What Even IS Hanukkah?
The Hanukkah Story 101:
In 168–167 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 Great Temple 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 Great 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’ faith in God, and strengthened them enough to re-dedicate the Great Temple.
During Hanukkah, our homes become microcosms of The Great 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 2023 starts at nightfall on December 7, 2023 and ends with nightfall on December 15, 2023, beginning on the Hebrew calendar date of 25 Kislev, and lasting for eight days.
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 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 “helper” 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 — 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.
A menorah (meh-noh-rah), which has only seven candleholders, was the lamp used in the ancient Great Temple in Jerusalem — now a symbol of Judaism and an emblem of Israel. A hanukkiah (ha-noo-kee-yah), however, has nine candlesticks — one for each night of Hanukkah, and an extra one to light the others.
The Blessings:
Night 1: Say the blessing over the Hanukkah candles, the blessing for Hanukkah, and the Shehecheyanu
Nights 2–8: Say only the blessing over the Hanukkah candles and the blessing for Hanukkah
Blessing over Hanukkah candles:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, ה’ אֱלֹקינוּ, מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְותָיו וְצִוָּֽנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּה
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu l’hadlik 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:
.בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, ה’ אֱלֹקינוּ, מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, she-asah nisim la’avoteinu 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:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה‚ ה’ אֱלֹקינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם‚ שֶׁהֶחֱיָֽנוּ וְקִיְּמָֽנוּ וְהִגִּיעָֽנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, shehecheyanu v’kiy’manu v’higianu laz’man hazeh.
Praised are You, Ruler of the World, for giving us life, upholding the life within us, and bringing us to this time.
Hanukkah Hosting Guide
Want to host a Hanukkah party for your friends? Here are some Hanukkah party ideas to get you started! Choose one, pick a few, or try them all!
- Celebrate the miracle of oil by hosting a fried foods potluck. Invite your guests to contribute the best fried foods from their own cultures, and share stories about each one.
- Play some Hanukkah tunes to set the vibe
- Hanukkah is all about light, so make that the focus of your decor. Combine candles, clear strung holiday lights, and even a disco ball for a twinkly atmosphere.
- Make your very own Hanukkah candles or build your own hanukkiot with creative materials
- Decorate your nosh: Set out a box of plain doughnuts, tons of fun toppings and fillings, and go to town!
- Make it gelt: All you have to do is melt down the chocolate of your choice, spread it into discs on some wax paper, let it set, and use a toothpick to carve in designs or Hebrew letters. If you want to get really fancy, you can add a little gold leaf onto each one.
- Candle gift exchange: Invite each guest to bring a wrapped candle that they either purchase or make. Place each candle in a box or large bag and have guests blindly fish out a surprise candle before they go.
- Dreidel time: We recommend pennies, candy, peanuts, and Hanukkah gelt (chocolate) as collateral, but you decide the rules for your dreidel tournament.
Created in partnership with Hillel International’s Meyerhoff Center for Jewish and Israel Education.