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Chanukah Trivia Quiz

Questions on the history and the holiday.

A multiple-choice quiz by avromf. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
avromf

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
55,074

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
2005

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. How many sons of Matisyahu (also called Mattathias) fought the Greeks? Hint

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which of Matisyahu's sons was the leader? Hint

Yehuda

Eliezer

Shimon

Ezra

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Question 3 of 10

3. What were the Maccabees also known as? Hint

Yevanim

Chashmonaim

Yehudim

Misyavnim

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Question 4 of 10

4. What modern day country were the 'Greeks' based in? Hint

Greece

Israel

Syria

Lebanon

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Question 5 of 10

5. What were the Maccabees looking for in the Temple that they needed to use right away? Hint

oil

sheep

menorah

spices

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Question 6 of 10

6. How many nights does Chanukah last? Hint

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Question 7 of 10

7. On what day does Chanukah start? Hint

15th Kislev

25th December

15th Shevat

25th Kislev

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Question 8 of 10

8. How many lamps did the menorah in the Temple have? Hint

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Question 9 of 10

9. In which direction do you light the menorah, once the candles have been placed? Hint

right to left

alternate right then left

alternate left then right

left to right

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Question 10 of 10

10. What prayer is said during the lighting of the menorah? Hint

Maoz Tzur

Shoshanas Yaakov

Yevanim Yevanim

Haneiros Hallalu

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. How many sons of Matisyahu (also called Mattathias) fought the Greeks?

Answer: 5

Matisyahu was an elder of the Jewish town of Modi'in. When the Greeks tried to force the Jews to sacrifice to the Greek gods, Matisyahu refused - and slew the first Jew who betrayed his religion to do so. 'Follow me, all of you who are for God's law and stand by the covenant!' All those who followed him and his five sons (Yehuda (Judah), Eliezer (Elazar), Yohanan, Yonaton, and Shimon) formed a guerrilla army.

2. Which of Matisyahu's sons was the leader?

Answer: Yehuda

Yehuda was the original Maccabee, or 'hammer.' Shimon later became High Priest as well as nasi (leader, but not king).

3. What were the Maccabees also known as?

Answer: Chashmonaim

They were known as Chashmonaim, or Hasmonean in English. They were called that after the town of Chashmona.

4. What modern day country were the 'Greeks' based in?

Answer: Syria

After Alexander the Great's empire split up, 'Judea' flipped between two parts of the former empire, one based in Egypt under Ptolemy and one in Syria under Antiochus. It was against Antiochus IV that the Macabbees rebelled.

5. What were the Maccabees looking for in the Temple that they needed to use right away?

Answer: oil

They needed pure olive oil to light the menorah. All of the oil had been spiritually defiled except for one small flask.

6. How many nights does Chanukah last?

Answer: 8

It is eight nights long as the oil miraculously burned for eight nights instead of one night.

7. On what day does Chanukah start?

Answer: 25th Kislev

It begins on the 25th day of the month of Kislev, usually in mid-December according to the common calendar.

8. How many lamps did the menorah in the Temple have?

Answer: 7

Yup. Modern 'Chanukiahs' or menorahs have eight plus the shamas for the eight-day lighting. But the original menorah had seven.

9. In which direction do you light the menorah, once the candles have been placed?

Answer: left to right

The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but they are lit from left to right.

10. What prayer is said during the lighting of the menorah?

Answer: Haneiros Hallalu

Maoz Tzur is said AFTER the lighting.

Source: Author avromf

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ArleneRimmer before going online.
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