Hanukkah Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. On a dreidel used outside Israel, the letters nun, gimel, hei, and shin commonly abbreviate which Hebrew phrase?
Nitzachon gadol haya sham, meaning “A great victory happened there”
Ner gadol hidlik sham, meaning “A great lamp was lit there”
Nes gadol haya sham, meaning “A great miracle happened there”
Nes gadol hayom shelanu, meaning “The great miracle is ours today”
2. Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of which Hebrew month?
Nisan
Tishrei
Kislev
Adar
3. How does a hanukkiah used for Hanukkah usually differ from the seven-branched menorah associated with the ancient Temple?
It has eight branches and no place for a helper light
It has seven lights arranged in a circle
It has ten lights representing the Ten Commandments
It has places for eight nightly lights plus a shamash
4. In the traditional account of the Temple’s rededication, what happened to the small supply of ritually pure oil?
It burned for eight days despite being enough for one
It was replaced before the menorah could be lit
It was divided among eight separate lamps
It was used to prepare food for the Maccabees
5. What event is most directly commemorated by the Hebrew name Hanukkah, meaning “dedication”?
The dedication of the First Temple by King Solomon
The appointment of Judah Maccabee as king
The dedication of a new synagogue after exile
The purification and rededication of the Second Temple
6. The Maccabean Revolt associated with Hanukkah was fought primarily against which ruling power?
The Babylonian Empire
The Roman Republic
The Seleucid Empire
The Persian Empire
7. Someone buys a dreidel in Israel and sees the letter pe instead of shin. What does that change express?
The game follows a different set of scoring rules
The dreidel is intended only for the first night
The phrase ends with “here” rather than “there”
The letters refer to the oil rather than the miracle
8. For how many nights is Hanukkah traditionally observed?
Eight nights
Seven nights
Nine nights
Ten nights
9. A family has placed the newest Hanukkah candle to the left of the candles from previous nights. Under the common lighting custom, which candle is lit first?
The oldest candle, on the far right
Whichever candle is closest to the shamash
The middle candle, followed by alternating sides
The newest candle, on the far left
10. A child notices that one candle on a hanukkiah is set apart from the other eight. What is its main purpose?
To represent the leader of the Maccabees
To light the other candles
To remain unlit as a reminder of the oil shortage
To mark the final night only
11. During Hanukkah, a worshipper encounters the addition called Al Hanissim. Where is it traditionally inserted?
Only into the blessings recited over the candles
Into the Amidah and Birkat Hamazon, the Grace After Meals
Into the Passover Haggadah and the counting of the Omer
Only into the Torah reading on the eighth day
12. When Hanukkah begins on a Friday evening, what is the common order for lighting candles before Shabbat?
Do not light Hanukkah candles that evening
Light the Shabbat candles first, then the Hanukkah lights
Wait until after the Friday-night meal to light both
Light the Hanukkah lights before the Shabbat candles
13. Which group of psalms is traditionally recited in full on each day of Hanukkah?
Selichot
Hallel
The Song of Songs
The weekday sections of Pesukei Dezimra only
14. A host wants to serve two foods strongly associated with Hanukkah because they are cooked in oil. Which pair best fits?
Challah and hamantaschen
Latkes and sufganiyot
Matzo balls and charoset
Blintzes and kreplach
15. Someone assumes Hanukkah carries the same general prohibition on ordinary work as Yom Kippur. Which response is most accurate?
Hanukkah has no general festival-wide prohibition on ordinary work, though customs may vary
Ordinary work is prohibited while any Hanukkah candle remains lit
Ordinary work is prohibited during daylight but permitted after lighting
Ordinary work is prohibited on the first and eighth days only
16. A family places its hanukkiah where people outside can see it. Which traditional idea does this most directly express?
Publicizing the miracle, known as pirsumei nisa
Recreating the exact position of the Temple menorah
Using the lights to illuminate the street
Keeping the household’s observance separate from daily life