Why Do Jews Eat Jelly Doughnuts?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

It’s said that the fried treats are a good fit for a holiday focused on oil , commemorating the miracle of one night of oil lasting for eight. ... The word sufganiyot can be traced back to the Greek word sufan, meaning “spongy” or “fried,” as can the Arabic word for a smaller, deep-fried doughnut named sfenj.

Why do Jews eat jelly donuts at Hanukkah?

Why do we eat latkes (fried potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts) on Chanukah? The short answer is because the holiday of Chanukah is about the small jar of oil miraculously lasting for eight days and therefore , frying foods in oil commemorates that miracle.

Do Jews eat jelly donuts?

Sufganiyah (Hebrew: סופגנייה or סופגניה‎ [ˌsufɡaniˈja]; plural: sufganiyot, Hebrew: סופגניות‎ [ˌsufɡaniˈjot]) is a round jelly doughnut eaten in Israel and around the world on the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. The doughnut is deep-fried in oil, filled with jam or custard, and then topped with powdered sugar.

When did jelly donuts become a Hanukkah tradition?

The jelly comes in later during the 16th century , when sugar became cheap and Europe experienced a pastry revolution. That’s when Polish Jews started adding jelly to the doughnuts that they ate on Hanukkah.

How many jelly donuts are eaten in Israel during Hanukkah?

Today, over 18 million sufganiyot are consumed in Israel during the weeks around the holiday season. This averages to over three donuts per citizen. Additionally, the Israeli Defense Forces alone purchases over 50,000 during Hanukkah.

Why do we eat potato latkes on Hanukkah?

Crispy, fried, slightly oniony potato pancakes with decadent (that’s a euphemism for fattening) toppings. Why latkes? The simple answer is that they’re meant to remind Jews of the miracle of the oil associated with Hanukkah . ... Centuries after the fact, Jews were told to celebrate by eating foods cooked in oil.

What is a jelly filled donut called?

A jelly doughnut, or sometimes called jam doughnut , is a doughnut filled with jam filling. Varieties include Polish Pączki, German Berliner, sufganiyot in Israel, jam doughnuts (in Australia, Britain, New Zealand and Nigeria), and jelly-filled doughnuts (in the United States and Canada).

Are donuts German?

In Germany, the doughnuts have been referred to as Berliners for over 200 years . The history of this terminology remains blurry, but some sources claim that the pastry was named after a baker from Berlin.

What food do you eat on Hanukkah?

  • of 16. Classic Latkes. ...
  • of 16. Slow-Cooker Brisket. ...
  • of 16. Sweet Noodle Kugel. ...
  • of 16. Matzo Ball Soup. ...
  • of 16. Best-Ever Beef Brisket. ...
  • of 16. Instant Pot Applesauce. ...
  • of 16. Cinnamon Apple Cake. ...
  • of 16. Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

What Mean Hanukkah?

Hanukkah, which means “dedication” in Hebrew , begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar and usually falls in November or December. Often called the Festival of Lights, the holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods, games and gifts.

What is the golden menorah?

The menorah (/məˈnɔːrə/; Hebrew: מְנוֹרָה‎ Hebrew pronunciation: [menoˈʁa]) is described in the Bible as the seven-lamp (six branches) ancient Hebrew lampstand made of pure gold and used in the tabernacle set up by Moses in the wilderness and later in the Temple in Jerusalem.

Who invented doughnuts?

Hanson Gregory , an American, claimed to have invented the ring-shaped doughnut in 1847 aboard a lime-trading ship when he was 16 years old. Gregory was dissatisfied with the greasiness of doughnuts twisted into various shapes and with the raw center of regular doughnuts.

What kind of donuts are used for Hanukkah?

A cross between a beignet and a jelly donut, sufganiyot are pillowy donuts eaten in Israel and around the world during Hanukkah, when foods fried in oil symbolize the miracle of oil that burned for eight days instead of one in the Hanukkah story.

Does Krispy Kreme make jelly donuts?

This scrumptious doughnut is glazed and then filled with a sweet and tangy balanced raspberry jelly .

What are 4 popular foods at Hanukkah?

  • Latkes.
  • Beef brisket.
  • Roasted chicken.
  • Kugel.
  • Matzo ball soup.
  • Rugelach.
  • Sufganiyot (Jelly-Filled Doughnuts)
  • Challah.

Why do we eat cheese on Hanukkah?

According to the book “Hanukkah in America” by Dianne Aston, “The high priest Yochanan’s daughter, Judith, captured and beheaded the Assyrian general Holofernes to aid the larger Maccabean effort.” She elaborates: “ Judith fed cheese to Holofernes to intensify his thirst, which she slaked with wine to make him sleepy .

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.