Hanukkah: A Festival of Lights Celebrates a Miracle

The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a successful battle won by Judah Maccabee against the Greek and Syrian armies around 165 B.C.

During the time of rededication, miraculously, a single day's supply of oil burned for eight days. Today the Hanukkah menorah has nine branches and commemorates that event as each of the eight candles are lit every day of the holiday and the ninth candle, called the shamash is used to light each of them.

Already a holiday that brought Jewish families together for prayer, music, singing, games, gift-giving and traditional foods, Hanukkah–since the winter holiday usually falls near Christmas.

A Stanford University survey found that American Jews with young children  more vigorously than Israeli Jews to preserve the traditions and significance of Hanukkah, which overlaps with the Christian holiday of Christmas. 

This is particularly true in areas where there are low concentrations of Jewish people. The researchers said it is a way for parents to "provide a counterbalance for children against competing cultural influences."

Spinning the dreidel and eating fried foods like latkes, or potato pancakes, and jelly-filled donuts are traditional family and community activities in addition to lighting the menorah.  is, of course, a staple practice, too.

The dreidel, a top, has four sides with Hebrew letters that together mean, "a great miracle happened there."