Hanukkah

Hanukkah 2026 begins on the evening of Friday, December 4, and lasts eight days. Each night we light the menorah to remember the miracle of the oil and the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

In the days of the Second Temple, the Greek rulers of the Land of Israel tried to pull the Jewish people away from the Torah and its mitzvot. The Hasmoneans, a family of Kohanim led by Mattityahu and his sons (the Maccabees), rose up and prevailed. In the Temple they found one sealed jar of pure oil, enough for a single day, and it burned for eight. The Sages set these eight days, from 25 Kislev, as days of praise and thanksgiving.

On the first night one candle is lit, and each night one more is added, until eight candles burn on the last night. During Hanukkah, Al HaNissim is added to the prayers and Hallel is said. It is customary to eat foods fried in oil, such as sufganiyot and latkes, in memory of the miracle.

Below you will find our guides to the laws, the blessings and the customs of the holiday.

Start with: Hanukkah 2026: The Complete Guide to the Festival of Lights, Chanukah Halacha Guide: Key Laws, Customs, and Meaning Explained, The Order Of Lighting Hanukkah Candles Including A Special Prayer.