Maddie James
Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish festival of lights that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem during the second century B.C. The festival celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and spirituality over materiality, and it falls on the 25th day of the Jewish calendar month of Kislev, which may occur at any time from November 28 to December 27 in the Gregorian calendar. Each night during Hanukkah, a candle or oil-based light is lit, with one additional light added each night until the final night when all eight branches of the menorah are ignited.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of days | 8 |
| First day | 25th day of Kislev |
| Starting date in Gregorian calendar | 28th November |
| End date in Gregorian calendar | 27th December |
| Candles used | 8 |
| Type of candle | Candles or oil lamps |
| Direction of placing candles | Right to left |
| Direction of lighting candles | Left to right |
| Number of candles lit on the first day | 1 |
| Number of candles lit on the last day | 8 |
| Type of candelabra | Hanukkiah or Menorah |
| Other names for candelabra | Chanukkiyah, Menorat ḥanukkah, ḥanukkiyah, or khanuke lomp |
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What You'll Learn
The miracle of the oil lasting eight days
Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. The story of Hanukkah centres around the miracle of a small quantity of oil lasting for eight days.
The festival of Hanukkah celebrates a miracle that occurred around 2,200 years ago. After reclaiming the holy temple in Jerusalem, Jewish rebels needed oil to light the menorah to rededicate the temple. They could only find enough oil to keep the flames burning for one night. However, the oil miraculously lasted for eight days, allowing them to make more oil and keep the eternal flame lit.
The miracle of the oil is known as the "Miracle of the Cruse of Oil" or the "Miracle of Hanukkah." It is depicted in the Babylonian Talmud and is considered one of the reasons for the Hanukkah celebration. The story goes that after the liberation of the Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt, a jug of pure olive oil was found. This oil was enough to light the lamp for only one day, but it miraculously lasted for eight days.
The menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum, is lit during the eight days of Hanukkah to commemorate the miracle. On each night, one additional candle is lit, starting with the shammash or "helper" candle, until all eight candles are lit together on the final night. The lighting of the menorah symbolises the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days and is a central part of the Hanukkah celebration.
While the miracle of the oil is a widely accepted explanation, some scholars and religious texts offer alternative interpretations. Rabbi Joseph Karo, for example, questioned why the celebration lasts eight days if the oil was expected to last only one day. This question sparked numerous responses, including arguments that the miracle lasted eight days in some way or that the eighth day is celebrated for reasons other than the oil miracle.
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The lighting of the menorah
Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish festival of lights that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem in the second century B.C. The festival celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, spirituality over materiality, and Jewish independence.
On each night of Hanukkah, one more candle is lit than the previous night, starting from the right and moving left. This continues until the final night when all eight candles are lit together. The lighting of the menorah typically takes place at nightfall, with families reciting prayers and singing songs.
The tradition of lighting the menorah originates from the story of the Maccabees, a group of Jewish rebels who fought against their oppressors, the Greek-Syrians, and reclaimed the Holy Temple. Despite finding only enough oil to light the menorah for one day, the oil miraculously lasted for eight days, leaving time to find a fresh supply. Thus, the lighting of the menorah celebrates the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days.
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The nightly candle-lighting ceremony
Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish "festival of lights" that commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a group of Jewish warriors defeated the occupying Greek armies. The festival celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and spirituality over materiality. The nightly candle-lighting ceremony is central to the observance of Hanukkah.
The candle-lighting ceremony involves the use of a Hanukkah menorah, also known as a hanukkiah or chanukkiyah, which is a nine-branched candelabrum. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps, symbolizing the eight nights of the holiday. The ninth branch holds a candle called the shamash, which means "helper" or "servant." The shamash is used to light the other eight candles. The shamash is placed on a higher or lower plane than the other eight candles to distinguish it.
On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle is lit using the shamash. Each subsequent night, an additional candle is lit, so that on the final night, all eight candles are illuminated. The candles are placed on the menorah from right to left, but when lighting the menorah, one moves from left to right. This tradition is based on the Code of Jewish Law, OC 676:5, which associates the blessings recited during the ceremony with the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days.
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The number of candles lit each night
Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish "festival of lights" that begins on the 25th day of the Jewish calendar month of Kislev. The festival celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and spirituality over materiality, and it commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after Jewish warriors defeated the occupying Greek armies.
The centerpiece of Hanukkah is the nightly lighting of the menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum. The menorah holds eight candles that symbolize the eight nights of the festival, plus a ninth candle called the shamash, or "helper" candle, which is used to light the others. On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle is lit, and an additional candle is lit on each successive night until all eight candles are lit on the final night.
The order in which the candles are lit has been a subject of debate between two rabbinical schools of thought: the House of Hillel and the House of Shammai. Shammai argued that eight candles should be lit on the first night, then seven on the second, and so on, down to one on the last night. This was because, in their view, the miracle of the oil lasting was greatest on the first day. However, Jewish law ultimately adopted the position of Hillel, who argued in favour of starting with one candle and lighting an additional one every night, culminating in eight candles on the final night, reflecting the idea that the miracle grew in greatness each day.
The menorah is typically lit after sunset, with adherents often leaving work early to be home in time for the ceremony. The candles are placed on the menorah from right to left but are lit from left to right, with the shamash candle being used to light the others. This tradition is derived from the Code of Jewish Law, with the blessings recited during the ceremony being directly associated with the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days.
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Hanukkah's history and symbolism
Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish "festival of lights" that usually falls between late November and late December. The festival commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a group of Jewish warriors, known as the Maccabees, defeated the occupying Greek-Syrian armies.
According to the Talmud, the Maccabees only had enough consecrated oil to light the Temple's menorah for one day, yet the oil miraculously lasted for eight days, leaving enough time to find a fresh supply. This miracle is honoured during Hanukkah through the lighting of the menorah, a candelabra with nine branches. Eight of the branches represent the eight nights of the festival, and the ninth branch, called the shamash, or "helper", is used to light the other candles. Each night, one additional candle is lit until all eight candles are lit together on the final night.
The menorah has been an important symbol in Judaism since ancient times. The seven-branched menorah was used in the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem and was lit daily using pure olive oil. The Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum specifically used during the eight-day festival of Hanukkah. The tradition of lighting the hanukkiah is observed by Jewish communities worldwide, with public menorah lightings taking place in many countries.
In addition to the lighting of the menorah, Hanukkah is celebrated with traditional songs, games, and foods. Fried foods, such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), are commonly eaten to commemorate the importance of oil during the festival. Dairy foods are also consumed to remember the story of Judith and Holofernes, where Judith fed Holofernes cheese, making him thirsty, and then gave him wine to drink, leading to his drunken state and beheading. Hanukkah is also a time for gift-giving, with families exchanging gifts such as books, games, and "Hanukkah Gelt", often given to children.
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Frequently asked questions
Hanukkah is an eight-day festival.
Eight candles are lit, one on the first night, two on the second, and so on, until all eight are lit on the final night. An additional candle, the shamash, is also lit each night and used to light the others.
The shamash, or "helper" candle, is placed above or below the other eight candles and used to light them.
