https://staging.thenewjew.org/articles/holidays-rabbinic-festivals-hanukkah.xml /articles/holidays-rabbinic-festivals-hanukkah xml article Hanukkah The eight-day winter festival commemorating the Maccabean victory and the miracle of the oil. The New Jew /index.xml Sacred Time /sections/sacred-time.xml Hanukkah /articles/holidays-rabbinic-festivals-hanukkah.xml https://staging.thenewjew.org/articles/holidays-rabbinic-festivals-hanukkah https://staging.thenewjew.org/articles/holidays-rabbinic-festivals-hanukkah.json <_xml>https://staging.thenewjew.org/articles/holidays-rabbinic-festivals-hanukkah.xml
holidays-rabbinic-festivals-hanukkah Hanukkah The eight-day winter festival commemorating the Maccabean victory and the miracle of the oil. Summary. Hanukkah, the 25th of Kislev through the 2nd or 3rd of Tevet, commemorates the Maccabean victory over the Seleucid Greek empire in the 2nd century BCE and the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days when only one day's worth was available. The central mitzvah is the lighting of the Hanukkiah (the nine-branched candelabrum), one light on the first night and an additional light each subsequent night, with the shamash (servant light). Other practices include the eating of fried foods (commemorating the oil), the recitation of Hallel, the addition of Al Hanissim in the Amidah and Birkat Hamazon, and the playing of dreidel. essential holidays hanukkah maccabees menorah 2026-07-06T02:19:03.001Z 891 4
sacred-time Sacred Time
summary Summary. [Hanukkah](/glossary.xml#letter-H) runs from the 25th of [Kislev](/glossary.xml#letter-K) through the 2nd or 3rd of [Tevet](/glossary.xml#letter-T). It commemorates the Maccabean victory over the Seleucid Greek empire in the 2nd century BCE, and the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days when only one day's worth was at hand. The central [mitzvah](/glossary.xml#letter-M) is the lighting of the [Hanukkiah](/glossary.xml#letter-H) (the nine-branched candelabrum): one light on the first night, an additional light each night after, plus the [shamash](/glossary.xml#letter-S) (servant light). Other practices include the eating of fried foods (commemorating the oil), the recitation of [Hallel](/glossary.xml#letter-H), the addition of [Al Hanissim](/glossary.xml#letter-A) in the [Amidah](/glossary.xml#letter-A) and [Birkat Hamazon](/glossary.xml#letter-B), and the playing of [dreidel](/glossary.xml#letter-D). Summary. Hanukkah runs from the 25th of Kislev through the 2nd or 3rd of Tevet. It commemorates the Maccabean victory over the Seleucid Greek empire in the 2nd century BCE, and the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days when only one day's worth was at hand. The central mitzvah is the lighting of the Hanukkiah (the nine-branched candelabrum): one light on the first night, an additional light each night after, plus the shamash (servant light). Other practices include the eating of fried foods (commemorating the oil), the recitation of Hallel, the addition of Al Hanissim in the Amidah and Birkat Hamazon, and the playing of dreidel. heading The Historical Hanukkah The Historical Hanukkah paragraph In 167 BCE, the Seleucid Greek emperor [Antiochus IV Epiphanes](/glossary.xml#letter-A) outlawed Jewish practice and desecrated the [Beit HaMikdash](/glossary.xml#letter-B). The priestly [Hasmonean](/glossary.xml#letter-H) family, [Mattityahu](/glossary.xml#letter-M) and his five sons (Yehudah "[Maccabeus](/glossary.xml#letter-J)" prominent among them), led a revolt. By 164 BCE the Temple was retaken and rededicated. The [Books of Maccabees I and II](https://www.sefaria.org/The_Book_of_Maccabees_I) tell the story. They sit in the Apocrypha rather than the Jewish canon, but historians read them extensively. The eight-day festival of dedication (chanukah means, literally, "dedication") was established to commemorate the victory. In 167 BCE, the Seleucid Greek emperor Antiochus IV Epiphanes outlawed Jewish practice and desecrated the Beit HaMikdash. The priestly Hasmonean family, Mattityahu and his five sons (Yehudah "Maccabeus" prominent among