PartyRoomGames
Log in
← Back to the pack library
Trivia

30 Hanukkah Trivia Questions and Answers

30 Hanukkah trivia questions and answers about the Maccabees, the menorah, dreidel letters, latkes, sufganiyot and the Hebrew calendar. Read them aloud or play free with friends in a live multiple choice quiz.

Here are all 30 questions from the 30 Hanukkah Trivia Questions and Answers pack. Quiz yourself, or start a free room: PartyRoomGames deals the questions, collects everyone's answers on their phones and runs the reveal. Guests join with a room code, no signup.

Play this pack free with friends
by PartyRoomGames OfficialNo ratings30 items0 playsOfficial

Play this pack free with friends

Pick a trivia mode:

Log in and we will bring you straight back here with your copy.

Questions (30)

Options are shown without revealing the correct answer.

  • 1. What does the Hebrew word Hanukkah mean?

    easy
    • Dedication
    • Freedom
    • Light
    • Miracle

  • 2. Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of which building?

    easy
    • The First Temple in Jerusalem
    • The Great Synagogue of Alexandria
    • The palace of King David
    • The Second Temple in Jerusalem

  • 3. Which Jewish family led the revolt remembered at Hanukkah?

    easy
    • The Essenes
    • The Herodians
    • The Maccabees
    • The Pharisees

  • 4. Which priest, father of Judah, began the Maccabean revolt?

    medium
    • Ezra
    • Hillel
    • Mattathias
    • Nehemiah

  • 5. The Maccabees revolted against the rulers of which empire?

    medium
    • The Babylonian Empire
    • The Persian Empire
    • The Roman Empire
    • The Seleucid Empire

  • 6. Which Seleucid king's actions sparked the Maccabean revolt?

    hard
    • Alexander the Great
    • Antiochus IV
    • Herod the Great
    • Ptolemy I

  • 7. In which century BCE did the Maccabees rededicate the Temple?

    hard
    • The 2nd century BCE
    • The 3rd century BCE
    • The 4th century BCE
    • The 5th century BCE

  • 8. The Maccabean revolt began in which hometown of Mattathias?

    hard
    • Bethlehem
    • Hebron
    • Jericho
    • Modi'in

  • 9. The Hanukkah story is told in which ancient books?

    medium
    • The Book of Esther
    • The Book of Jonah
    • The Book of Ruth
    • The Books of the Maccabees

  • 10. What is the helper candle used to light the other Hanukkah candles called?

    easy
    • The havdalah
    • The kiddush
    • The shamash
    • The tallit

  • 11. How many candle holders does a Hanukkah menorah have, counting the helper?

    easy
    • Eight
    • Nine
    • Seven
    • Ten

  • 12. Where is the Hanukkah menorah traditionally placed after it is lit?

    medium
    • In a window or doorway facing the street
    • Inside a closed cupboard
    • On the roof
    • Under the dinner table

  • 13. On the Friday nights of Hanukkah, the Hanukkah candles are lit before which other candles?

    hard
    • Birthday candles
    • Havdalah candles
    • Shabbat candles
    • Yahrzeit candles

  • 14. Each night, which Hanukkah candle is lit first?

    medium
    • The candle in the middle
    • The candle on the far right
    • The newest candle, added that night
    • The tallest candle

  • 15. The Hebrew greeting Chag Urim Sameach means what?

    medium
    • Good luck this year
    • Happy Festival of Lights
    • Happy new month
    • Peace be with you

  • 16. What is the Hebrew word for a dreidel?

    medium
    • Sevivon
    • Shofar
    • Siddur
    • Sukkah

  • 17. Outside Israel, the four letters on a dreidel stand for which phrase?

    medium
    • A great miracle happened there
    • Light the candles every night
    • Peace in our homes
    • The oil will never run out

  • 18. In Israel, which Hebrew letter replaces shin on the dreidel to mean the miracle happened here?

    hard
    • Aleph
    • Lamed
    • Pe
    • Tav

  • 19. What is the main ingredient in classic Hanukkah latkes?

    easy
    • Apples
    • Cabbage
    • Chickpeas
    • Potatoes

  • 20. Why are foods fried in oil popular at Hanukkah?

    easy
    • Because oil was a harvest gift
    • Because ovens were not allowed
    • To keep food fresh for eight days
    • To remember the miracle of the oil

  • 21. What are the jelly-filled doughnuts eaten at Hanukkah in Israel called?

    medium
    • Babka
    • Hamantaschen
    • Rugelach
    • Sufganiyot

  • 22. Eating cheese and dairy at Hanukkah honors which heroine?

    hard
    • Esther
    • Judith
    • Miriam
    • Ruth

  • 23. The Yiddish word gelt, used for Hanukkah coins, means what?

    easy
    • Chocolate
    • Gift
    • Gold
    • Money

  • 24. What kind of oil was used to light the menorah in the ancient Temple?

    medium
    • Pure olive oil
    • Sesame oil
    • Walnut oil
    • Whale oil

  • 25. Hanukkah lasts how many nights?

    easy
    • Eight
    • Seven
    • Ten
    • Twelve

  • 26. Counting the helper candle each night, how many candles do you need for all of Hanukkah?

    medium
    • 36
    • 40
    • 44
    • 48

  • 27. Where is the shamash usually placed on a Hanukkah menorah?

    medium
    • Always in the far-left holder
    • Apart from the other candles, often higher
    • Lined up evenly with the others
    • On a separate table

  • 28. Why does Hanukkah start on a different Gregorian date each year?

    medium
    • It always begins on a full moon
    • It changes by government decree
    • It follows the Hebrew lunisolar calendar
    • It moves to the nearest weekend

  • 29. In what year did the first day of Hanukkah land on U.S. Thanksgiving, a mashup nicknamed Thanksgivukkah?

    medium
    • 2001
    • 2008
    • 2013
    • 2019

  • 30. Hanukkah begins in Kislev and ends in which Hebrew month?

    hard
    • Elul
    • Shevat
    • Sivan
    • Tevet
Play these questions free with friends

Rate this pack

Create a free account to rate and report packs.

Related packs

Keep the room going with another safe, ready-to-play theme.