Hanukkah is a joyous holiday, celebrated every year by Jews around the world with the lighting of candles on a candelabra called a menorah, or hanukkiya* in modern Hebrew.

Traditional Hanukkah treats include potato latkes, called plyatsky or deruny in Ukrainian, and sufganiyot, doughnuts with jam, called pampushky in Ukrainian. There is also a tradition to give Chanukeh gelt—coins, and more recently gifts— to children. And there is a special Hanukkah dreidel (E.top,Uk.dzyga) game. A dreidel is a top, or dzyga in Ukrainian.

Hanukkah is actually a relatively minor Jewish holiday. There are no religious restrictions on work … other than a few minutes after lighting the candles.

In North America, however, as a symbol of Jewish identity, Hanukkah has assumed a place equal to Passover

Happy Hannukah!

Hannukah Sameach!

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