'Tis the Season

The Jewish year is filled with holidays and celebrations. In fact, there is only 1 month of the Jewish calendar that doesn't have any. Hanukkah is a minor holiday. In order to know what that means you have to understand what the major ones are. Basically they are the ones ordained in the Torah - Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and the three pilgrimage festivals (Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot). The  post-Biblical holidays such as Purim and Hanukkah are considered minor, but still very important.

The holiday celebrates a miracle that occurred after a victorious rebellion in the year 200 BCE (give or take a few years) against the ruling Seleucid king, Antiochus IV, who essentially outlawed Judaism and profaned the Temple in Jerusalem. (Current scholarship claims it also had elements of a civil war, but I'll leave that to the scholars.) The miracle was that a one-day supply of untainted oil lasted eight days, which was how long it took to harvest, press and transport olive oil to Jerusalem. The oil was used to light the Temple's menorah, and had to be kosher. 

The only religious rituals are to light a special candelabra called a hanukkiah, and ideally place it in a window for all to see. No, it's not a menorah. A menorah has 7 candles, a hanukkiah has 9.

Hanukkah didn't become a big deal until the 20th Century, and for all the wrong reasons. Yes, I am a grinch. In certain parts of Europe it was customary to give kids a few coins, but that was about it. Because of timing, cultural influences, and let's face it, a dilution of Jewish traditions and practices, Hanukkah found itself competing with what I consider the unfortunate aspect Christmas - gimme gimme gimme. Today gift giving and decorating are what define both holidays for a lot of people. We aren't better off for the loss of spirituality.

Like any Jewish holiday, Hanukkah has it's culinary traditions, in this case oil. In Eastern Europe the  food that is linked to Hanukkah is latkes (potato pancakes). In the Middle East and North Africa it's sfinge (a churro type of donut). In Israel it's sufganiyot (jelly donuts). 

Latkes. I made two varieties this year - carrot/zucchini and traditional potato.

Sfinge. Yafit's specialty.

Original jelly donuts. Simple, uncomplicated, strawberry or raspberry, take your pick.

Over the years sufganiyot have evolved from basic raspberry or strawberry filled donuts to the astounding variety available today. Every year something new gets added. The latest twist is savory sufganiyot, filled with meat and tehina. Turn up your nose if you want, but they've really caught on. (Ever hear of chicken and waffles?) 

How do you pick just one?

When I look at sufganiyot I see way beyond temptation and calories. They are a metaphor for Israel. There are many reasons why Israel is the amazing success story that it is. Creative thinking, problem solving, dreaming big, asking why not and not fearing to fail. All of these characteristics are embodied in these wonderful pastries, which have gone from simple to astounding in just 70 years.

Wishing you a very happy Hanukkah and Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem,

Peggy and Sid