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Hanukkah Trivia
Discover mind-blowing Hanukkah facts that will amaze your family! From the ancient Temple rededication to the miracle of oil lasting eight days - prepare to be fascinated by Jewish holiday secrets you never knew existed.
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Questions (123 of 123)
๐ดhard
The longest possible overlap of Hanukkah with Christmas Day occurred in which civil year of the 21st century?
๐ดhard
The precise number of words in Al Hanissim for Hanukkah in many Ashkenazi siddurim is how many?
๐ขeasy
The historic enemies in the Hanukkah story were which group?
๐ขeasy
Gifts of small coins or money given at Hanukkah are called what?
๐ขeasy
The Hanukkah miracle is traditionally about oil that lasted how many days?
๐ดhard
The pinpoint synagogue ritual to place the menorah within a handbreadth of the doorway is called what?
๐ดhard
The identity of Nicanor who fought Judah is linked to which battle day later commemorated?
๐ดhard
The Ladino song Ocho Kandelikas was written by which composer in 1983?
๐ขeasy
What kitchen smell is most associated with Hanukkah cooking?
๐ขeasy
A typical Hanukkah gift for children historically was what?
๐ขeasy
What Hebrew phrase do the dreidel letters abbreviate?
๐ขeasy
Where are Hanukkah lights ideally placed to publicize the miracle?
๐กmedium
A typical public menorah can be as tall as how many feet?
๐ดhard
The modern Israeli postage stamp with a menorah silhouette and olive spray was issued in which year?
๐ขeasy
The game played with a dreidel uses what kind of tokens?
๐ขeasy
The first night of Hanukkah begins at what time of day in Jewish practice?
๐กmedium
The Seleucid king opposed by the Maccabees at the start was which king?
๐ดhard
The halachic requirement to light at dusk is defined as from sunset until when?
๐กmedium
According to many traditions candles are placed from right to left but lit in which order?
๐กmedium
The medieval custom to eat dairy on Hanukkah honors which heroine?
๐ขeasy
The extra candle used to light the others on Hanukkah is called what?
๐ดhard
The Maccabean revolt was aided by the terrain of which Judean mountain area?
๐กmedium
The Maccabean dynasty that followed the revolt is historically called what?
๐กmedium
The earliest rabbinic source that mentions the oil miracle is which text?
๐กmedium
The White House hosted its first official Hanukkah candle lighting in which year?
๐ขeasy
Traditional fried potato pancakes eaten on Hanukkah are called what?
๐ขeasy
Jelly-filled doughnuts popular for Hanukkah are known as what?
๐ดhard
The unusual eight-light plus service lamp format appears in halacha under what term?
๐กmedium
Many communities recite Al Hanissim in which fixed prayers during Hanukkah?
๐ดhard
The earliest known nine-light menorah in synagogue art appears in which site?
๐ขeasy
Which popular food is fried in oil and often topped with applesauce or sour cream on Hanukkah?
๐กmedium
Light One Candle is a Hanukkah-themed song by which trio?
๐กmedium
A classic Ladino Hanukkah song title begins with Ocho what?
๐ดhard
In the Al Hanissim text which ruler is named as the wicked Greek king?
๐ดhard
The Greek source that mentions Jewish refusal to abandon ancestral laws is by whom?
๐ขeasy
Many families display multiple menorahs so that what happens?
๐ขeasy
What household item is sometimes used as a creative menorah for kids crafts?
๐กmedium
The decree that sparked the revolt forbade which core practice?
๐ดhard
According to Josephus the holiday is also called the Festival of what?
๐กmedium
The Israeli city famous for a nightly light festival during Hanukkah in its old quarters is which city?
๐ดhard
The eight-day dedication described in First Maccabees began on which Hebrew date?
๐ขeasy
The nine-branched Hanukkah candelabrum is called what?
๐ขeasy
The candle holder with nine branches differs from the Temple lamp which had how many branches?
๐ดhard
The Talmud records that lighting at the doorway was changed indoors in times of what?
๐ขeasy
Which oil is most symbolic for Hanukkah lights?
๐กmedium
Sephardi communities often prefer which Hanukkah treat?
๐กmedium
The dreidel game's four letters correspond to which Hebrew set?
๐กmedium
A popular children's book The Chanukkah Guest was written by whom?
๐กmedium
The Knesset holds an annual candle lighting ceremony in which hall?
๐ดhard
The Hasmonean priest who began the revolt by refusing sacrifice in Modein was whom?
๐ดhard
The Seleucid year given for the altar dedication in First Maccabees equals which civil year BCE?
๐กmedium
The Macabee energy drink marketed in Israel references which symbol?
๐กmedium
The rabbinic principle for placing the menorah lower than this height in a doorway is what measurement?
๐ขeasy
When lighting Hanukkah you light the newest candle in what order?
๐ขeasy
Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of which ancient temple?
๐ดhard
The festival was observed by the Hasmoneans with music on which instruments per sources?
๐ดhard
The Hebrew acrostic in Maoz Tzur spells which name in initial stanzas?
๐ขeasy
The festival is sometimes called the Festival of what?
๐กmedium
A frequent scene in Hanukkah-themed television specials shows lighting located near what?
๐ขeasy
The family who led the revolt in the Hanukkah story were which family?
