Doughnuts for the Holidays...

This December we'll be celebrating not one but two holidays, Christmas and Hannukah.

Christmas in Israel is definitely not any thing like Christmas in the states. It's nearly non-existent. This is not a surprise since only 2% of the Israeli population are Christians. But there is no need to be sad. And, just what I told my boys, "Christmas is here (pointing at my head) and here (pointing at my heart)." Plus 2% of Israeli's population do celebrate Christmas.You can purchase Christmas items in Christian Arab towns and in stores that cater to the expat community like Tiv Taam in Netanya and Bimbi's in Kfar Schmaryahu. And best of all (for Christians), living in Israel gives you the opportunity to be in Bethlehem, where Jesus Christ was born on Christmas day! More of "Christmas in Israel" on another post.

Santa items at Tiv Taam

Meanwhile... let's celebrate Hannukah. This year it starts on the eve of December 8. Yes we are not Jewish but we are in Israel after all. So, why not join in the celebrations? We are looking forward to spending one of the 8 nights of Hannukah with Jewish friends. It will be a night of new experiences.

Hanukkah Decorations in a shopping center

Here's my educational bit...

Hannukah (חֲנֻכָּה), also known as the festival of lights, is the celebration of the Maccabean Revolt led by Judah Maccabee around 125 BCE. The revolt was against the Seleucid Empire (Greek related) which forbade Jewish practices. It is also the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. It's not the most celebrated or important (Yom Kippur) holiday of the Jewish faith (kids are off school but parents don't get the time off) but it is the most known Jewish holiday worldwide.

unique hanukkiah, (9 branch, the possibilites are endless)

This holiday is celebrated for 8 days to signify the miracle of the oil. After the revolt, olive oil was needed to burn the menorah (7 branch) in the temple. There was only enough oil for a day but it miraculously burned for 8 days. Hence 8 candles in the menorah or hanukiah (not to be confused with the menorah, mentioned above, which is an ancient symbol of Judaism) . The 9th candle, shamash, is the lighting candle. The lit candles symbolize not the "lighting of the house within", but rather the "illumination of the house without,". This is why hanukiahs are placed by windows so passerbys are reminded of the holiday.

Israel's emblem, notice the menorah (7 branch)

Hanukkiah at the Wailing Wall

It's also customary to play Dreidels during Hannukah. Dreidels have the letters נ (Nun), ג (Gimel), ה (Hei), ש (Shin). It's an acronym for the (read left to right) נס גדול היה פה, romanized to Nes Gadol Hayah Poh which means "A Great Miracle Happened Here" in reference to the burning of the oil. Click here if you want to know how to play with Dreidels.

Dreidel made of Platinum and Diamonds

Oil, if you have not noticed, is a major symbol of this holiday and with it comes fried foods like potato latkes and the ever popular doughnuts or properly called, sufganiyots. These sufganiyots make their appearance a few weeks before Hannukah. You'll find them in every grocery store and bakery. Roladin Bakery definitely have the best looking sufganiyots, but I can't really say anything about the taste as I've only had the ones from Neeman's. Seems like a perfect time and reason for research, more sufganiyots for the holiday please.

Neeman Sufganiyot

Roladin Sufganiyot

Hanukkah Sameach!