Minhagim of Chanukah: Difference between revisions

# The minhag is to eat dairy foods on [[Chanukah]], in commemoration of the miracle that happened with the righteous woman Yehudit, who tricked and killed the enemy using dairy. <Ref> Rama 670:2, Kitzur S”A 139:71, Chayei Adam [[Chanukah]] 154:3, Nitei Gavriel ([[Chanukah]] 51:12). See Nitei Gavriel who writes that the Sephardim don’t have this minhag and this is also implied by Chazon Ovadyah ([[Chanukah]] pg 18). However, Ben Ish Chai (Vayeshev (first year) #23) records this as a Sephardic minhag although he adds in Halacha 24 that the incident of Yehudit happened many years prior to the [[Chanukah]] story. Kaf Hachayim 670:17 agrees.  </ref>

# There is a Minhag to eat Sufganiot and Latkes that are fried in oil because the miracle of [[Chanukah]] happened with the oil of the menorah. <Ref> Sarid UPalit (pg 8) translates a letter of Rabbi Maimon (father of Rambam) who writes that one shouldn’t be lenient in any Minhag and specifically mentions the Minhag is to make Sufganiot on [[Chanukah]] to publicize the miracle of the oil. This minhag is mentioned by the poskim including Yalkut Yosef 671:15 and Nitei Gavriel ([[Chanukah]] 51:13). Halichot Shlomo (Moadim, vol 1, pg 318) adds that perhaps the minhag is to have Sufganiyot because in [[Al HaMichya]] we say Al Mizbechecha remembering the Mizbe’ach which had to be put in genizah because of the Greeks. Nitei Gavriel ([[Chanukah]] 51:13) adds that the minhag is to have Latkes. </ref>