Holiday Gifts

8 Fun Facts About Hanukkah

dreidel

• Hanukkah is celebrated 8 days, even though the miracle of the oil was only 7 days (the first night was natural), to teach us that even seemingly natural events are really only hidden miracles as well.

• The war of the Maccabees was the world’s first ideological war, fought by a small band of pious Torah scholars engaging in guerilla warfare against a super world power.

• There are 17 correct ways to spell Hanukkah: Chanuccah, Channuka, Channukah, Chanuka, Chanukkah, Chanuko, Hannuka, Hannukah, Hanuka, Hanukkah, Hanukka, Hannukka, Kanukkah, Khannuka, Khannukah, Khanukkah, Khanukkah.”

• It takes 44 candles all together to observe all the eight nights of the Chanukah festival, adding one each night, plus the shamash, the extra helper candle.

• About 17.5 million oily doughnuts are eaten annually in Israel during Hanukkah, commemorating the miracle of oil.

• The Temple menorah was made out of gold. The Maccabees lit one made out of wood. You can buy or make one out of any material, any size.

• When the Greeks controlled Israel, they made it forbidden to learn Torah. Children met up in secret to learn and if a Greek soldier found them, they would pretend to be gambling with their dreidels. Thus, Jewish children today play dreidel to remember the dedication of those children.

• Modern ‘Chanukiahs’ or menorahs have eight branches plus the shamas for the eight-day lighting. But the original menorah in the Holy Temple only had seven.

JWS POST YOU MAY LIKE

pexels-rodnae-productions-6116037
Why Do We Give Gifts on Hanukkah?
Hanukkah may not be a religiously major holiday, but it’s the one most heavily associated with spreading holiday cheer through
Hanukkah_PMX_2_1200X628
All Your Hanukkah Menorah Lighting Questions, Answered
Why do we light a menorah during Hanukkah? The Hanukkah menorah symbolizes the miracle that occurred when the Maccabees, Jewish
AdobeStock_231117711
Why Do Jews Light Candles?
timon-studler-sjynUnr9ikA-unsplash-scaled-1-2048x1152
What Does It Mean To Be in the IDF Reserves?
In light of the ongoing Israeli war against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, we’ve compiled a list of recommended organizations to donate
AdobeStock_516297547
Everything You've Wanted to Know About the Star of David
The Star of David is a six-pointed star made up of two equilateral triangles superimposed over each other. From its place on
Kein Titel (8.5 x 11 Mailing Label) - 13
The Mighty Lion of Judah
The Lion of Judah, or אריה יהודה, Aryeh Yehudah in Hebrew, is a powerful and ancient Jewish symbol. It represents