Some Americans might be quick to say that Hanukkah Harry is the patron figure of Hanukkah, comparable to Santa Claus’s role for Christmas. … Both Santa and Harry want to ensure all the good “gentile” girls and boys still receive their presents.
Then, What is older Hanukkah or Christmas?
Hanukkah originated nearly six centuries before Christmas as the celebration of a Hebrew military victory, the liberation of Jerusalem from its Macedonian-Greek occupiers. … As Hanukkah was transformed into a festival of lights, commemorated by the nine-candled menorah, it, too, came to take on seasonal associations.
Why do Jews not eat shellfish? » Because the Torah allows eating only animals that both chew their cud and have cloven hooves, pork is prohibited. So are shellfish, lobsters, oysters, shrimp and clams, because the Old Testament says to eat only fish with fins and scales.
Keeping this in consideration, Why is Hanukkah always in December?
Normally it occurs between late November and December, although the exact dates change every year. This is because Hanukkah is always on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar. … This is a lunisolar calendar, which means that unlike the Gregorian calendar, the Hebrew calendar is based on both the Sun and the Moon.
What’s Hanukkah mean?
Hanukkah, which means “dedication” in Hebrew, begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar and usually falls in November or December. Often called the Festival of Lights, the holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods, games and gifts.
Can Jews drink alcohol?
Jewish tradition permits controlled alcohol drinking, whereas Muslim tradition prohibits the use of any alcohol. Increasing exposure of the traditionally conservative Arab sector to the Western culture of modern Israel might impact on and be reflected in the drinking patterns of these two populations.
What seafood is not kosher?
Fish is only considered kosher if it comes from an animal that has fins and scales, such as tuna, salmon, halibut, or mackerel. Water-dwelling creatures that don’t have these physical features are prohibited, such as shrimp, crab, oysters, lobster, and other types of shellfish.
Can Muslims eat shrimp?
Majority of the scholars of Islam consider all types of shellfish to be halal. So Prawns, Shrimps, Lobsters, Crabs and Oysters are all seafood that are halal to eat in Islam.
What are the 3 Hanukkah blessings?
The traditional Hanukkah candle lighting service consists of saying all three blessings on the first night, and only the first and second blessings for the seven nights to follow. Transliteration: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
What are 3 interesting facts about Hanukkah?
The word Hanukkah means “dedication.” The holiday commemorates the triumph of a band of rebel Jews known as the Maccabees in reclaiming their temple from the Greek-Syrians. 2 Hanukkah lasts for eight nights, to commemorate how long the holy light burned. 3 A Menorah is lit each night of the holiday.
What are Hanukkah symbols?
Dreidel, latkes and more: Six words to explore the Hanukkah story and traditions
- Hanukkiah. The most famous symbol of Hanukkah is the hanukkiah, the nine-branched candelabra which is lit each night, and can often be seen in house windows. …
- Shammash. …
- Dreidel (or sevivon) …
- Hanukkah ‘gelt’ …
- Fried food. …
- Maccabees.
Can Jews marry their cousins?
What is clear, is that no opinion in the Talmud forbids marriage to a cousin or a sister’s daughter (a class of niece), and it even commends marriage to the latter – the closer relation of the two.
What is not allowed in Judaism?
Food that is not allowed is called treif. Examples include shellfish, pork products and food that has not been slaughtered in the correct way, known as shechitah . Animals must have their throats cut with a sharp knife by a shochet , a person trained to slaughter animals in a kosher way.
What can Jews not eat?
Kashrut—Jewish dietary laws
Certain foods, notably pork and shellfish, are forbidden; meat and dairy may not be combined and meat must be ritually slaughtered and salted to remove all traces of blood. Observant Jews will eat only meat or poultry that is certified kosher.
Why are some fish not kosher?
Our sages in the Talmud state that every fish with scales also has fins (Chullin 66b). … There are some types of fish that have scales, including sturgeons, sharks, eel, etc., that are not considered kosher since their scales are embedded, and when removed damage the skin (Ramban Shemini, Nodeh B’Yehudah 10:28).
Why is pork not kosher?
Kosher meat comes from animals that have split hooves — like cows, sheep, and goats — and chew their cud. When these types of animals eat, partially digested food (cud) returns from the stomach for them to chew again. Pigs, for example, have split hooves, but they don’t chew their cud. So pork isn’t kosher.
Why is octopus not kosher?
Seafood is kosher as long as it has fins and scales. Shellfish like lobsters, oysters, shrimp, octopus, clams, and crabs are forbidden. Some fish, like swordfish and sturgeon, have scales that are questionable, so they’re usually considered trayf. … Kosher meat is always cooked well done so that no pink is left.
Do Muslims drink alcohol?
It is a well known fact that Muslims don’t drink alcohol. It is haraam, forbidden. They don’t eat foods with ethanol, they don’t wear perfumes containing alcoholic ingredients and they stay away from all forms of intoxicating substances . For most Muslims, alcohol is “haraam,” or forbidden.
Can Muslims smoke?
Muhammad clearly stated that “all intoxicants are forbidden in Islam.” Smoking a cigarette falls just short of this categorical ban on intoxicants. So Muslims do smoke.
Can Muslims eat cheese?
Milk and dairy Haram:
Cheese, yogurt and ice cream made with animal rennet, vanilla extract, gelatine, pepsin, or lipase.
What do Jews say Hanukkah?
What is the proper greeting for Hanukkah? To wish someone a Happy Hanukkah, say “Hanukkah Sameach!” (Happy Hanukkah) or simply “Chag Sameach!” (Happy Holiday). Or if you want to show off your Hebrew skills, say “Chag Urim Sameach!” (urim means “lights”).
What are the two Hanukkah prayers?
“Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, shehecheyanu v’kiy’manu v’higiyanu laz’man hazeh.” Translation: “Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.” On all other nights, only the first two prayers are said.
What does Baruch atah mean?
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, Melekh ha’olam. Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe. A popular expression containing this phrase is Baruch HaShem, meaning “Thank God” (literally, “Blessed be the Name”). …
What do the 8 days of Hanukkah stand for?
The eight-day Jewish celebration known as Hanukkah or Chanukah commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where according to legend Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt.
What are 5 facts about Hanukkah?
8 Interesting Things You May Not Know About Hanukkah
- Hanukkah Isn’t A Major Jewish Holiday. …
- A Menorah Is Actually A “Hanukiah” …
- 17.5 Million Donuts Are Eaten In Israel During Hannukah. …
- The Dreidel Was Used As A Cover-Up For Studying The Torah. …
- Gifts Are Only Given Because It’s Close To Christmas.
What are 4 facts about Hanukkah?
12 Fun Hanukkah Facts
- What is Hanukkah? …
- Hanukkah lasts for eight nights, to commemorate how long the holy light burned. …
- A Menorah is lit each night of the holiday. …
- Gifts were not always given for Hanukkah. …
- Hanukkah dishes are fried for a reason.