![\"Sufganiyot](\"https:\/\/www.thejerusalemgiftshop.com\/israelnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/Sufganiyot.jpg\")
<\/a>Sufganiyot the Israeli Hanukkah Donut<\/p><\/div>\n
Hanukkah is a beautiful time of the year in Israel and not because of the presents, there are none, and not because of festive holiday lights strung on homes, fun decorated balsam trees, or elaborately displayed store windows that entice you buy. None of these things are part of Israel\u2019s Hanukkah holiday culture. No, Hanukkah in Israel is not at all like Christmas in America and the Israeli Hanukkah holiday has no pressure to compete with Christmas like in Christian countries. While an ex-pat may bemoan this lack of \u2018holiday spirit,\u2019 perhaps forgetting that Christmas is not a celebrated holiday here, there is something about the Israeli Hanukkah celebration that may help one recover from the lack of Santa sightings at the local mall. What can be better than jolly \u2018ol Saint Nick you may ask? The answer: Sufganyiot or Israeli donuts!<\/p>\n
Hanukkah is the story of the Miracle of Lights when the Maccabees, a band of Jewish fighters, rebelled against the rule of Antiochus IV. The story begins in 332 BC when Alexander the Great conquered the region. Although Greek monarchs ruled, Jews under Hellenistic rule were allowed to continue practicing Judaism and retain a certain degree of autonomy. Thanks to this open and benevolent style of rule, locals (Egyptians, Syrians, and Jews) quickly assimilated Hellenistic culture, language, dress, and customs\u2014much like Jews and other immigrant and religious groups have after arriving in America.<\/p>\n