The History of Hanukkah

 

Written by Eva S, Class of 2022

200 BC was the time when Israel became under the control of Syria. The main difference between the people was that they believed in different religions. The king of Syria at the time was Antiochus III. While he was the king he was OK with Israel believing in their own religion. Sadly, he ended up dying and his son became the king. Unlike his father, he was absolutely not OK with Israel having its own religion. He ordered the Jews to worship the Greek gods but, of course, the Jews refused to do so. In 168 BC he ordered his soldiers to descend upon Jerusalem, massacring thousands of people and destroying the city’s holy Second Temple. He took all of their light from the temple where it was held. He also took their food, water, and clothes. That night, the Jews were left with nothing. The soldiers had crushed every single pot with oil because they were trying to take away all their light. 

The Jews found one last pot in the temple that hadn't been destroyed with enough light to light one candle, but miraculously, the candle stayed lit for 8 nights. Each year, Jews celebrate this miracle. In Hebrew, it's called Hannukaih. In order to celebrate Hanukkah, you need to have a menorah. There are nine spots for you to place a candle in. Even though there were 8 nights you have 9 candles because the middle candle is used to light the new candle every night. Each night a candle gets added to the menorah to represent each of the 8 nights that the candle had stayed lit for. The middle candle is always the first to be lighted because it is the candle used to light all the mother candles each night. The first night you put 2 candles in the menorah. Usually, that would be the candle in the middle and a candle on the most left of the menorah. And each night you add a candle to the right of the previous candle. When you light a menorah you light from left to right. While you light the candles each night you recite a blessing. The traditional Hanukkah candle lighting service consists of saying all three blessings on the first night, and only the first and second blessings for the seven nights to follow. 

Hanukkah Blessings  The blessings images are captured from Chabad.org.

The first blessing is for Lightning the Candles.

The second blessing is for The Miracle of Hanukkah. 

The Hanukkah Third blessing is only recited during the first time lighting menorah OR on the first night of Hanukkah.

Lighting the menorah is the main part when it comes to celebrating Hanukkah. There are many more traditions. These are some that my family and I celebrate: playing dreidel with chocolate gold coins, Hanukkah Gelt, and making latkes.

Dreidel

Dreidel is a very similar game to Left, Center, Right. You play this game in order to get money or luck. It represents how each family felt lucky every night the candle stayed lit. There are no limits to how many people can play. Each person gets the same amount of whatever they're playing for. My family typically uses chocolate coins. Each player receives approximately 10-15 coins. At the beginning of each person's turn, they put a coin in the center of the table. Then they spin the dreidel. Depending on what they spin, they either take a number of coins from the middle or have to put a number of coins in the middle. If the coins in the middle run out or if there's only one left in the middle, everyone who has a coin has to put one in the middle. If you run out of coins you are out and you can't get back in until it's the next round. You win when everyone runs out of coins except for one person and the winner gets to keep their coins they had and everything that was in the middle.

• Nun means “nisht” or “nothing.” The player does nothing
• Gimel  means “gantz” or “everything.” The player gets everything in the middle
• Hey means “halb” or “half.” The player gets half of the middle. (If there is an odd number of pieces in the pot, the player takes half of the total plus one)
• Shin (outside of Israel) means “shtel” or “put in.” Peh (in Israel) also means “put in” The player adds a game piece to the middle

If you're Jewish you typically don't celebrate Christmas. Jewish families give Hanukkah gelt. Gelt basically means money. During Hanukkah, kids get money. They get eight small gifts - one for each night of Hanukkah.

Latkes

Latkes are a traditional food that you eat for Hanukkah. Latkes are basically a potato pancake that you typically have for breakfast it's extremely delicious. Here is a recipe that my family uses to make Latkes.

1. Heat your oven to 200 degrees and get a cooling rack ready
2. Wash your potatoes and cut them in half crosswise
3. Grate potatoes and onions (I suggest using a foods processor)
4. Transfer the potatoes and onions that are grated into a cheesecloth and squeeze out as much liquid as you can.
5. Then take your potatoes, onions, eggs, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper and mix in a bowl.
6. Let the batter sit for 10 minutes.
7. In a large skillet put oil in so that a ¼ of the skillet is filled with oil and turn the skillet to medium-high 
8. Use a fourth cup and scoop batter into the pan and as soon as you drop it nooo the skillet use a spoon to flatten it out.
9. Repeat step 8 until the pan is full
10. Cook 4-5 minutes on each side and make sure each side is golden brown.
11. Repeat steps 8, 9, and 10 until all batter is used up.
12. Put latkes on a baking sheet and put them in the oven for two minutes.
13. Enjoy! (You can serve with apple sauce, sour cream, or both.)