doughnuts-group-shot.jpg

A super sweet record has been broken in Johannesburg, South Africa, with the Jewish Life Centre achieving the tallest stack of doughnuts.

The record was attempted as a part of their Chanukah (or Hanukkah) celebrations - Chanukah is also known as the Jewish festival of lights.

The stack towered 152 cm (59.84 in) and consisted of a staggering 3,100 doughnuts. 

doughnut-tower.jpg

The stack was designed on a number of different software products, to ensure the structural integrity of the tower and avoid it toppling under the weight of the baked goods.

Organisers even enlisted the help of a structural engineer and an architect to propose structure ideas. 

A computer generated image of the doughnut stack

From this, the centre's concluded a a pyramid shape would give them the best combination of stability and height. 

The record was part of its family-oriented celebration, which included various carnival activities and a Chanukah-themed game show.  

Doughnuts-at-event.jpg

On the day a team of people, who rotated every few hours, were stacking doughnuts from 9 a.m. to 4  p.m. 

Once the tower was finished and measured by a surveyor, some of the doughnuts were offered to people at the event. 

boy-placing-some-of-the-last-doughnuts.jpg

The rest were saved and collected by charities The Jewish Helping Hand and Yad Aharon to be distributed to disadvantaged members of the community.

doughnuts-getting-measured.jpg

Kasriel Kay, an Assistant Rabbi who organised the attempt, explained the connection between Chanukah and doughnuts.

"Chanukah an eight-day popular Jewish festival that commemorates the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Jews around the world celebrate Chanukah- arguably the most celebrated Jewish festival- by lighting candles over eight nights and eating foods that are cooked with oil. Doughnuts are one of the most traditional Chanukah foods."

selfie-with-base-of-doughnut-stack.jpg