorah, yet it burned for eight days, which gave them time to produce a fresh supply. Chanukah is the eight-day festival that celebrates this victory, dedication and miracle.
Jewish people celebrate Chanukah by lighting a menorah for eight nights, increasing the number of candles by one each night. There are specific customs on how to place the candles or oil in the menorah and how to light the flames. Traditional menorahs are lit with oil, like the eternal-flame menorah in the Temple in Jerusalem, though many now use candles. Gifts are often exchanged during Chanukah to elevate the celebration and joy of the holiday.
For our family, Chanukah is another reason to gather, laugh, eat, share stories and traditions, learn about and from our history and ancestors and rejoice in ritual together!
Chanukah Foods
The most common foods enjoyed during Chanukah are latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts), both deliciously deep fried in oil, an abundant physical reminder of the holiday’s miracle. Try this latkes recipe with your family. We hope you enjoy it! People often eat their potato pancakes with applesauce.
INGREDIENTS
1 lb. Russet potatoes, peeled (about 2 medium)
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, divided
Canola oil, for frying
DIRECTIONS
Using the medium holes on box grater, grate potatoes. Transfer to a bowl of ice water until ready to use. Using a clean dish towel, squeeze out as much liquid as possible, or let drain in fridge overnight.
In a large bowl, combine potatoes with eggs, flour, and 1 teaspoon salt.
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat about 1/8” oil until shimmering. To test if oil is hot enough, sprinkle with some flour. If flour bubbles and dissolves immediately, oil is ready.
Add a few spoonfuls of potato mixture to the oil and pat down to flatten. Fry until crispy and golden, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towels to drain, then sprinkle with remaining salt.
Serve with chives, applesauce, and sour cream.
Dreidel Game
Make it stand out
Dreidel (sevivon in Hebrew) games are played for gelt (money), though the gelt is often chocolate coins and traditionally is meant to be given as gifts or charity. The dreidel is a spinning top with Hebrew letters on each side; the letter that is face up when the dreidel stops spinning indicates whether gelt is shared or received. The letters are an acronym for “a great miracle happened there” (or “a great miracle happened here” if the dreidel spinner is in Jerusalem).