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Jsut like all the other Jewish holidays, is there a symbolism behind the foods that are eaten during Hanukkah. One of the ways Jews celebrate their holidays, is to eat food that are in some way connected to the holiday itself.

During Rosh haShana Jews eat apples coated in honey to have a sweet New Year. Bitter herbs dipped in vinegar are eaten at Passover to remember the bitter lives that the Jews had under Pharoah's rule. Dairy foods are eaten during Shavout because God have not yet given Moses the Torah to explain how meat should be eaten.

Compared to the other Jewish holidays, Hanukka is probably the most enjoyable holiday. Not only is it fun to light the Hanukkia each night with an extra candle, but the food that has been associated with Hanukkah during the years is none other than doughnuts.

Actually any food prepared in oil is eaten during the holidays. The oil symbolizes the small jar of pure oil that was found to dedicate the Temple by lighting the menora. The Temple had to be rededicated after Judah and the Maccabees ousted the Greeks and their pagan rituals from the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. The word "Hanukkah" means to dedicate in Hebrew.

The oil in the jar was just enough to light the menora for one day. Miraculously the oil stayed burning for another eight days. During these eight days a fresh batch of oil was prepared.

Jews all over the world throughout the ages has celebrated this victory of good over evil by eating fried potato pancakes, or latkes as they are known in Yiddish. The potato pancakes can be served with sour cream, but are tasty enough by themselves if they are prepared with herbs. Israelis also like to make their pancakes out of sweet potatoes.

During the cold winter days doughnuts, or "sufganiot" in Hebrew, are a delicious and satisfying treat. The doughnuts that are eaten during Hanukkah in Israel are round and filled with jam. For about a month before Hanukkah, bakeries and supermarkets fill the air with the tempting smell of freshly baked doughnuts.

A not very well-known tradition is to eat cheese during Hanukkah. This is because of the Jewess Judith who saved her town Bethulia from the Syrian-Greeks. Apparently Judith entered the enemy camp under a pretense and prepared a feast for the General. The feast included a lot of salty cheeses that made him very thirsty. When he passed out from drinking a lot of wine to quench his thirst, Judith chopped of his head with his own sword.

When the soldiers realized that their General Holofernes was dead, they retreated quickly. Judith is thought to be an aunt of Judah the Maccabee, from there the connectin to Hanukkah.

One of the duties during Hanukkah is to be happy and grateful. Glad that the good triumped over evil, happy that a small group of Jews managed to conquer a strong army and that God has looked after Jews during the centuaries, just as in Juda the Maccabee's time. A way to be happy is to eat warm satisfying food during the cold winter months likes doughnuts and pancakes.

The custom of giving Hanukkah (gelt) money to children has also turned into a sweet treat. Chocolate companies started to make chocolates in the shape of money. A very common gift here in Israel is a plastic spinning top ( dreidl) that can be opened up to reveal a few chocolate coins.

Learn more about this author, Marina Shemesh.
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