Jillian Chantal

A Hanukkiyah is candelabrum with eight candles in a row and a ninth set a little higher than the other eight. This candelabrum is used at Hanukkah. It is a particular type of menorah for this holiday. One candle is lit the first night of Hanukkah. The second night, two candles are lit and so on until the eighth night of the holiday. A menorah is different than a Hanukkiyah in that it has seven stems as opposed to eight (this is what my research showed but I’m not sure about this- have not tried to call my son’s  girlfriend who could tell me- because she’s celebrating Hanukkah as I write this).  Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates a time in history where the Jewish people regained their temple and needed to purify it from its use as a place to worship other gods as well as to slaughter swine. They were chagrined  to find there was only one day’s supply of oil in the  temple. They lit the menorah anyway and the oil lasted eight days. 

This miracle of the Hanukkah oil is celebrated every year. The celebration also consists of fried foods (fried in oil)- jelly doughnuts and fried potato cakes called latkes are served.  There’s a lot more to this holiday and I recommend further reading on this celebration.  This blog entry is not designed to be a comprehensive study of the holiday, just an introduction.

To my Jewish friends, enjoy your holiday season.

Don’t forget to join me for an interview at http://danicaavet.wordpress.com/  today.