them), led a revolt. By 164 BCE the Temple was retaken and rededicated. The Books of Maccabees I and II tell the story. They sit in the Apocrypha rather than the Jewish canon, but historians read them extensively. The eight-day festival of dedication (chanukah means, literally, "dedication") was established to commemorate the victory. heading The Miracle of the Oil The Miracle of the Oil paragraph [The Talmud (Shabbat 21b)](https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.21b) provides the famous "miracle of the oil" account. On rededicating the Temple, only one cruse of pure olive oil was found, bearing the seal of the High Priest, enough to fuel the Temple menorah for a single day. By a miracle it burned for eight days, until new oil could be pressed and consecrated. The Sages established the eight-day festival to commemorate it. (The [Books of Maccabees](/glossary.xml#letter-B) themselves do not contain this story. It appears first in the [Talmud](/glossary.xml#letter-T), several centuries later.) The Talmud (Shabbat 21b) provides the famous "miracle of the oil" account. On rededicating the Temple, only one cruse of pure olive oil was found, bearing the seal of the High Priest, enough to fuel the Temple menorah for a single day. By a miracle it burned for eight days, until new oil could be pressed and consecrated. The Sages established the eight-day festival to commemorate it. (The Books of Maccabees themselves do not contain this story. It appears first in the Talmud, several centuries later.) heading The Hanukkiah The Hanukkiah paragraph See the Going Deeper chapter on the Hanukkiah for the detailed treatment. At minimum, the mitzvah is to light one Hanukkiah per household. The Talmud sets out two further tiers: the [mehadrin](/glossary.xml#letter-M) kindle a light for each member of the household, and the mehadrin min hamehadrin change the number of lights nightly. Later authorities divide over what that second tier means in practice. Standard [Ashkenazi](/glossary.xml#letter-A) practice has each person light a full Hanukkiah of their own. The custom in many Sephardi communities is that the household lights one ascending Hanukkiah. The [Hillel](/glossary.xml#letter-H)/[Shammai](/glossary.xml#letter-S) debate behind it is preserved in [Talmud Shabbat 21b](https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.21b), with Hillel's ascending count prevailing. Light after nightfall, in a window or doorway, with the recitation of the blessings. See the Going Deeper chapter on the Hanukkiah for the detailed treatment. At minimum, the mitzvah is to light one Hanukkiah per household. The Talmud sets out two further tiers: the mehadrin kindle a light for each member of the household, and the mehadrin min hamehadrin change the number of lights nightly. Later authorities divide over what that second tier means in practice. Standard Ashkenazi practice has each person light a full Hanukkiah of their own. The custom in many Sephardi communities is that the household lights one ascending Hanukkiah. The Hillel/Shammai debate behind it is preserved in Talmud Shabbat 21b, with Hillel's ascending count prevailing. Light after nightfall, in a window or doorway, with the recitation of the blessings. heading Al Hanissim Al Hanissim paragraph Throughout Hanukkah, an insertion is added to the [Modim](/glossary.xml#letter-M) (thanksgiving) blessing of the Amidah and to the Birkat Hamazon: Al Hanissim ("For the miracles"), recounting the deliverance and the dedication. The same liturgical insertion is added on [Purim](/glossary.xml#letter-P). Note the phrasing: "in those days, at this time." The miracle is not only past. It is ongoing in our remembrance. Throughout Hanukkah, an insertion is added to the Modim (thanksgiving) blessing of the Amidah and to the Birkat Hamazon: Al Hanissim ("For the miracles"), recounting the deliverance and the dedication. The same liturgical insertion is added on Purim. Note the phrasing: "in those days, at this time." The miracle is not only past. It is ongoing in our remembrance. heading Customs of the Home Customs of the