/oss/taxonomy/term/4220/all en /oss/article/health-history/celebrating-hanukkah-candles-latkes-and-bit-history <p>Why are potato latkes a traditional food to celebrate the Jewish festival of Hanukkah? Frankly, it isn’t clear. But first, a quick recap of what Hanukkah is all about...</p> Thu, 10 Dec 2020 22:21:42 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8529 at /oss /oss/article/nutrition-history/miracle-chanukah <p>Around 175 BC, Israel came under the rule of the Syrian King Antiochus who wanted to obliterate the Jewish religion. Judah, leader of the Maccabees, a group of Jewish warriors, led a revolution against the Syrians and with an army of only six thousand defeated the Syrian army of 47,000. Eventually, the Maccabees liberated Jerusalem and rededicated the Holy Temple, which they did by lighting the Menorah, whose continuous burning symbolized the union of the different types of Jews and the eternal presence of God.</p> Mon, 09 Dec 2019 19:18:48 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8043 at /oss