The BIG Story

Chanukah
At A
Glance

S
A
L

All About Olives

You know it's great for cooking. You

know it's great for use'in a menorah.

But did you know that in ancient

times the wealthy people liked

to cover themselves with olive

oil for use as a moisturizer?

Here are a few other interest-

\\
• When: From sundown Thurs-
day, Dec. 21„ until sundown Friday,
Dec. 29. (In Jewish terms, an eight-day
festival, beginning on the 25th of Kislev.)

• What it commemo-
rates: The victory of the Jews,
led by members of the priestly
Hasn-lonean family (especially
Judah Maccabee)„ over the
Greco-Syrians (Seleucids) in
164 B.C.E. The Seleucids
repressed the practice of
Judaism and converted the Jew-
ish Temple in Jerusalem into a
house of pagan worship. The
Hasmoneans restored the Tem-
ple and its altar. Chanukah is
the Hebrew word for "dedica-
tion," and comes from the
phrase„ chanukat haMizbay-
ach, "dedication of the altar."
The Temple Mount site is locat-
ed in Jerusalem's Old City, and occupied by the
Dome of the Rock, a Muslim
shrine.

• How to celebrate: Kindle
lights (oil is preferable, but most
people use candles) in a special
menorah ; cr lamp, called a
chanukiya. Kindle lights progres-
sively each night: one light the
first night, two the second, and
so on.

• Where to obtain a
Chanukah lamp: Jewish
bookstores and gift shops carry
them and candles year 'round;
also many department stores,

CHANUKAH AT A GLANCE
lon page 67

ing facts about olive oil:

•, If you want to see olive oil produced
in Israel, plan a visit in September and
October, which is when olives are at their juici-
est. Pick an olive yourself, and you'll see the juice
ooze right out.
• The best olive oil comes from
black olives. But they must be used
long before they turn black. In fact,
the olives are still green when they
are picked, then specially treated
before having the oil extracted.
• Today, modern technology makes
for fairly easy removal of olive oil.
In ancient times, however, it was an
arduous process. First, the oil was
hand-squeezed; this was then used
in perfumes or to anoint a king.
Next, the olives were placed in a
huge, stone press and the rest of
the oil was crushed out. This oil was
used for the purposes of lighting and
cooking.
•,In the time of the Maccabees, harvesting olives was
a popular profession. Jews living in the area continued
producing olive products throughout
the centuries, and it's still possible to
see 2,000-year-old olive trees in
Israel today.
• The leading olive-oil producer
today is Spain, followed by Italy and
Greece.

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The commemorative coin issued by Israel
each year at Chanukah

Middle:
Goodies for all eight nights of Chanukah

Bottom:
Lighting Chanukah candles

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