(Re)discovering Hanukkah: ClicK to Uncover Festive Facts!
What is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish celebration commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by the Greeks over 2,000 years ago. This year, Hannukah starts at nightfall on December 25, 2024 and ends with nightfall on January 2, 2025, beginning on the Hebrew calendar date of 25 Kislev, and lasting for eight days.
Not in the Torah
Unlike many Jewish holidays, Hanukkah is not mentioned in the Torah because it commemorates events that occurred centuries later, during the Second Temple period (167–160 BCE). Its story, detailing the Maccabean revolt and the rededication of the Temple, is recorded in the Books of the Maccabees, part of the Apocrypha1. Unlike biblical holidays, Hanukkah was established by the rabbis to celebrate Jewish resilience and the miracle of the oil.
The Dreidel Game
A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters that stand for “Nes Gadol Haya Sham” ("A Great Miracle Happened There"). It's a traditional Hanukkah game for kids and families. The Greek-Syrians had outlawed Jewish studies, so the Jews spun dreidels to pretend they were merely playing games while they engaged with their scripture.
Not a “Jewish Christmas”
While Hanukkah usually happens in November or December, it is not the Jewish equivalent of Christmas. Its religious significance is less central compared to major holidays like Passover or Yom Kippur. Hanukkah gained prominence in the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly in Western countries, partly as a cultural response to Christmas, leading to the widespread gifting tradition.
The Hanukkah in Space
In 1993, astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman brought a small hanukkiah and dreidel aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour4, making Hanukkah part of space exploration history.
24 Spelling
The Oxford English Dictionary lists 24 spellings for Hanukkah due to the challenges of transliterating the Hebrew word "חנוכה" into English6. The variations arise from differences in phonetic interpretation (e.g., "ch" or "h" for ח), the use of double or single letters for emphasis (e.g., "nn"), and the lack of a standardized transliteration system, especially as Jewish communities worldwide adopted local linguistic conventions. This diversity reflects both the adaptability of Jewish traditions and the nuances of the Hebrew language.
Resilience through light
The Hanukkiah is traditionally lit near a window to publicize the miracle of Hanukkah, spreading its light to the outside world as a symbol of hope and faith. In 1932, Rachel Posner, the wife of a rabbi in Kiel, Germany, photographed their Hanukkiah in the window of their home with a Nazi flag visible across the street3. The image became a powerful symbol of resilience, juxtaposing Jewish faith and light against the rising darkness of Nazi oppression.
Oil in all its shape
During Hanukkah, Jewish communities around the world enjoy unique foods, often fried in oil to symbolize the miracle of the oil. Ashkenazi Jews typically eat latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts). Mizrahi Jews also enjoy sufganiyot, but with regional variations like custard or date syrup fillings, along with savory burekas and jibneh (cheese pastries). Sephardic Jews may indulge in sambusak (fried pastries) and mufleta (pancakes with honey or syrup). Bnei Israel (Indian Jews) don’t light wax-covered candles — instead, they dip wicks in coconut oil. Hannukah in India often features barfi, a milk-based treat enhanced with sweet fruits.
Sources
1 https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/hanukkah-history/
2 EUJS Hanukkah resource
3 https://www.newsweek.com/menorah-under-nazi-flag-photo-resurfaces-1479117
4 https://airandspace.si.edu/explore/stories/winter-holidays
5 https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/g13787924/hanukkah-facts-history-story/
6 https://www.sdjewishworld.com/2024/12/05/chanukah-hannukah-hanukah-hanukka-hanuka/
Lighting the Hannukiah
Each night of Hanukkah, one additional candle is lit on the menorah (or hanukkiah), starting with one on the first night and adding one each subsequent night until all eight are lit. Candles are placed in the Hanukkiah from right to left (as you face it), corresponding to the current night of Hanukkah. For example, on the third night, three candles are placed, starting from the rightmost spot. Candles are lit from left to right, starting with the newest candle added for that night and moving toward the right. Before lighting, appropriate blessings are recited. On the first night, three blessings are recited; on subsequent nights, two blessings are said.
