Hanukkah is a holiday celebrated by Jews every year, usually in late November or early December. It celebrates a miracle that happened in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. It is also known as the Festival of Lights, because of the central candle lighting ritual that is part of the holiday celebration. However, determining when Hanukkah begins is not as simple as consulting the Gregorian calendar. The exact date of Hanukkah varies from year to year depending on the Jewish lunar calendar.
To determine when Hanukkah is, one should begin by examining the Jewish lunar calendar. This calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, with each month beginning on the night of the new moon. However, the Jewish lunar calendar is gradually offset from the Gregorian calendar, so the dates of the months change from year to year. According to the Jewish lunar calendar, Hanukkah falls on the 25th day of the month of Kislev, which typically occurs in late November or early December.Table of Contents
Calculating the Date
Solar/Lunar Offset
The solar/lunar offset needs to be taken into account before the exact date for Hanukkah can be calculated. The year on the Jewish lunar calendar (known as a shanah me’uberet) is significantly shorter than the Gregorian calendar year. As such, there are a range of different methods used to determine when the elongated shanah me’uberet months will occur.
Rosh Chodesh
Rosh Chodesh is the first day of each month on the Jewish calendar. The traditional way of determining when Rosh Chodesh will fall is by using a beit din, or religious court. The beit din will determine the start and end date of the month based on the witnesses’ observations of the new moon. Today, however, many rabbinical authorities rely on a computer algorithm to determine the start and end of the month.
Using Modern Technology
Using an online Jewish calendar is an easy way to determine when Hanukkah will occur each year. Simply enter the year in question and the calendar will produce the exact dates of each month, including Hanukkah.
Traditional methods of determining when Hanukkah will occur are essential for many religious Jews and provide a valuable link to their history. Conversely, modern technology can be used to quickly and accurately determine when Hanukkah will occur each year. No matter which method is used, determining the exact date of Hanukkah is a vital part of holiday preparation.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.