Home paragraph Fried foods — [latkes](/glossary.xml#letter-L) (potato pancakes), [sufganiyot](/glossary.xml#letter-S) (jelly doughnuts), other fried items. The oil-frying commemorates the miracle of the oil. Fried foods — latkes (potato pancakes), sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), other fried items. The oil-frying commemorates the miracle of the oil. paragraph Dreidel — a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters nun, gimel, heh, shin (in Israel: nun, gimel, heh, peh), said to stand for "[nes gadol haya sham/poh](/glossary.xml#letter-N)" ("a great miracle happened there/here"). Dreidel — a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters nun, gimel, heh, shin (in Israel: nun, gimel, heh, peh), said to stand for "nes gadol haya sham/poh" ("a great miracle happened there/here"). paragraph [Gelt](/glossary.xml#letter-G) — small amounts of money (or chocolate coins) given to children. Some sources connect to the Hasmonean coins; others to the medieval practice of teachers' fees. Gelt — small amounts of money (or chocolate coins) given to children. Some sources connect to the Hasmonean coins; others to the medieval practice of teachers' fees. paragraph Singing — [Maoz Tzur](/glossary.xml#letter-M) ("Rock of Ages") is the standard [Ashkenazi](/glossary.xml#letter-A) after-lighting song; [HaNerot Halalu](/glossary.xml#letter-H) the universal text. Singing — Maoz Tzur ("Rock of Ages") is the standard Ashkenazi after-lighting song; HaNerot Halalu the universal text. heading Where Denominations Diverge Where Denominations Diverge paragraph Universal across all denominations, though the ethnic minhagim differ in the details. Standard [Ashkenazi](/glossary.xml#letter-A) practice is for every individual to light a Hanukkiah of their own. Many [Sephardi](/glossary.xml#letter-S) communities light a single Hanukkiah for the whole household, so the night's count can be read at a glance. Ashkenazim kindle the [shamash](/glossary.xml#letter-S) first and light the rest from it. The Sephardi custom is to kindle the night's lights from a separate candle and light the shamash last. Communities differ on timing too: many, including [Chabad](/glossary.xml#letter-C), light shortly after sunset, while others wait until nightfall. Chabad's outreach has been particularly impactful in establishing public Hanukkah celebrations, those large outdoor [menorot](/glossary.xml#letter-M) in city squares worldwide. [Reform](/glossary.xml#letter-R) observance is essentially identical to [Orthodox](/glossary.xml#letter-O) in the home rituals, though Reform congregations often hold a Hanukkah party rather than a full liturgical observance. The dates, the 25th of Kislev to the 2nd or 3rd of Tevet, are identical across all communities. Universal across all denominations, though the ethnic minhagim differ in the details. Standard Ashkenazi practice is for every individual to light a Hanukkiah of their own. Many Sephardi communities light a single Hanukkiah for the whole household, so the night's count can be read at a glance. Ashkenazim kindle the shamash first and light the rest from it. The Sephardi custom is to kindle the night's lights from a separate candle and light the shamash last. Communities differ on timing too: many, including Chabad, light shortly after sunset, while others wait until nightfall. Chabad's outreach has been particularly impactful in establishing public Hanukkah celebrations, those large outdoor menorot in city squares worldwide. Reform observance is essentially identical to Orthodox in the home rituals, though Reform congregations often hold a Hanukkah party rather than a full liturgical observance. The dates, the 25th of Kislev to the 2nd or 3rd of Tevet, are identical across all communities. heading Sources Sources paragraph [Talmud Bavli, Shabbat 21b–24a](https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.21b-24a) — the canonical Hanukkah passage. Talmud Bavli, Shabbat 21b–24a — the canonical Hanukkah passage. paragraph [Megillat Antiochus](https://www.sefaria.org/Megillat_Antiochus) - an Aramaic retelling of