The bread is actually called Challah (pronounced HA-lah). The braided bread is eaten on Sabbath & Jewish holidays. On Rosh HaShanah, the bread is made into a circular shape representing the cycle of a new year.

Not Jewish either, but Jewish is out of what Christianity was born so to me, all the Jewish feasts/celebrations & history are a very important part of where my beliefs have come from.....for many of us, that makes it so important to understand & incorporate into our celebrations just as the 1st century Christians did.

The focus of Hanukkah (Feast of Lights/Feast of Dedication) is a reminder of all those who courageously remain faithful to God in the face of persecution. Called the Feast of Lights because of a legendary miraculous provision of oil for the eternal light in the temple. After cleansing the temple there was only enough oil for the eternal flame to burn for one day........but through God's great miracle, the flame burned for the 8 days necessary to purify the new oil.

The historical events behind the Jewish feasts are so very meaningful & interesting & important for many of us who feel the history applies to us also even though we aren't Jewish descendents other than through what we believe.