What is the story behind Hanukkah?

Hanukkah commemorates a historical event that took place in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BCE, when the Seleucid Greek empire was the ruling power. In 168 BCE, the king Antiochus IV Epiphanes outlawed Jewish practice and defiled the Jewish Temple in the city by installing an altar to Zeus Olympios and sacrificing pigs.

What language is latke from?

Yiddish

What means Chag Sameach?

happy festival

Are latkes and potato pancakes the same?

Latkes are similar to fritters and can be made from all sorts of vegetables. Potato pancakes turn up in most European cultures, from Polish placki to Swedish rarakor, German kartoffelpuffer and Irish boxty. They range from smooth cakes of leftover mashed potatoes to crispy shredded potatoes that resemble hash browns.

How do you greet someone Happy Hanukkah?

“Happy Hanukkah!” “Hanukkah Sameach!” (meaning, “Happy Hanukkah!”) “Chag Sameach!” (meaning, “Happy Holiday!”) “Chag Urim Sameach!” (meaning, “Happy Festival of Lights!”)

What do the 9 candles on a menorah represent?

The ninth lamp is called a shamash, a “servator,” and it symbolically differentiates the eight holy flames from other, mundane light sources. It is usually used to light the other eight.

How do you write Hanukkah in Hebrew?

Written in Hebrew, the holiday is spelled, חנוכה. Pronounced with the eighth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, chet, a guttural, throaty sound similar to the “ch” in Johann Brach, according to Chabad. This led to the spelling of the holiday with a “ch” as Chanukah.

What country do latkes come from?

They originated in the eastern European countries of Germany Austria, Russia and Poland as a peasant food. Potatoes were cheap, plentiful and easy to store, making them a staple and necessitating inventive potato recipes.

What is the symbolism of the menorah?

The seven lamps allude to the branches of human knowledge, represented by the six lamps inclined inwards towards, and symbolically guided by, the light of God represented by the central lamp. The menorah also symbolizes the creation in seven days, with the center light representing the Sabbath.

What type of potatoes are best for latkes?

There’s no question about it: Russets are hands down the best spuds for making latkes. They have a high starch content, which means your latkes are less likely to fall apart and you don’t need flour to bind them.

What is traditionally served with latkes?

Go Deli-Style: For a filling Hanukkah meal, make latkes the main course and serve with corned beef or pastrami, sauerkraut, mustard and any other favorite deli toppings.

What do you say on the first night of Hanukkah?

On the first night of Hanukkah add this blessing: Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu v-ki’y’manu v-higianu la-z’man ha-zeh. Blessed are you, Our God, Ruler of the Universe, for giving us life, for sustaining us, and for enabling us to reach this season.

What colors are for Hanukkah?

For Jewish Americans, this time of year is celebrated with the blue and white (and sometimes silver) of Hanukkah. That color choice has little to do with the the holiday’s religious meaning — and everything to do with 20th century American culture, say experts on the subject.

What do you read on Hanukkah?

Blessing for lighting the candles Transliteration: Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner Hanukkah. Translation: “Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah light[s].”

What is the most important Hanukkah observance?

The celebration of Hanukkah includes a variety of religious and nonreligious customs. The most important of all is the lighting of the menorah, a candelabra with eight branches plus a holder for the shammash (“servant”) candle that is used to light the other eight candles.

Is saying Happy Hanukkah appropriate?

Knowing how to say happy Hanukkah is important for anyone who enjoys sharing holiday greetings with friends, family members or colleagues. While the actual phrase “Happy Hanukkah” is an appropriate greeting for the Jewish observance of Hanukkah, it is not the only one.

What happens each day of Hanukkah?

During Hanukkah, on each of the eight nights, a candle is lit in a special menorah (candelabra) called a ‘hanukkiyah’. On the first night one candle is lit, on the second night, two are lit until all are lit on the eighth and final night of the festival. Traditionally they are lit from left to right.

What is the main purpose of Hanukkah?

Hanukkah means “dedication” in Hebrew. The eight-day holiday celebrates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem after it was retaken by the Maccabees, a group of Jewish warriors, from the Greeks in the 2nd century BCE, as explained by Tablet magazine.

Why 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. But miraculously it lasted eight days.

What does Hanukkah celebrate?

Also known as the Festival of Lights or the Feast of Dedication, the holiday celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabean revolt against the Syrian-Greek army. The holiday takes place for eight nights and days, commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple.