What is Chanukah?

If you’re not Jewish, you may have heard of Chanukah and be wondering what it is. You might be more familiar with the term Hannukah. This holiday is celebrated during the month of December, and it celebrates the Maccabean Revolt, which led to the recovery of Jerusalem and the rededication of the Second Temple during the 2nd century BC. While the history of the holiday varies, the purpose of the festival remains the same: to give light and hope to all.

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Chanukah or Hanukkah is a Jewish winter festival celebrated with menorah lightings and special prayers. It is also known as the Festival of Lights and is observed in December and January. It is sometimes referred to as the Festival of Dedication, since the Maccabean Revolt led to the rededication of the Holy Temple in the 2nd century BC. If you’re Jewish, you’re likely to celebrate this festival as a significant part of your religious calendar. For unique gifts, such as Bar Mitzvah Cards, go to a site like https://cazenovejudaica.com/uk

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During the holiday, children are often given gifts, including a dreidel (called a savivon in Hebrew) which is a spinning top game. They can also eat food that includes popular choices like latkes, delicious pan-fried potato snacks. The tradition has evolved to include a variety of foods, such as potato fritters. In some families, children are also given “gelt” (gold coins), which is a chocolate wrapped in foil that represents money. Other traditional foods include beef brisket, kugel, soup and doughnuts!