Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday celebrated each year in the month of Kislev in the Jewish calendar, which usually falls between late November and early December in the Gregorian calendar. Hanukkah is celebrated in many different ways, but the main observance is the kindling of the Menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum, on each of the eight nights of the holiday. Each night a blessing is recited and another candle is added to the Menorah, symbolising the miracle of Hanukkah.
Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the year 165 BCE, following its recapture from the forces of the Greek-Syrian King Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The Talmud explains that there was only enough “undefiled” holy oil to last one day, however it miraculously lasted for eight days. To commemorate this event, an oil-lamp Menorah, sometimes referred to as a hannukiah, is lit every night of Hanukkah and special blessings are recited. The hannukiah is traditionally placed in a prominent window of the home in order that it can be seen from the outside.
Significance of the Menorah
The Menorah is central to the observance of Hanukkah. According to Jewish tradition, the eight branches of the Menorah represent the miraculous number of days that the small jug of oil found in the Temple lasted. A ninth light, named the shamash, is used to kindle the other lights. It is usually set apart from the others and placed on a higher or lower level.
As well as being lit, the Menorah is frequently decorated in a wide variety of ways. Common themes for decoration are nature motifs such as birds, flowers and animals, as well as scenes depicting the liberation of Israel from the Syrians or from enslavement.
Blessings
On each night of Hanukkah, a blessing is recited over the Menorah. The three most common blessings are:
- She’Hecheiyanu – the first night of Hanukkah is accompanied by a She’Hechiyanu Blessing, thanking God for having brought us to this moment.
- Blessing over the candles – recited over the kindling of the Menorah every night, it is a variation of the She’Hecheiyanu Blessing.
- Blessing of Praise – a traditional song of thanksgiving and joy that is recited every night of the Festival.
Eating and Gift-Giving
The traditional foods eaten on Hanukkah are related to the miracle of the oil. Dishes containing oil, such as latkes and sufganiyot (doughnuts) are traditional. Celebrants also exchange gifts, such as games and books. Many Jews give money as a gift to family members, especially children.
Hanukkah is a special holiday in Judaism which celebrates the miraculous oil that lasted eight days, giving worshippers time to re-sanctify the Temple. It is celebrated each year for eight days, usually starting in late November or early December in the Gregorian Calendar, when a Menorah is lit and blessings are recited each night. Special foods are eaten and gifts are exchanged to commemorate the event.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.