the Hasmonean victory composed in the talmudic period (scholars place it between the first and fifth centuries CE), copied into medieval prayer books, read publicly on Hanukkah in some medieval communities, and still part of the liturgy among some Yemenite Jews. Megillat Antiochus - an Aramaic retelling of the Hasmonean victory composed in the talmudic period (scholars place it between the first and fifth centuries CE), copied into medieval prayer books, read publicly on Hanukkah in some medieval communities, and still part of the liturgy among some Yemenite Jews. paragraph Books of Maccabees I and II (Apocrypha; preserved in Christian canon). Books of Maccabees I and II (Apocrypha; preserved in Christian canon). paragraph [Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Chanukah](https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah,_Scroll_of_Esther_and_Hanukkah.3-4). Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Chanukah. paragraph [Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 670–685](https://www.sefaria.org/Shulchan_Arukh,_Orach_Chayim.670-685). Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 670–685. paragraph [Shabbat 21.b (Steinsaltz Talmud portal, with Rashi and Tosafot)](https://steinsaltz-center.org/portal/library/Talmud/Shabbat/chapter/21.b) — Steinsaltz Center. Shabbat 21.b (Steinsaltz Talmud portal, with Rashi and Tosafot) — Steinsaltz Center. paragraph [16 Menorah Facts Every Jew Should Know](https://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/4568648/jewish/16-Menorah-Facts-Every-Jew-Should-Know.htm) — Chabad.org. 16 Menorah Facts Every Jew Should Know — Chabad.org. paragraph [Why Don’t We Read a Scroll on Hanukkah? Responsa in a Moment: Volume 5, Issue No. 1, November 2010](https://schechter.edu/why-dont-we-read-a-scroll-on-hanukkah-responsa-in-a-moment-volume-5-issue-no-1-november-2010/) — Schechter Institute. Why Don’t We Read a Scroll on Hanukkah? Responsa in a Moment: Volume 5, Issue No. 1, November 2010 — Schechter Institute. paragraph [What is a Dreidel & How to Play It?](https://aish.com/history-and-meaning-of-dreidels-8-interesting-facts/) — Aish. What is a Dreidel & How to Play It? — Aish. heading Further Reading Further Reading paragraph [Yitz Greenberg](/glossary.xml#letter-R), The Jewish Way — Hanukkah chapter. Yitz Greenberg, The Jewish Way — Hanukkah chapter. paragraph Philip Goodman, The Hanukkah Anthology. Philip Goodman, The Hanukkah Anthology. paragraph Hayim [Soloveitchik](/glossary.xml#letter-J), "Catastrophe and Halakhic Creativity: Ashkenaz – 1096, 1242, 1306, 1298," Jewish History 12:1. Hayim Soloveitchik, "Catastrophe and Halakhic Creativity: Ashkenaz – 1096, 1242, 1306, 1298," Jewish History 12:1. holidays-yamim-noraim-rosh-hashanah Rosh Hashanah /articles/holidays-yamim-noraim-rosh-hashanah.xml holidays-yamim-noraim-yom-kippur Yom Kippur /articles/holidays-yamim-noraim-yom-kippur.xml holidays-shalosh-regalim-sukkot Sukkot /articles/holidays-shalosh-regalim-sukkot.xml holidays-yom-tov-shemini-atzeret-and-simchat-torah Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah /articles/holidays-yom-tov-shemini-atzeret-and-simchat-torah.xml calendar-daf-yomi-a-page-a-day Daf Yomi: A Page a Day deeper /articles/calendar-daf-yomi-a-page-a-day.xml holidays-fasts-the-four-minor-fasts The Four Minor Fasts deeper /articles/holidays-fasts-the-four-minor-fasts.xml Al HaNissim עַל הַנִּסִּים 'For the miracles' — a paragraph of thanksgiving inserted into the Amidah and Birkat Hamazon on Hanukkah and Purim, recounting each holiday's deliverance. Amidah עֲמִידָה Literally 'standing' — the central prayer of every Jewish service, recited standing and traditionally facing Jerusalem. It is also called the Shemoneh Esrei ('Eighteen'), after the original count of its weekday blessings. essentials-essential-prayers-the-amidah-shemoneh-esrei Antiochus IV Epiphanes The Seleucid Greek king (reigned 175-164 BCE) whose outlawing of Jewish practice and desecration of the Beit HaMikdash provoked the Hasmonean revolt commemorated by Hanukkah. holidays-rabbinic-festivals-hanukkah Ashkenazi אשכנזי