๐ขeasy
A common Hanukkah greeting in English is which phrase?
๐ขeasy
In many homes the shamash is placed where on the menorah?
๐ดhard
The halachic debate on whether to increase or decrease lights follows which schools?
๐กmedium
The customary minimum time the candles should burn after lighting is about how long?
๐ดhard
The Judean town where Mattathias struck down the king's agent is which town?
๐ขeasy
Which biblical books describe the Hanukkah era events in historical texts?
๐ขeasy
A common charitable practice during Hanukkah is to do what?
๐กmedium
The historic fortress where some battles occurred north of Jerusalem was which fortress?
๐ขeasy
A popular modern Hanukkah song that mentions a spinning toy is which song?
๐กmedium
A well-known Hanukkah picture book about a cranky reptile is titled what?
๐กmedium
The typical order of blessings on the first night is lights then what?
๐ขeasy
Hanukkah lasts how many nights?
๐ขeasy
The Hebrew letter on Israeli dreidels that differs from those abroad is which letter?
๐ดhard
The precise order of blessings on nights two to eight omits which one?
๐ขeasy
What blessing theme is recited when lighting Hanukkah candles on the first night?
๐ดhard
The earliest archaeological clay lamp type associated with the era of the Maccabees is known as what?
๐ดhard
The earliest printed Hanukkah piyut Eleazar Kalir wrote is preserved in what liturgical source?
๐ขeasy
The number of lights kindled on the final night not counting the helper is how many?
๐ขeasy
When placing candles for Hanukkah you add the new one on which side?
๐กmedium
The large public menorah near the White House is typically sponsored by which group?
๐ขeasy
Which color foil is most often wrapped around chocolate Hanukkah coins?
๐กmedium
Judah Maccabee earned what battlefield nickname in later tradition?
๐ขeasy
The Hebrew month when Hanukkah begins is usually which month?
๐ดhard
The menorah position of left side corresponds to mezuzah on which side entering?
๐ดhard
The Talmudic law not to use the light for mundane tasks is derived from which phrase?
๐ดhard
The medieval Rhineland custom for Chanukah gild involved giving what?
๐กmedium
A classic latke topping in Eastern Europe besides applesauce is what?
๐ดhard
The minimum height for a publicizing menorah to be visible in the street is discussed as under which limit?
๐กmedium
The Israeli dreidel uses a different last letter to read what phrase?
๐กmedium
A typical oil for traditional clay lamps in ancient Judea was which oil?
๐กmedium
In Ashkenazi homes candles are commonly placed where relative to the mezuzah?
๐ดhard
Eleazar Avaran is famed for slaying which war elephant rider by thrusting upward?
๐ขeasy
The Hebrew word Hanukkah literally means what?
๐ดhard
The Greek gymnasium decrees in Jerusalem are associated with which high priest?
๐กmedium
The Hanukkah hymn Maoz Tzur is traditionally sung after which action?
๐ดhard
The oil capacity of a standard glass cup for thirty minutes at typical wick size is about how much?
๐กmedium
A menorah designed by Salvador Dali was exhibited in which decade?
๐ขeasy
The spinning top played with during Hanukkah is called what?
๐กmedium
The longest possible span of Hanukkah in the civil calendar ranges across which months?
๐กmedium
A modern Israeli jelly filling for sufganiyot besides strawberry is often what?
๐กmedium
The victory commemorated by Hanukkah restored which daily service in the Temple?
๐ขeasy
A typical Hanukkah party activity for kids besides spinning tops is which activity?
๐ดhard
The unique positioning custom to place the menorah at the left of the doorway symbolizes what?
๐ขeasy
A Hanukkah-themed children's craft often uses what material for flames?
๐ดhard
The Hanukkah oil miracle is first explicitly recorded in which tractate line?
๐ขeasy
The holiday lasts eight nights to remember the oil that lasted how long?
๐กmedium
The English word menorah originally referred to the lamp with how many branches in the Temple?
๐ดhard
The archaeological site with a menorah graffito dated to the Hasmonean period is which site?
๐กmedium
The rededication of the Temple is recorded in which historical book?
๐ดhard
The halachic view that oils are preferable to wax is credited to which codifier?
๐ขeasy
The Hanukkah melody often sung with the first candles is which song?
๐ดhard
A rare Hanukkah lamp from medieval Italy features backplates shaped like what?
๐ดhard
The Hellenistic ruler who later granted privileges to the Jews after the revolt was whom?
๐กmedium
Adam Sandler popularized a comic Hanukkah tune on what show in 1994?
๐กmedium
The public menorah lighting tradition in American cities grew notably after which year?
๐ดhard
The first American president to participate in a public menorah lighting was whom?
๐กmedium
A common custom is to refrain from using the Hanukkah lights for what purpose?
๐ดhard
The coinage issued by the Hasmoneans often featured what emblem?
๐กmedium
The Hasmonean revolt traditionally dates to which century BCE?
๐ขeasy
A common modern Hanukkah decoration color scheme is which colors?
๐ดhard
The first American city to install a giant public menorah in 1974 was which city?
๐ดhard
A gold Hanukkah lamp found in the Hellenistic period is cataloged in which museum?
๐กmedium
The earliest known printed dreidel song appeared in which language?
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