EATING CHEESE

There is a custom to eat milk and cheese products on Chanukah. The reason for this is because the miracle of the Maccabees winning the war with the Syrian-Greeks came about through cheese. The enemy’s campaign against Jerusalem was at a critical point. They cut off all food and water supplies to the Holy City. People were dying from hunger and thirst. Yehudis, a young Jewish widow (see the story of Yehudis) had a plan to end the war with Syrian-Greeks. She asked that the Jewish people pray for the successful outcome of her plan. Her plan was to approach Holifernos, the Greek general and show an interest in him. She came to him on the pretext that she would reveal to him secrets about Jerusalem that would help him in his conquest. She was a beautiful and graceful woman and she “stole the heart” of the general. When they were together alone at a banquet she gave him cheese to eat to make him very thirsty. Then to quench his thirst she gave him wine, which caused him to become drowsy and fall asleep. She then stealthily approached him with a sharp sword and cut off his head. She carried it back to Jerusalem to show to the city leaders. She told them to display Holifernos’ head on top of the city wall. In the morning when the enemy soldiers saw their general’s head on top of the wall, they realized that their leader was killed by the Jews and they fled in panic. The Jews attacked the fleeing soldiers as they left the gates of Jerusalem and this is what brought about the victory.

 In remembrance of this miracle with Yehudis and the cheese, the custom of eating milk products on Chanukah was established.

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