Chanukah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers, and fried foods. This year, Chanukah begins on Sunday November 28th and continues through Monday December 6th.
Chanukah or Hannukah celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem in the 2nd century BC after it was recaptured from the Greeks by a small, outnumbered and poorly armed Jewish army. When they tried to light the Temple’s Menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum, they found only a one-day supply of oil which miraculously lit the Temple for eight days.
To remember the miracle and give thanks for “delivering the strong into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few…”, a candle is lit on the menorah, special prayers are recited, and a selection of oil-fried foods are served for each of the eight days of Chanukah celebration.
Since its first lighting by President Carter in 1979, the National Menorah, across from the White House, has been lit by the American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) on the first night of Chanukah, with a light added for each of the 8 days. The 30-foot-high menorah has become a symbol of religious freedom and celebrates the Festival of Lights in a wonderful public manner. This year’s lighting takes place on Sunday, November 28th. Tickets for the event are available and can be ordered on-line at nationalmenorah.org/tickets/.
Happy Chanukah!