đ
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.
Filter by Difficulty
Questions (123 of 123)
đ´hard
The longest possible overlap of Hanukkah with Christmas Day occurred in which civil year of the 21st century?
đ´hard
The precise number of words in Al Hanissim for Hanukkah in many Ashkenazi siddurim is how many?
đĸeasy
The historic enemies in the Hanukkah story were which group?
đĸeasy
Gifts of small coins or money given at Hanukkah are called what?
đĸeasy
The Hanukkah miracle is traditionally about oil that lasted how many days?
đ´hard
The pinpoint synagogue ritual to place the menorah within a handbreadth of the doorway is called what?
đ´hard
The identity of Nicanor who fought Judah is linked to which battle day later commemorated?
đ´hard
The Ladino song Ocho Kandelikas was written by which composer in 1983?
đĸeasy
What kitchen smell is most associated with Hanukkah cooking?
đĸeasy
A typical Hanukkah gift for children historically was what?
đĸeasy
What Hebrew phrase do the dreidel letters abbreviate?
đĸeasy
Where are Hanukkah lights ideally placed to publicize the miracle?
đĄmedium
A typical public menorah can be as tall as how many feet?
đ´hard
The modern Israeli postage stamp with a menorah silhouette and olive spray was issued in which year?
đĸeasy
The game played with a dreidel uses what kind of tokens?
đĸeasy
The first night of Hanukkah begins at what time of day in Jewish practice?
đĄmedium
The Seleucid king opposed by the Maccabees at the start was which king?
đ´hard
The halachic requirement to light at dusk is defined as from sunset until when?
đĄmedium
According to many traditions candles are placed from right to left but lit in which order?
đĄmedium
The medieval custom to eat dairy on Hanukkah honors which heroine?
đĸeasy
The extra candle used to light the others on Hanukkah is called what?
đ´hard
The Maccabean revolt was aided by the terrain of which Judean mountain area?
đĄmedium
The Maccabean dynasty that followed the revolt is historically called what?
đĄmedium
The earliest rabbinic source that mentions the oil miracle is which text?
đĄmedium
The White House hosted its first official Hanukkah candle lighting in which year?
đĸeasy
Traditional fried potato pancakes eaten on Hanukkah are called what?
đĸeasy
Jelly-filled doughnuts popular for Hanukkah are known as what?
đ´hard
The unusual eight-light plus service lamp format appears in halacha under what term?
đĄmedium
Many communities recite Al Hanissim in which fixed prayers during Hanukkah?
đ´hard
The earliest known nine-light menorah in synagogue art appears in which site?
đĸeasy
Which popular food is fried in oil and often topped with applesauce or sour cream on Hanukkah?
đĄmedium
Light One Candle is a Hanukkah-themed song by which trio?
đĄmedium
A classic Ladino Hanukkah song title begins with Ocho what?
đ´hard
In the Al Hanissim text which ruler is named as the wicked Greek king?
đ´hard
The Greek source that mentions Jewish refusal to abandon ancestral laws is by whom?
đĸeasy
Many families display multiple menorahs so that what happens?
đĸeasy
What household item is sometimes used as a creative menorah for kids crafts?
đĄmedium
The decree that sparked the revolt forbade which core practice?
đ´hard
According to Josephus the holiday is also called the Festival of what?
đĄmedium
The Israeli city famous for a nightly light festival during Hanukkah in its old quarters is which city?
đ´hard
The eight-day dedication described in First Maccabees began on which Hebrew date?
đĸeasy
The nine-branched Hanukkah candelabrum is called what?
đĸeasy
The candle holder with nine branches differs from the Temple lamp which had how many branches?
đ´hard
The Talmud records that lighting at the doorway was changed indoors in times of what?
đĸeasy
Which oil is most symbolic for Hanukkah lights?
đĄmedium
Sephardi communities often prefer which Hanukkah treat?
đĄmedium
The dreidel game's four letters correspond to which Hebrew set?
đĄmedium
A popular children's book The Chanukkah Guest was written by whom?
đĄmedium
The Knesset holds an annual candle lighting ceremony in which hall?
đ´hard
The Hasmonean priest who began the revolt by refusing sacrifice in Modein was whom?
đ´hard
The Seleucid year given for the altar dedication in First Maccabees equals which civil year BCE?
đĄmedium
The Macabee energy drink marketed in Israel references which symbol?
đĄmedium
The rabbinic principle for placing the menorah lower than this height in a doorway is what measurement?
đĸeasy
When lighting Hanukkah you light the newest candle in what order?
đĸeasy
Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of which ancient temple?
đ´hard
The festival was observed by the Hasmoneans with music on which instruments per sources?
đ´hard
The Hebrew acrostic in Maoz Tzur spells which name in initial stanzas?
đĸeasy
The festival is sometimes called the Festival of what?
đĄmedium
A frequent scene in Hanukkah-themed television specials shows lighting located near what?
đĸeasy
The family who led the revolt in the Hanukkah story were which family?
đĸeasy
A common Hanukkah greeting in English is which phrase?
đĸeasy
In many homes the shamash is placed where on the menorah?