Describing Jews whose families trace to Central and Eastern Europe, and the customs, liturgy, and Hebrew pronunciation of those communities. The broad counterpart terms are Sephardi and Edot HaMizrach. Beit HaMikdash בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ The Holy Temple in Jerusalem — the First destroyed in 586 BCE, the Second in 70 CE. Much of Jewish prayer and practice remembers it and looks toward its restoration. Birkat Hamazon בִּרְכַּת הַמָּזוֹן The grace after meals — the series of blessings recited after eating bread, fulfilling the Torah's command 'you shall eat, be satisfied, and bless' (Devarim 8:10). going-deeper-deeper-prayers-birkat-hamazon-the-grace-after-meals Books of Maccabees First and Second Maccabees, historical narratives of the Hasmonean revolt against the Seleucid Greeks preserved in the Apocrypha rather than the Jewish biblical canon, but still the primary historical source for the events behind Hanukkah. holidays-rabbinic-festivals-hanukkah Chabad חב״ד Chabad-Lubavitch is a Hasidic movement, historically headquartered in the Russian town of Lubavitch, known today for its worldwide network of Chabad Houses that offer hospitality, classes, and holiday services to Jews of every background, often in places with no other organized Jewish community. community-finding-a-shul HaNerot Halalu הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ "These lights" — the short passage recited after kindling the Hanukkah candles, declaring that the lights are holy, for gazing at rather than for use. Hallel הַלֵּל The sequence of praise Psalms (113–118) sung on festivals, on Rosh Chodesh, and throughout Hanukkah. Hanukkah חֲנֻכָּה The eight-day winter festival of lights, commemorating the Maccabees' rededication of the Temple and the oil that burned for eight days. Its central mitzvah is lighting the hanukkiah each night. holidays-rabbinic-festivals-hanukkah Hanukkiah חֲנֻכִּיָּה The nine-branched Hanukkah lamp — eight lights plus the shamash that kindles them. It is often loosely called a menorah, though the menorah proper is the Temple's seven-branched lamp. going-deeper-deeper-judaica-hanukkiah-menorah Hasmonean חשמונאים The priestly family -- Mattityahu and his sons, prominently Judah Maccabee -- who led the revolt against the Seleucid Greeks and then ruled Judea for roughly a century; their victory and the rededication of the Temple are commemorated by Hanukkah. holidays-rabbinic-festivals-hanukkah Hillel הלל A leading sage of the late first century BCE, renowned for his patience and leniency in halachic debate with his rival Shammai, and for maxims such as 'If I am not for myself, who will be for me?' preserved in Pirkei Avot. going-deeper-deeper-facts-pirkei-avot Joseph Soloveitchik יוסף דב הלוי סולובייצ'יק Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik (1903–1993), known to his students as "the Rav," was the towering figure of 20th-century Modern Orthodoxy; his framing of the Jew as both dignified "Adam I" and covenantal "Adam II" remains a touchstone of Modern Orthodox thought. essentials-essential-questions-what-does-judaism-teach-about-god Judah Maccabee יהודה המכבי Son of Mattityahu, who led the Hasmonean revolt against the Seleucid Greeks after his father's death, recapturing and rededicating the Beit HaMikdash in 164 BCE -- the victory commemorated by Hanukkah. holidays-rabbinic-festivals-hanukkah Kislev כִּסְלֵו The winter month of the Jewish calendar in which Hanukkah begins, on the 25th. calendar-how-the-jewish-calendar-works Maoz Tzur מָעוֹז צוּר "Rock of Ages" — the hymn sung after lighting the Hanukkah candles, recounting God's rescues of Israel across the centuries. Mattityahu מתתיהו The priest of Modi'in who, together with his five sons, launched the revolt against the Seleucid Greek empire in 167 BCE that gave rise to Hanukkah; his son Judah Maccabee led the fight after his death. holidays-rabbinic-festivals-hanukkah Modim מוֹדִים The thanksgiving blessing near the end of the Amidah, at which the community bows in gratitude; on Hanukkah and Purim the Al Hanissim passage is added here. Orthodox