Hanukkah Quiz

Can you guess which religion celebrates Hanukkah?

Answer explanation

For over 2,000 years, Jewish people have celebrated the holiday Hanukkah.

Can you guess the name of the Jewish holiday celebrated in December?

• Hanukkah

• Chanukah

• Passover

• Yom Kippur

Answer explanation

I might be calling the holiday "Hanukkah" in all these slides, but "Chanukah" is actually another name for it. Hanukkah is used more, bu Chanukah is more traditional.

Can you guess how many nights Hanukkah is celebrated for?

• 2

• 5

• 8

• 12

Answer explanation

Yes, Hanukkah (or Chanukah) has eight nights. You will find out why in the next question!

Can you guess the name of the 'thing' that we light up with candles each night of Hanukkah?

• Torah

• Menorah

• Hashanah

• Chandler

Answer explanation

The Hanukkah menorah has nine branches in total. It consists of a central candle, and eight other candles, which represent the eight nights of Hanukkah.

Why is Hanukkah a holiday?

• Jewish people led an 8 day protest against anti-semitism in 1893

• Jewish people were enslaved for 8 years before doing a great breakout

• Jewish people had one day's supply of oil, but it lasted for 8 days

• None of these

Answer explanation

Hanukkah exists to commemorate a historical event known as the Miracle of the Oil, which took place in the 2nd century BCE (Before Common Era). The celebration is rooted in the struggle for religious freedom and the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

The story of Hanukkah is set during the time when the Seleucid King Antiochus IV attempted to Hellenize the Jewish people by imposing Greek customs and suppressing Jewish religious practices. A group of Jewish rebels known as the Maccabees fought against this oppression. After a series of battles, they successfully reclaimed the Second Temple in 165 BCE.

The miracle associated with Hanukkah is said to have occurred during the rededication of the Temple. According to tradition, when the Maccabees sought to light the menorah (a seven-branched candelabrum) in the Temple, they found only a single cruse of consecrated olive oil, which was only enough to last for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days until new oil could be prepared, symbolizing divine intervention and the perseverance of the Jewish faith.

To commemorate this miracle, Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is observed for eight nights. During this time, a special nine-branched menorah, called a hanukkiah, is lit, with an additional candle (the shamash) used to kindle the others. Families come together to celebrate, share meals, play games like dreidel, exchange gifts, and reflect on the historical and spiritual significance of Hanukkah.

Hanukkah serves as a reminder of the importance of religious freedom, the resilience of the Jewish people, and the enduring light of hope even in challenging times. While Hanukkah is a celebration of a specific historical event, its themes of faith, perseverance, and the triumph of light over darkness resonate with people of various backgrounds.

On the menorah, is one candle taller than the other. What is this candle called?

• Sedar

• Shabbos

• Afikomen

• Shamash

Answer explanation

The "shamash" is a special candle on the Hanukkah menorah (Chanukiah) that serves as the helper or servant candle. The term "shamash" is Hebrew for "servant" or "helper." The Hanukkah menorah has nine branches in total, with eight candles representing the eight nights of Hanukkah and the ninth one being the shamash.

The shamash has a distinct location on the menorah, usually set apart from the other candles. It is either placed higher or lower than the other candles, often in the center or on a raised platform. The purpose of the shamash is to fulfill a practical function during the candle-lighting ritual.

Each night of Hanukkah, a new candle is lit, starting with the shamash. After reciting the appropriate blessings, the person lighting the candles uses the shamash to kindle the other candles. The shamash is typically lit first and then used to transfer the flame to the other candles. This practice emphasizes that the lit candles are for the purpose of publicizing the miracle of Hanukkah and are not to be used for any practical or utilitarian purpose.

The presence of the shamash also allows for the fulfillment of the mitzvah (commandment) of lighting the Hanukkah candles while still maintaining the practical use of the light for the duration of the ceremony.

Can you spot the song that is NOT a Hanukkah tune?

• "Dayenu"

• "Light One Candle"

• "Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah"

• "I Have A Little Dreidel"

Answer explanation

"Dayenu" is a Hebrew word that translates to "it would have been enough" in English. It is also the title of a popular Jewish song and a central part of the Passover (Pesach) Seder, a ritual feast that marks the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Passover, and so it is not a Hanukkah song.

Guess the language in which most Hanukkah songs are traditionally sung?

• Yiddish

• Hebrew

• English

• Arabic

Answer explanation

Hebrew is the most significant language in Judaism. The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), which includes the Torah, Prophets, and Writings, is written in Hebrew. Many prayers, including those in the siddur (prayer book), are also composed in Hebrew. Hebrew is considered the sacred language of the Jewish tradition, and it is used in synagogue services, religious rituals, and traditional Jewish texts.

What colors are associated with Hanukkah

• White

• Black

• Blue

• Silver

Answer explanation

As you might see, the traditional Hanukkah colors are blue, white, and sometimes silver. Do not worry, if you didn't put silver you still got 100%.

Does Hanukkah start during the day or in the night?

Answer explanation

Yes, Hanukkah starts in the night (there are eight nights in Hanukkah). This year, it will start on the night of Thursday, December 7th, 2023.