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There are many miracles in Jewish History. 10 year old Solly and his sisters Leora and Talia celebrate one of them as part of Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of lights. About two thousand two hundred years ago, a small group called the Maccabees (it means ‘Hammers’) fought to recapture the Holy Temple in Jerusalem from the Greeks, and re-dedicate it to Jewish worship. To finish purifying the temple, their leader Judah Maccabee wanted to light the ceremonial lamps. But there was only enough oil to last for one day. That’s when something amazing happened. They lit the lamps, with the tiny bit of oil they had, and by a miracle it burned for 8 days and nights.
To celebrate the miracle of the oil, Solly and his brother Rafi make Latkas - deep fried potato pancakes!
But the most important part of Chanukah is lighting a special lamp, or menorah, called a Chanukiah. It holds eight lights to represent the eight days the oil burned for at the Holy Temple. The whole family has different candle holders. A new candle is lit every night during the 8 day festival. Every evening once the candles are lit the presents are opened. Children play a game called Dreidel, to win sweets.