Hanukkah – Festival of Lights

• Question 1 out of 10

  What historical event does Hanukkah primarily commemorate?

  Hanukkah commemorates the Jewish victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE and the subsequent rededication of the Second Temple, which had been desecrated.

  The Exodus from Egypt

  The rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem

  The giving of the Ten Commandments

  The founding of Jerusalem

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• Question 2 out of 10

  Why is Hanukkah known as the “Festival of Lights”?

  According to tradition, there was only enough consecrated oil to light the Temple menorah for one day, but it lasted eight days, allowing time to prepare more oil.

  It celebrates the winter solstice

  Candles are used to decorate homes

  A small amount of oil miraculously burned for eight days

  It marks the creation of fire

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• Question 3 out of 10

  How many branches does a Hanukkah menorah (hanukkiah) have?

  A hanukkiah has nine branches: one for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah, plus the shamash, the helper candle used to light the others.

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

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• Question 4 out of 10

  Which group led the revolt that Hanukkah commemorates?

  The Maccabees were a small group of Jewish fighters who resisted religious persecution and reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem.

  The Pharisees

  The Romans

  The Maccabees

  The Sadducees

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• Question 5 out of 10

  What traditional food is commonly eaten during Hanukkah because it is cooked in oil?

  Latkes, or potato pancakes, are fried in oil to symbolize the miracle of the oil. Jelly-filled doughnuts (sufganiyot) are also popular for the same reason.

  Matzo

  Challah

  Bagels

  Latkes

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• Question 6 out of 10

  What game is traditionally played during Hanukkah?

  Dreidel is a spinning top game with Hebrew letters representing the phrase “A great miracle happened there” (or “here” in Israel).

  Chess

  Dreidel

  Dominoes

  Backgammon

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• Question 7 out of 10

  What does each night of Hanukkah traditionally involve?

  One candle is lit on the first night, and an additional candle is added each night until all eight are lit on the final evening.

  Lighting all candles at once

  Lighting one additional candle each night

  Lighting candles only on the first and last nights

  Lighting candles only at the synagogue

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• Question 8 out of 10

  What is the shamash candle used for?

  The shamash is the helper candle. Because Hanukkah candles are not meant to be used for practical light, the shamash is used to light each candle properly.

  It represents the first night of Hanukkah

  It is used to light the other candles

  It is a decorative candle only

  It is lit only on the final night

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• Question 9 out of 10

  What is one core theme of Hanukkah?

  Hanukkah celebrates the right to practice one’s faith freely and honors those who resisted forced assimilation and religious oppression.

  Religious freedom

  Harvest and agriculture

  Mourning and remembrance

  Creation and beginnings

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• Question 10 out of 10

  What do the Hebrew letters on a dreidel traditionally stand for?

  The letters nun, gimel, hei, and shin form an acronym for a Hebrew phrase recalling the miracle of the oil. In Israel, the final letter changes to reflect “here” instead of “there.”

  Names of the Maccabees

  Rules of the game

  A phrase meaning “A great miracle happened there”

  The Ten Commandments

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