Hanukkah (chanuka) also known as the Festival of Lights. It begins at the 25th day of kislev,the third month of the Jewish calendar.

The holiday’s purpose is to commemorate the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem .

Over two thousand years ago, the Greeks ruled in the Israeli land and forced the Jews to bow down to the status and images of their leader, Antiochus, whose were erected in the Temple. The Jews were forbidden by the law of God to do that.

A small group of faithful Jews were inspired by the Temple priest, Mattathias, and were led by his older son, Judah.

They called: “Maccabees.”The Maccabees risked their lives to live according to Jewish law and to prevent this desecration of their sacred Temple.

The Maccabees won the Greeks, and reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, which was destroyed. They rededicated it to God by rekindling the menorah.

When they sought to light the Temple's menorah, they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks.

The miracle of Hanukkah says that the one day supply of oil burned for eight days and nights until more oil could be made.

On each night of Hanukkah, the Hanukkah lamp is lit. It symbolizes the burning light of the menorah in the temple, as well as marking the eight days of the

Hanukkah festival.

Eating foods fried in oil like potato pancakes called latkes and sufganiot, in memberance of the oil that burned in the temple.

Playing with the dreidel which each side is engraved with a different Hebrew letter. The letters mean: “Nes Gadol Haya Po”- A great miracle happened here.

Giving Hanukkah gelt, gifts of money to children.

Maoz Tzur Maoz tzur yeshua-siLecha na-eh li-sha-beyachTikone bais ti-fee-lasiVi-sham todah ni-za-beyach.Li-ase ta-chin mat-beyach

Mee-tzar ham-na-beyachAz eg-more vi-sheer meez-morChanukas ha-meez-beyachAz eg-more vi-sheer meez-morChanukas ha-meez-beyach.

Chanuka, ChanukaChanuka, ChanukaChag yafeh kol kachOhr chaviv, mi-savisGil li-yeled rach.

Chanuka, ChanukaSivivon, sov, sovSov, sov, sov! Sov, sov, sov!Ma nayim vi-tov.

(Tranlation)Chanuka is a greay holiday.Surrounded with lovely light.Fun for little children.Dreidel, spin, spin, spin.

How wonderful !

Eid al-Adha also known as a religious festival celebratedby Muslims (including the Druze) worldwide.

In this holiday, muslims commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismaeal, as an act of obedience to God.

God provided a ram in place once Ibrahim demonstrated

his willingness to follow God's commands.

Eid al-Adha annually falls on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja of the lunar Islamic calendar.

The festivities last for three days or more depending on the country.

Eid al-Adha occurs the day after the pilgrims conducting Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims worldwide, descend from Mount Arafat.

It happens to be approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan.

Men, women and children are expected to dress in their finest clothing to perform Eid prayer in any mosque.

Muslims who can afford to do so, sacrifice their best domestic animals as a symbol of Ibrahim's sacrifice.

The sacrificed animals, called (odheye) have to meet certain age and quality standards or else the animal is considered an unacceptable sacrifice.

At the time of sacrifice, God's name is recited along with the offering statement and a supplication as Muhammad said.

According to the Quran the meat is

divided into three shares:

One share for the poor. One share for the relatives and neighbors .

The last to keep to oneself .

A large portion of the meat must be given towards the poor and hungry people so they can all join in the feast which is held on Eid al-Adha.

The remainder is cooked for the family celebration meal in which relatives and friends are invited to share.

The regular charitable practices of the Muslim community are demonstrated during Eid al-Adha by the concerted effort to see that no impoverished person is left without sacrificial food during these days.

Eid al-Adha is a concrete affirmation of what the Muslim community ethic means in practice. People in these days are expected to visit their relatives, starting with their parents, then their families and friends.

One of Eid al-Adha traditions is:

a) Playing with dreidel

b) Giving Hanukkah gelt

c) Sacrifice the best domestic animals

d) Eating foods fried in oil