What Even IS Hanukkah?
The Hanukkah Story 101:
In 168鈥167 BCE, the Greek Empire ruled Jerusalem. In a bid to solidify Greek religion (called Hellenism), culture, and politics, Greek leadership waged a series of violent and humiliating attacks on Jewish citizens. Jewish ritual practice and Jewish land ownership became illegal, Jewish citizens were slaughtered in city streets, and the Temple, the center of Jewish religious life at this time, was desecrated partly destroyed. In response, in 166 BCE a Jewish resistance group called the Maccabees rose up and drove the Greeks from the land.
A note on oil and light: Oil was a critical element of worship and ritual in the Temple. In an effort to desecrate everything that was important and holy to the Jews, Greek soldiers devastatingly poured out all the oil they looted from The Great Temple.
The story goes that after the Maccabees miraculously overthrew the Greeks, they found one jar of remaining oil, which was enough to provide light for only one day. The Maccabees lit it anyway, and a miracle happened: The oil lasted for eight days! This defining moment restored the Maccabees鈥 faith in God, and strengthened them enough to re-dedicate the Temple.
During Hanukkah, our homes become microcosms of the Temple. For each of the 8 nights, we gather together, light candles, and eat foods fried in oil to remember this miracle. These acts of community and ritual strengthen our resolve to bring light into the world, and to celebrate our collective resilience and unity.
Pro tip: Hanukkah is considered a “minor” Jewish holiday, not a “major” one. Unlike the holidays of Yom Kippur or Passover, for example, the source for the celebration of Hanukkah is not found in Jewish scripture. Rather, it’s a holiday observed out of tradition. Many people mistakenly believe Hanukkah is a major Jewish holiday, mostly because of its proximity to Christmas.
The core message of Hanukkah: Even when things look bad, miracles can still occur. If you fight for what you believe in, you can find strength and light in miraculous, unexpected places.
Anatomy of Holy Light
Hanukkah 2024 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.
A menorah (meh-noh-rah), which has only seven candleholders, was the lamp used in the ancient Great Temple in Jerusalem 鈥 now a symbol of Judaism and an emblem of Israel. A hanukkiah (ha-noo-kee-yah), however, has nine candlesticks 鈥 one for each night of Hanukkah, and an extra one to light the others.
According to tradition, placing your hanukkiah near your front window metaphysically brings light into the world. Additionally, placing a hanukkiah in a public-facing window has historically been a way for Jews to participate in an act of defiance against oppression, and a public reclamation of identity. This act remains just as, if not even more powerful today. Publicizing the light from your hanukkiah also reminds us that miracles are heightened when they are shared. Because we light one additional candle every night, the light increases with every night, symbolizing our hope for the blessings in our lives to increase over time too.
There are 8 nights on Hanukkah, but 9 candles in a hanukkiah. The extra candle is for the shamash, or 鈥渉elper鈥 candle.
On the first night, set one candle to the far right of the menorah. On the following night, add a second candle to the left of the first one, and so on 鈥 moving from right to left. Light your shamash candle first, and use the flame to light the other candles. Each night, light the newest (left-most) candle first and continue lighting from left to right.
The Blessings:
Night 1: Say the blessing over the Hanukkah candles, the blessing for Hanukkah, and the Shehecheyanu
Nights 2鈥8: Say only the blessing over the Hanukkah candles and the blessing for Hanukkah
Blessing over Hanukkah candles:
讘指旨专讜旨讱职 讗址转指旨讛, 讛鈥 讗直诇止拽讬谞讜旨, 诪侄纸诇侄讱职 讛指注讜止诇指诐 讗植砖侄讈专 拽执讚职旨砖指纸讈谞讜旨 讘职旨诪执爪职讜转指讬讜 讜职爪执讜指旨纸谞讜旨 诇职讛址讚职诇执讬拽 谞值专 砖侄讈诇 讞植谞只讻指旨讛
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha鈥檕lam, asher kid鈥檚hanu b鈥檓itzvotav v鈥檛sivanu l鈥檋adlik ner shel Hanukkah.
Praised are You, Ruler of the world, Who made us holy through Your commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.
Blessing for Hanukkah:
.讘指旨专讜旨讱职 讗址转指旨讛, 讛鈥 讗直诇止拽讬谞讜旨, 诪侄纸诇侄讱职 讛指注讜止诇指诐, 砖侄讈注指砖指讉讛 谞执住执旨讬诐 诇址讗植讘讜止转值纸讬谞讜旨 讘址旨讬指旨诪执讬诐 讛指讛值诐 讘址旨讝职旨诪址谉 讛址讝侄旨讛
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha鈥檕lam, she-asah nisim la鈥檃voteinu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh.
Praised are You, Ruler of the world, Who performed wondrous deeds for our ancestors in those ancient days at this season.
Shehecheyanu:
讘指旨专讜旨讱职 讗址转指旨讛鈥 讛鈥 讗直诇止拽讬谞讜旨 诪侄纸诇侄讱职 讛指注讜止诇指诐鈥 砖侄讈讛侄讞直讬指纸谞讜旨 讜职拽执讬职旨诪指纸谞讜旨 讜职讛执讙执旨讬注指纸谞讜旨 诇址讝职旨诪址谉 讛址讝侄旨讛.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, shehecheyanu v鈥檏iy鈥檓anu v鈥檋igianu laz鈥檓an hazeh.
Praised are You, Ruler of the World, for giving us life, upholding the life within us, and bringing us to this time.
Planning a Hanukkah party? Check out our ultimate Hanukkah party guide.
Created in partnership with 黑料传送门’s Meyerhoff Center for Jewish and Israel Education.