google.com, pub-8459711595536957, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
Why Eat Dairy and Oily Foods on Chanukah?
The apocryphal book of Judith tells of the eponymous heroine who set herself against the Assyrian conquerors in Judea. The truth of the Book of Judith is unknown, but in its time, the compelling drama of the story made Judith a legend and household name.
Legend tells that during the war with Assyria (the conclusion of which birthed the celebration of Chanukah), the Assyrian general Holofernes laid siege to the obscure Judean city of Bethulia. The city’s water supply was cut off, and its people were on the edge of defeat. It was then that Judith, a pious widow, came forward and vowed to save her city.
Judith went to the camps of Holofernes and pretended to surrender. The general was entranced with Judith’s beauty and brought her to his tent. There she tempted him with cheese and wine until at last he fell into a drunken slumber. Judith beheaded Holofernes as he slept and brought the severed head back to Bethulia. When the Assyrian troops saw the corpse of their general they were struck with fear. Meanwhile the Jewish camp was emboldened and attacked with renewed force, ultimately defeating the siege.
The story of Judith is one of the proffered explanations for eating dairy and fried foods on Chanukah (fried foods because they cause drowsiness). It is also one of the explanations for women’s obligation to light the Chanukah candles, since women are usually exempt from time-bound commandments. And lastly, it is one of the explanations for the custom that women do not do work after the candles are lit, to honor them for Judith’s salvation of her people.
2000+ tips and recommendations
Jerusalem, the city where kings ruled and sultans sat is no stranger to luxury. Today, even the visiting yeoman can find...
Jewish tradition holds that in the times of the First and Second Temples, all the Jewish people would gather in Jerusalem...
Technically, it's possible to visit Jerusalem without going to the Old City, but it would be hard to say you'd...
Looking for a place to begin your morning in luxury and style? Look no further than the American Colony Hotel, which offers...
The faithful may rhapsodize about the spiritual highs to be reached in the Old City; culture cognoscenti groove on the...
Once upon a time, options for eating out in Jerusalem were limited to local common phenomena such as falafel and schwarma,...
No results to show
Text text text
|
||