Who are the characters in Hanukkah?

Who are the characters in Hanukkah?

Characters and heroes Matityahu the High Priest, also referred to as Mattathias and Mattathias ben Johanan. Matityahu was a Jewish High Priest who, together with his five sons, played a central role in the story of Hanukkah. Judah the Maccabee, also referred to as Judas Maccabeus and Y’hudhah HaMakabi.

What is the legend of Hanukkah?

The eight-day Jewish celebration known as Hanukkah or Chanukah commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where according to legend Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt.

What are Hanukkah symbols?

The most famous symbol of Hanukkah is the hanukkiah, the nine-branched candelabra which is lit each night, and can often be seen in house windows. Hanukkah celebrations are centred around lighting the hanukkiah, and families will gather to light the candles together.

What is the most important thing about Hanukkah?

Menorah. The most important of all Hanukkah traditions is the lighting of the menorah each evening.

Who is the hero of Hanukkah?

Judah Maccabee
Perhaps some of us fantasize about being heroes ourselves. The apparent hero of the Chanukah story is Judah Maccabee – a warrior who fought a battle against the assimilationist Jews and won. It is a terribly bloody story, and was not even included in the Hebrew Bible.

What are the 3 traditional colors for Hanukkah?

It’s no secret that the American holiday calendar is thoroughly color-coded. The Fourth of July is red, white and blue, for obvious reasons.

What are 4 facts about Hanukkah?

The word Hanukkah means “dedication.” The holiday commemorates the triumph of a band of rebel Jews known as the Maccabees in reclaiming their temple from the Greek-Syrians. 2 Hanukkah lasts for eight nights, to commemorate how long the holy light burned. 3 A Menorah is lit each night of the holiday.

What did Judith do in the Bible?

Meet the Biblical heroine who beheaded a Babylonian to save her people. Using her brains and looks, the widow Judith infiltrated Nebuchadrezzars’s army and slayed its commander, Holofernes.

What do you need to know about Hanukkah?

What is Hanukkah? Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that reaffirms the ideals of Judaism and commemorates in particular the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem by the lighting of candles on each day of the festival.

What are the names of the candles in Hanukkah?

This unique candle is called the shamash (Hebrew: שמש‎, “attendant”). Each night, one additional candle is lit by the shamash until all eight candles are lit together on the final night of the holiday. Other Hanukkah festivities include playing dreidel and eating oil-based foods such as doughnuts and latkes.

What foods do people eat to celebrate Hanukkah?

Rituals. Many families exchange gifts each night, such as books or games, and “Hanukkah Gelt” is often given to children. Fried foods (such as latkes ( potato pancakes ), jelly doughnuts ( sufganiyot ), and Sephardic bimuelos) are eaten to commemorate the importance of oil during the celebration of Hanukkah.

When is the lighting of the menorah in Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, called a menorah (or hanukkiah).