Chanukah
Chanukah
December 25, 2024 - January 2,2025
25 Kislev - 3 Tevet 5785
(first candle: Dec. 25 at sundown)
Chanukah is an eight-day holiday that celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE.
After the Syrian Greeks conquered Jerusalem, defiled the Temple, and tried to prevent the Jews from observing Shabbat and studying Torah, a group of zealous fighters called the Maccabees waged a revolt and defeated the Syrian army.
The Maccabees cleaned up the Temple, rekindled the menorah that stood in it, and re-established Jewish practice there. According to legend, the Maccabees found only a small jar of oil, containing one day’s worth of oil needed for the menorah’s flame. Miraculously, the flame continued to burn for eight full days.
On Chanukah we eat foods fried in oil, like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts) to remind us of the miracle, and we light candles for eight nights.
Blessings for kindling the Chanukah lights
First night: blessings 1, 2 & 3
Nights 2-8: blessings 1 & 2
Candles are placed from right to left but lit from left to right
Click here for a PDF of our infographic
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