Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BCE. It celebrates a miracle in which a one-day supply of oil for the temple's menorah lasted eight days. Common Hanukkah traditions include lighting a menorah each night, eating foods like latkes and jelly doughnuts, playing games with a dreidel, and exchanging gifts.

1. HanukkahThe Jewish Festival of Lights

2. The HistoryHanukkah celebrates a post-Biblical eventIt represents the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian-Greek rulers of Jerusalem and the rededication of the TempleHanukkah celebrates a miracle that goes along with the rededication of the TempleGod made one day’s worth of oil last for eight days

3. Because the tale of the Maccabees became unpopular around 500 AD, so did the storyIt remained a minor holiday until the 1800sThe growth in popularity is said to be due to Christmas time gift-givingHanukkah is now one of the more celebrated holidays

4. WhenHanukkah lasts for eight days beginning on 25 KislevThis year Hanukkah is from December 2nd to the 9th

5. The Festival of LightsHanukkah is all about lights!For all Jews, the main ritual is the lighting of the candlesEach night one of the candles on the chanukkiah is lit.A menorah has seven candles

6. Common Foods of HanukkahDough Balls Marshmallow DreidelsSufganiyot (jelly doughnut)Sweet Potato Curry PancakesLatkes

7. LatkesIngredients: 12 large potatoes, grated3 medium onions, grated4 eggs, beaten lightly5 tbs. flour 3 tsp. salt1 tsp. pepperOil for deep frying

8. BlessingsEach night after or during the lighting of a candle, two blessings are said:Blessed are You, Eternal One our God, Universal Presence, Who sanctifies us with the mitzvot and gives us this path of kindling the light of HanukkahBlessed are You, Eternal One our God, Universal Presence, Who worked miracles for our ancestors in ancient days at this timeA special prayer is added on the first night:Blessed are You, Eternal One our God, Universal Presence, Who keeps us in Life always, Who supports the unfolding of our uniqueness, and Who brings us to this very moment for blessing

9. Hanukkah TraditionsOver the years, many other traditions have developedFried foods are eaten in recognition of the oilA game called “Spin the Dreidel” became popularA dreidel is a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters on the sideA modern tradition of gift giving developed

10. “I Have A Little Dreidel”Here is a song that is commonly sung during Hanukkah

11. Gift GivingSimilar to Christmas, gift-giving is another tradition of Hanukkah. This tradition has developed recently, during the 19th century, out of the Jewish tradition of giving gelt (tokens) to children who correctly answered questions pertaining to the history of Hanukkah.

12. Presentation byAkayla Vershay, Delaney Caballero, Hunter Hinman, and Wes Robertson

13. BibliographyAnonymous. "Hanukkah - ReligionFacts." Religion, World Religions, Comparative Religion - Just the Facts on the World's Religions. N.p., 17 Mar. 2004. Web. 11 Oct. 2010. <http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/holidays/hanukka h.htm>.Chanukkiah. Digital image. Chanukkah Photos. N.p., 2004. Web. 11 Oct. 2010. <http://www.kosherseek.com/chanukkah_photos.html>.Dreidel. Digital image. Chanukah: The Dreidel's Hidden Meanings. Harav Yitzchak Ginsburgh, 11 Dec. 2009. Web. 11 Oct. 2010. <http://habayitah.blogspot.com/2009/12/chanukah- dreidels-hidden- meanings.html>. Gelt. Digital image. Jon22.net. Jonathan Dobres, 05 Dec. 2007. Web. 11 Oct. 2010. <http://www.jon22.net/adventageous/>.