HOLIDAYS: Hanukkah

Choose the best response to complete each sentence.

1. Hanukkah (sometimes spelled Chanukkah) is an important Jewish holiday. Many see it as a celebration of Jewish national (survive/survival) and freedom of religion.

2. The holiday commemorates the Maccabees' revolt and (win/victory) over the Greek-Syrians and rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after it had been (discouraged/desecrated) by the king of Syria.

3. Hanukkah, also known as the "Festival of Lights", begins on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, and (grows/lasts) for eight days.

4. The most important religious (observance/absolution) is lighting candles on a "menorah" (which holds nine candles).

5. This lighting of the candles (one per day for eight days) is done to commemorate the "eight-day miracle" - After the Temple was rededicated there was only enough oil for the candles to (burn/light) for one day, but miraculously, they (burned/lit) for eight days.

6. There are special blessings/prayers which one should (receive/recite) while lighting the candles.

7. Traditional games (like the spinning-top "dreidel") and songs (dealing with Hanukkah-related themes) are also important parts of the (celebrity/celebration).

8. (Exchanging/Changing) gifts is another popular Hanukkah tradition.

9. There are also some foods associated with Hanukkah - These (vary/diversify) according to tradition. Some well-known ones are potato pancakes ("latkes"), foods fried or baked in oil, and home-made donuts.

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