Maddie James
Hanukkah is a Jewish festival of light, commemorating the rededication of Jerusalem's Holy Temple during the second century B.C.E. The festival is marked by lighting candles on a menorah, each candle representing one of the eight nights of Hanukkah. The ninth candle, the shamash, is used to light the other eight. The menorah is traditionally lit after sundown, but before Shabbat candles on Friday evening. The lighting of the menorah is often accompanied by the serving of traditional Hanukkah foods, including fried foods like latkes and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), as well as dairy-based dishes. So, supper usually follows the lighting of the candles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Eating before candle lighting | Forbidden in the half-hour before candle lighting time (nightfall for those who light at tzeis hakochavim). Fruits and vegetables are allowed. |
| Eating after candle lighting | Traditional foods like latkes, sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), brisket, and dairy foods are eaten. |
| Other customs after candle lighting | Singing Hanukkah songs, playing dreidel, exchanging gifts, and eating gelt (chocolate coins). |
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What You'll Learn
Eating before candle lighting
Hanukkah is a Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and the rededication of the Second Temple in the 2nd century BCE. The festival is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, which falls between November 28 and December 27 in the Gregorian calendar.
Each night, one additional candle is lit until all eight candles are lit together on the final night. The candles are placed in a menorah, a candelabrum with nine branches, also known as a hanukkiah. The ninth branch is for the shammash, or "helper" candle, which is used to light the other eight. The menorah is often displayed in a prominent place in the home, and blessings are recited when lighting the candles.
Now, when it comes to eating before candle lighting, there are some specific guidelines to follow:
- It is forbidden to begin eating a meal during the half-hour before candle lighting time (nightfall for those who light at tzeis hakochavim). This includes even light meals, as one might get caught up in eating and forget to light the Hanukkah candles.
- Drinking alcoholic beverages during this half-hour period is also forbidden.
- However, it is permitted to eat fruits and vegetables during this time.
- If one asks a friend to remind them to light the candles at the proper time, then eating a meal before candle lighting is permitted.
So, if you're planning to eat before lighting the Hanukkah candles, it's best to be mindful of these guidelines to ensure you're following the traditions and customs of the holiday.
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Blessing the candles
The blessings are said before the candles are lit. In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash candle is lit first, and then used to light the others, starting with the leftmost one. In Sephardi communities, an extra candle is used to light the other candles, and then the shamash is lit last, and the extra candle is blown out. The candles are lit after sundown, but if Hanukkah overlaps with Shabbat, the candles are lit before Shabbat candles.
The first blessing is:
> בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר חֲנֻכָּה
> Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech ha-olam a-sher ki-de-sha-nu be-mitz-vo-tav ve-tzi-va-nu le-had-lik ner Cha-nu-kah
> Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.
The second blessing is:
> בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בִּזְּמַן הַזֶּה
> Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam she-a-sa ni-sim la-avo-te-nu ba-ya-mim ha-hem bi-zman ha-zeh
It is forbidden to begin eating a meal during the half-hour before candle-lighting time (nightfall for those who light at tzeis hakochavim). It is customary to eat foods fried or baked in oil, preferably olive oil, to commemorate the miracle of a small flask of oil keeping the Second Temple's light burning for eight days. Traditional foods include latkes (fried potato pancakes), sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), and bimuelos (fried dough puffs).
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Foods eaten during Hanukkah
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and the rededication of the Second Temple. It is celebrated by lighting candles on a menorah or hanukkiah and eating traditional foods. The festival is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, which falls between November 28 and December 27 in the Gregorian calendar.
Traditional Hanukkah foods include various fried foods, savory meats, and sweet desserts. Fried foods are particularly significant as they symbolise the miracle of a small flask of oil that kept the Second Temple's light burning for eight days instead of just one. Latkes, or potato pancakes, are a quintessential Hanukkah food, often served with applesauce and sour cream. Other variations include sweet potato latkes, zucchini and cheese latkes, and latkes with red pepper.
Sufganiyot, or fried jelly doughnuts, are another popular Hanukkah treat. These are round, deep-fried yeast dough filled with jam and sprinkled with powdered sugar. They are similar to paczki or beignets and are considered an essential part of the Hanukkah celebration.
Brisket is also commonly enjoyed during Hanukkah, as it is a relatively affordable cut of meat that can be slow-cooked to tender perfection. It is often prepared with wine and winter vegetables, such as in a pomegranate wine reduction or with red wine and root vegetables.
Other traditional Hanukkah foods include dairy-based dishes such as rugelach, little rolled biscuits made from a cream cheese-based pastry and filled with dried fruits, walnuts, and cinnamon. Olive oil-based cakes are also popular, reflecting the festival's focus on oil. Hanukkah gelt, or chocolate coins, are also traditionally given as gifts and used in the game of dreidel.
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The significance of the shamash candle
The shamash is the ninth candle on the Hanukkah menorah, also known as a hanukkiah, a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day Jewish festival of Hanukkah. The shamash is a "'helper' or "servant" candle, used to light the other eight candles, one for each night of the holiday. The shamash is typically distinguished from the other candles, either by being placed higher or lower, or to the side, and is not usually blown out after lighting the other candles.
The shamash holds a special significance. Firstly, it serves a practical purpose, allowing the other candles to be lit without breaking the rule against using the Hanukkah lights for any practical reason. In this way, the shamash preserves the sanctity of the mitzvah lights. It also serves as a reminder to share our resources with those in need, as it was originally created by rabbis to benefit the poor.
The shamash also holds symbolic and spiritual importance. It represents the idea that we all have the potential to be a "helper" or "servant", using our skills to serve and elevate others. This idea is reflected in the story of Joseph, who, with God's help, brought hope and light to the Egyptians during a time of darkness. The shamash, therefore, symbolises the light that God has given us and our capacity to spread that light to others.
The shamash also carries a message about the role of the servant. In the biblical narrative, the servant of the Lord is elevated and honoured, contrary to the lowly position servants often occupy in other cultures. The shamash candle, therefore, points to the surpassing significance and prominence of service in the Jewish faith.
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The number of candles to be lit
Hanukkah is a Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and the rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE. The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, commonly called a menorah or hanukkiah. The menorah holds a total of 44 candles, with eight candles representing each night of the festival and an additional candle, called the shammash, used to light the others.
The shammash is placed at a different elevation from the other eight candles, usually in the centre. On the first night of Hanukkah, only the shammash and one other candle are lit, with a new candle being added each night until all nine candles are lit on the final night. The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left and lit from left to right. The blessings are recited before the candles are lit.
In Ashkenazi communities, the shammash candle is lit first and used to light the other candles, while in Sephardi communities, an extra candle is used to light the others, and the shammash is lit last. The menorah is typically placed in a significant spot, such as a window facing the street, to publicise the miracle of Hanukkah.
It is forbidden to begin eating a meal during the half-hour before candle lighting time, which is after sundown. However, it is permitted to eat fruits and vegetables during this time, and one can also ask a friend to remind them to light the candles at the proper time.
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Frequently asked questions
It is forbidden to begin eating a meal during the half-hour before candle-lighting time (nightfall for those who light at tzeis hakochavim). It is even forbidden to begin a light meal, unless you ask a friend to remind you to light the candles at the proper time.
Traditional Hanukkah foods include latkes (fried potato pancakes), sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), brisket, and other oil-based and dairy foods.
The eating of oil-based foods, such as latkes and sufganiyot, commemorates the miracle of a small flask of oil keeping the Second Temple's light burning for eight days.