đ´hard
The halachic debate on whether to increase or decrease lights follows which schools?
đĄmedium
The customary minimum time the candles should burn after lighting is about how long?
đ´hard
The Judean town where Mattathias struck down the king's agent is which town?
đĸeasy
Which biblical books describe the Hanukkah era events in historical texts?
đĸeasy
A common charitable practice during Hanukkah is to do what?
đĄmedium
The historic fortress where some battles occurred north of Jerusalem was which fortress?
đĸeasy
A popular modern Hanukkah song that mentions a spinning toy is which song?
đĄmedium
A well-known Hanukkah picture book about a cranky reptile is titled what?
đĄmedium
The typical order of blessings on the first night is lights then what?
đĸeasy
Hanukkah lasts how many nights?
đĸeasy
The Hebrew letter on Israeli dreidels that differs from those abroad is which letter?
đ´hard
The precise order of blessings on nights two to eight omits which one?
đĸeasy
What blessing theme is recited when lighting Hanukkah candles on the first night?
đ´hard
The earliest archaeological clay lamp type associated with the era of the Maccabees is known as what?
đ´hard
The earliest printed Hanukkah piyut Eleazar Kalir wrote is preserved in what liturgical source?
đĸeasy
The number of lights kindled on the final night not counting the helper is how many?
đĸeasy
When placing candles for Hanukkah you add the new one on which side?
đĄmedium
The large public menorah near the White House is typically sponsored by which group?
đĸeasy
Which color foil is most often wrapped around chocolate Hanukkah coins?
đĄmedium
Judah Maccabee earned what battlefield nickname in later tradition?
đĸeasy
The Hebrew month when Hanukkah begins is usually which month?
đ´hard
The menorah position of left side corresponds to mezuzah on which side entering?
đ´hard
The Talmudic law not to use the light for mundane tasks is derived from which phrase?
đ´hard
The medieval Rhineland custom for Chanukah gild involved giving what?
đĄmedium
A classic latke topping in Eastern Europe besides applesauce is what?
đ´hard
The minimum height for a publicizing menorah to be visible in the street is discussed as under which limit?
đĄmedium
The Israeli dreidel uses a different last letter to read what phrase?
đĄmedium
A typical oil for traditional clay lamps in ancient Judea was which oil?
đĄmedium
In Ashkenazi homes candles are commonly placed where relative to the mezuzah?
đ´hard
Eleazar Avaran is famed for slaying which war elephant rider by thrusting upward?
đĸeasy
The Hebrew word Hanukkah literally means what?
đ´hard
The Greek gymnasium decrees in Jerusalem are associated with which high priest?
đĄmedium
The Hanukkah hymn Maoz Tzur is traditionally sung after which action?
đ´hard
The oil capacity of a standard glass cup for thirty minutes at typical wick size is about how much?
đĄmedium
A menorah designed by Salvador Dali was exhibited in which decade?
đĸeasy
The spinning top played with during Hanukkah is called what?
đĄmedium
The longest possible span of Hanukkah in the civil calendar ranges across which months?
đĄmedium
A modern Israeli jelly filling for sufganiyot besides strawberry is often what?
đĄmedium
The victory commemorated by Hanukkah restored which daily service in the Temple?
đĸeasy
A typical Hanukkah party activity for kids besides spinning tops is which activity?
đ´hard
The unique positioning custom to place the menorah at the left of the doorway symbolizes what?
đĸeasy
A Hanukkah-themed children's craft often uses what material for flames?
đ´hard
The Hanukkah oil miracle is first explicitly recorded in which tractate line?
đĸeasy
The holiday lasts eight nights to remember the oil that lasted how long?
đĄmedium
The English word menorah originally referred to the lamp with how many branches in the Temple?
đ´hard
The archaeological site with a menorah graffito dated to the Hasmonean period is which site?
đĄmedium
The rededication of the Temple is recorded in which historical book?
đ´hard
The halachic view that oils are preferable to wax is credited to which codifier?
đĸeasy
The Hanukkah melody often sung with the first candles is which song?
đ´hard
A rare Hanukkah lamp from medieval Italy features backplates shaped like what?
đ´hard
The Hellenistic ruler who later granted privileges to the Jews after the revolt was whom?
đĄmedium
Adam Sandler popularized a comic Hanukkah tune on what show in 1994?
đĄmedium
The public menorah lighting tradition in American cities grew notably after which year?
đ´hard
The first American president to participate in a public menorah lighting was whom?
đĄmedium
A common custom is to refrain from using the Hanukkah lights for what purpose?
đ´hard
The coinage issued by the Hasmoneans often featured what emblem?
đĄmedium
The Hasmonean revolt traditionally dates to which century BCE?
đĸeasy
A common modern Hanukkah decoration color scheme is which colors?
đ´hard
The first American city to install a giant public menorah in 1974 was which city?
đ´hard
A gold Hanukkah lamp found in the Hellenistic period is cataloged in which museum?
đĄmedium
The earliest known printed dreidel song appeared in which language?
0%
0/0
đClick here to share your score
Explore More Trivia
Find other topics and categories to test your knowledge