What is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah (חֲנוּכָּה, where the first H is pronounced with a gutteral sound that is similar to the /ch/ sound in loch.) is an 8-day Jewish holiday that commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over King Antiochus of Syria and the Syrian armies in 165 B.C.E. Hanukkah means “dedication” in Hebrew and is a holiday that celebrates religious freedom. Following the Maccabees’ victory, the Temple--the holy place of worship in Jerusalem--was rededicated.

When the Maccabees sought to light the Temple's menorah, they found enough oil to last one night. Miraculously when they lit the menorah, the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days. To commemorate and publicize these miracles, the festival of Hanukkah was created. Note that Judaism uses a lunar calendar to mark days, so a new day begins when three stars appear in the night sky.

How to play this game if you aren’t Jewish

I encourage you to play this game if you are not Jewish. This will be a learning opportunity for you. Keep the following in mind: