ISHA wished all its residents a happy and safe Hanukkah! What is Hanukkah about? Hanukkah or Chanukah begins on the evening of Thursday, 7 December and ends on the evening of Friday, 15 December. Hannukah celebrates an event 2,000 years ago when the Maccabe's revolt against the Seleucid empire won them the right to practice Judaism freely. During the conflict, the Jewish temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed. They cleaned and repaired the temple, celebrating by lighting an oil lamp. There was only enough oil to burn the candle for one day, but miraculously, it burned for eight days. This is why the Hanukkah lasts for eight days and why light is a key focus of the festival. How is it celebrated? Many people will display a Hannukah menorah in their home, which holds nine candles, one for each of the eight days and one to light the rest. The candles in a menorah are lit from left to right, lighting a new candle, candles for the previous days, and the helper candle each night. You’ll need to use a whopping 44 candles to celebrate Hanukkah since you light two candles the first night, three the second night, four the third night, and so on. Hanukkah is a fun time for children, as they will usually receive gifts and money. Some families will give each other a small present on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. Traditional dishes include things like potato latkes and jam doughnuts. Read more news stories Return to Graphics Version