The Great Hanukkah Quiz

Answer: Pig

When the Seleucids tried to put down the Jews living in the Land of Israel, they attempted to Hellenize them by subverting their religion. This meant bringing in the Greek pantheon of gods into the Jewish Holy Temple at Jerusalem, outlawing Jewish customs and traditions, and replacing Jewish practices with more 'modern' Greek ones. Part of this meant that they brought in pigs as a source of meat, something considered unclean to eat by Jewish Kashruth laws.

The pig, Sus domesticus, is a omnivorous ungulate which has been domesticated for many thousands of years and used as a source of food. The domesticated version came from the wild boar and separate regions found fit to tame it. The Bible specifically lists it as an animal that is unfit to eat.

Answer: Kahuna

Kahuna is the word that describes a person that is important or an expert in their field. The word comes from Hawai'i where it can be used as a title for an elder or a shaman.

Mattathias the Hasmonean was a Cohen, or priest, of Jerusalem. When he saw the Hellenization that was taking place, he removed himself from the city and went back to Modi'in, the place he originally came from. He then killed the official that came to his house and told him to sacrifice an offering to the Greek gods. His rebellious act and the heavy-handedness of his sons helped spark the revolution that the Jews staged against their Greek oppressors.

Answer: Jonathan

Jonathan Apphus was the youngest son of Mattathias the Hasmonean. He took up the mantle of leadership when his older brother, Judah Maccabee, was killed in battle against the Greeks. Judah was the first military leader of the Jewish rebellion against the Seleucids and he was doing a good job right up until his death. Jonathan's main success came against the Greek general Bacchides. Jonathan's victories eventually led to Bacchides being recalled to Athens and a treaty being struck between the two. Jonathan led the Maccabees for several years until 143 BCE, eventually being captured in a treacherous and deceitful trap that led to his death.

Answer: Order of Canada

Though Simon Chang was born in Guangzhou, China, he moved at a very young age to Vancouver, BC, Canada. He dedicated his life to fashion, specifically women's fashion, after graduating from Emily Carr University of Art and Design. He has many different collections to his name; from evening-wear to swim-wear and even sunglasses, Chang has designed them all.

Simon Thassi, on the other hand, had a much more tumultuous life. He was the second son of Mattathias the Hasmonean, but was the third leader of the dynasty. A successful military leader, he took over when his youngest brother, Jonathan, died, and continued his conquests. He was the first to take the title of Prince, and led from 142 to 135 BCE.

Answer: Dreidels

The custom of spinning sevivonim, or dreidels, is definitely a Hanukkah one, however, its origins are not clear. Some attribute the custom to a similar German custom of spinning tops that probably came from Ireland or England. Others tell the story of Jews in the time of King Antiochus IV, leader of the Seleucids in Israel, who were studying Torah, illegally. When the Greek soldiers would come to inspect, the Torah would be hidden away and dreidels would be thrown onto the table as a cover story for their gathering.

Children like to play with dreidels and often play to win Hanukkah gelt, or coins. These coins are filled with chocolate, a sweet treat for any young child.

Answer: Hammer

Judah Maccabee was the third son of Mattathias the Hasmonean, the spiritual leader of the rebellion. He was a well-known warrior and some historians have said that his weapon of choice was a hammer, hence the name. Others say that the name references the fierceness with which he fought in battle, striking down his opponents like a hammer.

Those of a more religious bent say the name references a passage in the Bible from Exodus 15:11, "Who among the gods is like you, Lord?"

Answer: Israel

The story of Hanukkah took place in the Biblical Land of Israel, which is located in the present-day State of Israel. The Seleucid Empire was based out of Syria and continues east until present-day Iran, and was a vassal of the Greeks. When the Seleucids conquered Israel, they expected to subjugate them with ease as they had done to the other countries that they had previously conquered - by inserting their own cultures and beliefs instead of the local ones.

However, they did not bank on the fact that the Jews were so fiercely loyal to their religion.

Answer: Herod

The Hasmoneans had a solid grip on the region of the Land of Israel for over a century. These leaders were the self-proclaimed king, or basileus, of the land as the Seleucids fell into decline following the revolt of the Maccabees. This led to defeats at the hands of the Egyptians as well as the Romans.

The Hasmoneans actually ruled as an independent state for a while before the Romans swooped in and changed these parameters. The Roman ally who was chosen to be the king that deposed the Hasmoneans was Herod, later known as "the Great", who was also the king in the time of Jesus.

Answer: Fried in oil

Though, as a personal choice, you may not be able to eat only one of these traditional Hanukkah foods, they all have the common factor that they are fried in oil. Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of the oil; when the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was rededicated ('dedication' is the meaning of the word 'Hanukkah'), not enough kosher oil was left to light the menorah, a candelabra used for rituals. One small jug of oil was left, and it was deemed to be enough to light the menorah for only one night. Runners were sent to the nearby olive groves to get more oil, and the menorah was lit, however it took eight days to get the oil.

However, the little jug of oil lasted for eight nights, exceeding expectations - a true Hanukkah miracle.

Answer: Moritz Daniel Oppenheim

While all of these artists are Jewish, Moritz Daniel Oppenheim is the only German one amongst them. He is considered the first Jewish artist of the modern era. Born in Hanau, Germany, in 1800, he formally studied art in Germany as well as during inspiring trips to Paris and Rome. He was able to portray Jewish life in his art, a strong influence in his own personal life as well. "The Kindling of Hanukkah Lights" (1880) is an oil painting on canvas which shows a family celebrating the holiday and children lighting the chanukiyah in the window.

The lighting of the chanukiyah, or the Hanukkah menorah, is the act of remembering the miracle of the oil. It involves the mitzvah (commandment) of 'pirsum ha-nes' - letting the miracle be known to many. The chanukiyah is placed in the window for all to see. If there is a danger to the family by making their Jewishness known, however, the chanukiyah is allowed to be placed in an inner room or behind closed drapes to protect the family.