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Yehuda Lave is an author, journalist, psychologist, rabbi, spiritual teacher, and coach, with degrees in business, psychology and Jewish Law. He works with people from all walks of life and helps them in their search for greater happiness, meaning, business advice on saving money, and spiritual engagement.

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The Three Musketeers at the Kotel

The Three are Rabbi Yehuda Glick, famous temple mount activist, and former Israel Mk, and then Robert Weinger, the world's greatest shofar blower and seller of Shofars, and myself after we had gone to the 12 gates of the Temple Mount in 2020 to blow the shofar to ask G-d to heal the world from the Pandemic. It was a highlight to my experience in living in Israel and I put it on my blog each day to remember.

The articles that I include each day are those that I find interesting, so I feel you will find them interesting as well. I don't always agree with all the points of each article but found them interesting or important to share with you, my readers, and friends. It is cathartic for me to share my thoughts and frustrations with you about life in general and in Israel. As a Rabbi, I try to teach and share the Torah of the G-d of Israel as a modern Orthodox Rabbi. I never intend to offend anyone but sometimes people are offended and I apologize in advance for any mistakes. The most important psychological principle I have learned is that once someone's mind is made up, they don't want to be bothered with the facts, so, like Rabbi Akiva, I drip water (Torah is compared to water) on their made-up minds and hope that some of what I have share sinks in. Love Rabbi Yehuda Lave.

Hanukkah (Chanukah), the Festival of Lights, begins Sunday evening, December 14 and ends Monday evening December 22, 2025.

When does Hanukkah begin?

Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar. The timing of Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century BCE, following the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire. The 25th of Kislev was when a small amount of oil miraculously kept the Temple's menorah alight for eight days, inspiring the holiday's eight-day observance. The holiday is thus celebrated at this time each year, aligning with the triumph and renewal symbolized by that historic event.

In short, Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a group of Jewish warriors defeated the occupying Greek armies. The festival celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and spirituality over materiality. Read on to learn more about the history of Hanukkah.

According to the Talmud, there was only enough consecrated oil to relight the candelabra for 1 day, yet, miraculously, it remained lit for 8 days.

What Does the Word "Chanukah" (or "Hanukkah") Mean?

The word chanukah means "inauguration" or "dedication." After the rebellion, the Temple was in ruin, including the altar. The Maccabees buried the stones of the altar and built a new one. Thus, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple and the altar.

How do you pronounce "Hanukkah"? The Hebrew word is actually pronounced with a guttural "kh" sound: kha-nu-kah, not tcha-new-kah.

How Hanukkah is Celebrated

The central feature of the observance is the nightly lighting of the Chanukiah or menorah, an eight-branched candelabra with a place for a ninth candle, the shammes, used to light the others.

One candle is lit on the first night of Hanukkah, and an additional candle is lit on each successive night until, on the eighth night, the Chanukiah is fully illuminated.

Hanukkah is also called the Feast of Lights or Festival of Lights due to the importance of the candle-lighting.

Hanukkah Recipes to Try

Traditional Hanukkah recipes include foods fried in oil to commemorate the original miracle of the oil. Dairy products are also popular during Hanukkah.

Some of the most popular foods include latkes (fried potato pancakes), applesauce, sufganiyot (deep-fried or jelly doughnuts), and rugelach pastries.

Many Hanukkah meals are eaten communally to bring friends and family together, especially if they need to reconcile.

Hanukkah Customs

Consumer gifts are not a custom; the menorah's candles are meant to recall the miracle—and focus on this religious purpose. Traditionally, money was given to charity, with more each day as the candles were lit. This originated with the need for even the poor to have money for candles so they could go door-to-door without any shame.

It is also customary on Hanukkah to give money (called Hanukkah gelt) to children and to play games with the dreidel—a four-sided spinning top. The Hebrew letters printed on the sides of a dreidel are an acronym for the phrase Nes Gadol Hayah Sham, "a great miracle happened there"—a reference to the oil miracle.