Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the festival of lights, is an eight day festival beginning on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. It is a celebration of the victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. It also commemorates the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days.

Hanukkah is probably one of the best known Jewish holidays, not because of any great religious significance, but because of its proximity to Christmas. Many think of this holiday as the "Jewish Christmas," adopting many of the Christmas customs, such as elaborate gift-giving and decoration. It is bitterly ironic that this holiday, which has its roots in a revolution against assimilation and the suppression of Jewish religion, has become the most assimilated, secular holiday on our calendar.

Even though it is one of the minor holidays on the Jewish calendar, Hanukkah is full of fun, excitement, and joy. We've got a variety of information here at www.ujcnj.org -- take some time to enjoy the light of our Jewish tradition.

The Story of Hanukkah
Increasing the Hanukkah light (Courtesy of the Jewish Education Association)
Fun Hanukkah Customs and Traditions
Take a dreidel spin on tradition (these aren't your Bubbie's latkes)

List of Dates
Hanukkah will begin on the following days of the Gregorian calendar. Remember that the lighting of the first Hanukkah candle begins at sundown on the date before the date specified here.

December 20, 2003 (Jewish Year 5764)
December 8, 2004 (Jewish Year 5765)
December 26, 2005 (Jewish Year 5766)
December 15, 2006 (Jewish Year 5767)

Content for this section supplied, in part, by www.holidays.net/chanukah, www.Hanukkah.com, and www.jewfaq.org/holiday7.htm. Special thanks to the Jewish Education Association of MetroWest NJ
for their assistance throughout the year.