Judaism Orthodox Judaism holds Halacha as fully binding and the Shulchan Aruch as its canonical code; it spans Haredi and Hasidic communities as well as Modern Orthodoxy, and is the starting point from which this Field Guide is written, even as it engages seriously with other denominations. how-to-use-this-field-guide Purim פּוּרִים The joyous festival celebrating the rescue of Persian Jewry recounted in the book of Esther, observed with the Megillah reading, gifts of food, gifts to the poor, and a festive meal. holidays-rabbinic-festivals-purim Rabbi Yitz Greenberg Rabbi Irving 'Yitz' Greenberg (b. 1933), a Modern Orthodox rabbi and Holocaust theologian known for the principle that no Jewish theological statement should be made that would not be credible in the presence of burning children; author of The Jewish Way. holidays-modern-observances-yom-hashoah Reform Judaism Reform Judaism treats Halacha as a source of values and meaning rather than binding law, emphasizing individual autonomy, ethical monotheism, and tikkun olam; it was the first movement to fully recognize patrilineal descent and ordain women as rabbis. how-to-use-this-field-guide Sephardi סְפָרַדִּי A Jew whose family traces to medieval Spain and Portugal — and, in common usage, to the broader communities of the Mediterranean and Middle East that follow Sephardic law and liturgy. The plural is Sephardim. Shammai שמאי Hillel's contemporary and rival in the late first century BCE, known for stricter rulings; the schools of Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai debated hundreds of points of law, including which date should mark the New Year of the Trees. holidays-minor-tu-bishvat Talmud תלמוד The vast rabbinic work — the Mishnah together with the Gemara's discussion of it — that develops the Oral Torah into Jewish law and thought. It is the central text of Jewish study after the Bible itself. essentials-essential-facts-the-talmud-in-one-article Tevet טבת The tenth month of the Jewish calendar, in midwinter; Hanukkah ends in early Tevet, and the fast of the 10th of Tevet recalls the siege of Jerusalem. dreidel דרײדל The four-sided spinning top played with on Hanukkah. Its letters stand for 'a great miracle happened there' — or, on tops made in Israel, 'here.' gelt געלט Yiddish for "money" — the coins, today usually chocolate ones, given to children on Hanukkah. latkes לאַטקעס Potato pancakes fried in oil — the classic Ashkenazi Hanukkah food (the word is Yiddish), commemorating the miracle of the oil. mehadrin מְהַדְּרִין "Those who beautify" — a stricter, more exacting standard of observance; the term describes both an enhanced level of kashrut and the now-universal practice of adding a Hanukkah light each night. menorah מְנוֹרָה The seven-branched lampstand that stood in the Temple in Jerusalem. In everyday speech the word is also used for the nine-branched Hanukkah lamp, more precisely called a hanukkiah. going-deeper-deeper-judaica-hanukkiah-menorah mitzvah מִצְוָה A commandment — one of the Torah's 613 divine instructions, and by extension any religious duty or good deed. The plural is mitzvot. essentials-essential-facts-the-613-mitzvot nes gadol hayah sham נֵס גָּדוֹל הָיָה שָׁם 'A great miracle happened there' — the phrase abbreviated by the four letters on a dreidel; in Israel the last word is poh, 'here.' shamash שַׁמָּשׁ The 'servant' light of the Hanukkah lamp, used to kindle the other lights and given its own place on the hanukkiah. sufganiyot סופגניות Jelly doughnuts fried in oil, eaten on Hanukkah in commemoration of the miracle of the oil. parent Sacred Time /sections/sacred-time.xml related Rosh Hashanah /articles/holidays-yamim-noraim-rosh-hashanah.xml related Yom Kippur /articles/holidays-yamim-noraim-yom-kippur.xml related Sukkot /articles/holidays-shalosh-regalim-sukkot.xml related Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah /articles/holidays-yom-tov-shemini-atzeret-and-simchat-torah.xml related Daf Yomi: A Page a Day /articles/calendar-daf-yomi-a-page-a-day.xml related The Four Minor Fasts /articles/holidays-fasts-the-four-minor-fasts.xml