Hanukkah - Day 8
Rennier Caselli
Created on December 17, 2024
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Transcript
(Re)discovering Hanukkah: ClicK to Uncover Festive Facts!
What is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish celebration commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by the Greeks over 2,000 years ago. This year, Hannukah starts at nightfall on December 25, 2024 and ends with nightfall on January 2, 2025, beginning on the Hebrew calendar date of 25 Kislev, and lasting for eight days.
Not in the Torah
Unlike many Jewish holidays, Hanukkah is not mentioned in the Torah because it commemorates events that occurred centuries later, during the Second Temple period (167–160 BCE). Its story, detailing the Maccabean revolt and the rededication of the Temple, is recorded in the Books of the Maccabees, part of the Apocrypha1. Unlike biblical holidays, Hanukkah was established by the rabbis to celebrate Jewish resilience and the miracle of the oil.
The Dreidel Game
A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters that stand for “Nes Gadol Haya Sham” ("A Great Miracle Happened There"). It's a traditional Hanukkah game for kids and families. The Greek-Syrians had outlawed Jewish studies, so the Jews spun dreidels to pretend they were merely playing games while they engaged with their scripture.
Not a “Jewish Christmas”
While Hanukkah usually happens in November or December, it is not the Jewish equivalent of Christmas. Its religious significance is less central compared to major holidays like Passover or Yom Kippur. Hanukkah gained prominence in the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly in Western countries, partly as a cultural response to Christmas, leading to the widespread gifting tradition.
The Hanukkah in Space
In 1993, astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman brought a small hanukkiah and dreidel aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour4, making Hanukkah part of space exploration history.
24 Spelling
The Oxford English Dictionary lists 24 spellings for Hanukkah due to the challenges of transliterating the Hebrew word "חנוכה" into English6. The variations arise from differences in phonetic interpretation (e.g., "ch" or "h" for ח), the use of double or single letters for emphasis (e.g., "nn"), and the lack of a standardized transliteration system, especially as Jewish communities worldwide adopted local linguistic conventions. This diversity reflects both the adaptability of Jewish traditions and the nuances of the Hebrew language.
Resilience through light
The Hanukkiah is traditionally lit near a window to publicize the miracle of Hanukkah, spreading its light to the outside world as a symbol of hope and faith. In 1932, Rachel Posner, the wife of a rabbi in Kiel, Germany, photographed their Hanukkiah in the window of their home with a Nazi flag visible across the street3. The image became a powerful symbol of resilience, juxtaposing Jewish faith and light against the rising darkness of Nazi oppression.
Oil in all its shape
During Hanukkah, Jewish communities around the world enjoy unique foods, often fried in oil to symbolize the miracle of the oil. Ashkenazi Jews typically eat latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts). Mizrahi Jews also enjoy sufganiyot, but with regional variations like custard or date syrup fillings, along with savory burekas and jibneh (cheese pastries). Sephardic Jews may indulge in sambusak (fried pastries) and mufleta (pancakes with honey or syrup). Bnei Israel (Indian Jews) don’t light wax-covered candles — instead, they dip wicks in coconut oil. Hannukah in India often features barfi, a milk-based treat enhanced with sweet fruits.
Sources
1 https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/hanukkah-history/
2 EUJS Hanukkah resource
3 https://www.newsweek.com/menorah-under-nazi-flag-photo-resurfaces-1479117
4 https://airandspace.si.edu/explore/stories/winter-holidays
5 https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/g13787924/hanukkah-facts-history-story/
6 https://www.sdjewishworld.com/2024/12/05/chanukah-hannukah-hanukah-hanukka-hanuka/
Lighting the Hannukiah
Each night of Hanukkah, one additional candle is lit on the menorah (or hanukkiah), starting with one on the first night and adding one each subsequent night until all eight are lit. Candles are placed in the Hanukkiah from right to left (as you face it), corresponding to the current night of Hanukkah. For example, on the third night, three candles are placed, starting from the rightmost spot. Candles are lit from left to right, starting with the newest candle added for that night and moving toward the right. Before lighting, appropriate blessings are recited. On the first night, three blessings are recited; on subsequent nights, two blessings are said.