A bit more precision would be helpful: the word “latke” simply means “pancake” (the Yiddish is based on a Russian word). It is unrelated to potatoes. Prior to the appearance of the potato in Europe, Jews were already making pancakes: out of grains such as wheat or buckwheat, and for Hanukkah, especially, out of cheese. Yes, cheese. Cheese is not only a food traditionally eaten at Hanukkah time, to commemorate the salty cheese said to have been fed to Holofernes by the heroine Yehudit/Judith, to induce him to drink more wine and thus causing him to fall asleep; the cheese… Read more »