Hanukkah (HAH-nuh-kuh)

What is it?

Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday known as the Festival of Lights. It honors the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BCE after King Antiochus attempted to destroy it and force Jews to denounce their Judaism. After defeating the king a long battle, Jews returned to reclaim and repair the Temple which had been pillaged and looted. The story goes that when they arrived, there was only enough oil left to light the sacred lights for one day, but miraculously, the oil lasted eight.

The Spoils Panel on the Arch of Titus in Rome depicts a line of Roman soldiers parading objects looted from the Temple in Jerusalem by the Greeks and sent in tribute. The Jewish rebellion against imperial rule and the eventual retaking of the Temple are the foundations of the Hanukkah observance.

Why Do We Celebrate?

Hanukkah is a holiday celebrating liberation from oppression. With violent antisemites trying to scare and oppress Jewish communities around the world right now, we need friends like you to shine the light of liberation with and for us.

How Do We Celebrate?

At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah lighting. The menorah holds nine flames, one of which is the shamash (“attendant”), which is used to kindle the other eight lights. On the first night, we light just one flame. On the second night, an additional flame is lit. By the eighth night of Chanukah, all eight lights are kindled.

A menorah is lit in every household (or even by each individual within the household) and placed in a doorway or window. The menorah is also lit in synagogues and other public places. In recent years, thousands of jumbo menorahs have cropped up in front of city halls and legislative buildings, and in malls and parks all over the world.

We say blessings each night thanking G-d for the miracle of our ancestors’ survival and our continued endurance in the face of adversity.

Since this is a celebration of a miracle involving oil, we eat a lot of fried food! Favorites are potato pancakes called latkes (LOT-kuh or LOT-kee) and jelly donuts called sufganiyot (soof-gaa-nee-OWT).

How Can You Be an Ally During This Holiday?

Wish us a “Happy Hanukkah!”

Support initiatives to include Hanukkah decorations alongside Christmas decorations in public spaces.

Participate in Project Menorah 2024! Plans for 2024 are coming together. To get updates first, follow us on socials and sign up for our list! To see what we did in 2023, click HERE.

Fun Facts

Yes, there are a LOT of different spellings. They are all OK.

Hanukkah is Hebrew for “rededication” since the Jewish people were rededicating the great temple following its desecration.

A menorah typically has seven branches. A Hanukkah menorah has nine and is called a hanukiah (hah-noo-KEE-ah)

What is Hanukkah?