Hanukkah

Hanukkah facts

• It is customary to eat fried foods on Chanukkah because of the significance of oil to the holiday. Among Ashkenazic Jews, this usually includes latkes (potato pancakes fried in oil) and doughnuts.
• A popular game during Hanukkah is dreidel. The dreidel is a four-sided spinning top with one Hebrew letter inscribed on each face/side. These letters are Nun (like N), Gimel (like G), Hei (Like H) and Shin (like Sh). These letters stand for the Hebrew phrase Nes Gadol Hayah Sham, a great miracle happened there, referring to the miracle of the oil.
• France has the third-largest Jewish population in the world, after Israel and the United States, with around 500,000 Jews, the majority of them being of Sephardic origin.
• The French Revolution in the late 18th century played a significant role in shaping the modern Jewish identity in France. The Revolution granted French Jews full citizenship, and along with it, the freedom to openly practice their traditions like Hanukkah. Consequently, French Jews embraced their newfound freedom by participating in public Hanukkah ceremonies and celebrations.

In the News and Trending in France for Hanukkah

Top things to do in France for Hanukkah

• Play a dreidel game, which consists of spinning a special four-sided block with Hebrew letters. Once you're out of game pieces, you can either get a loan or you're out until one person collects all of the game pieces.
• Make latkes and donuts at home. Many recipes can be found online.
• Learn and sing Hanukkah songs in French or Hebrew. These songs often tell the story of the holiday and celebrate the miracles associated with Hanukkah.
• Visit Jewish museums and heritage centers in France to learn about the history and rich Jewish cultural heritage. Some notable places to visit are the Jewish Museum in Paris and the Jewish Museum of Art and History in Alsace.