Hanukkah (, Tiberian:, usually spelled, pronounced in Modern Hebrew ; also romanized as Chanukah, Chanukkah, Chanuka, or Khanukah ), also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple ( the Second Temple ) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE.

Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar.

The purpose of the shamash is to have a light available for use, as using the Hanukkah lights themselves is forbidden.

This is a reference to the disagreement between two rabbinical schools of thought — the House of Hillel and the House of Shammai — on the proper order in which to light the Hanukkah flames.

The story of Hanukkah, along with its laws and customs, is entirely missing from the Mishna apart from several passing references ( Bikkurim 1: 6, Rosh HaShanah 1: 3, Taanit 2: 10, Megillah 3: 4 and 3: 6, Moed Katan 3: 9, and Bava Kama 6: 6 ).

The story of Hanukkah is preserved in the books of the First and Second Maccabees.

The story of Hanukkah is alluded to in the book of 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees.

This work ( also known as " Megillat HaHasmonaim ", " Megillat Hanukkah " or " Megillat Yevanit ") is in both Aramaic and Hebrew ; the Hebrew version is a literal translation from the Aramaic original.

This provoked the 174 – 135 BCE Maccabean Revolt led by Judas Maccabeus ( whose victory is celebrated in the Jewish festival of Hanukkah ).

Hanukkah (, " dedication ") also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight day Jewish holiday that starts on the 25th day of Kislev ( Hebrew calendar ).

Hanukkah is not mentioned in the Bible and was never considered a major holiday in Judaism, but it has become much more visible and widely celebrated in modern times, mainly because it falls around the same time as Christmas and has national Jewish overtones that have been emphasized since the establishment of the State of Israel.

It is also used to describe Hanukkah and Purim, as well as Yom Ha ' atzma ' ut ( Israeli Independence Day ) and Yom Yerushalayim ( Jerusalem Day ).

The story of Hanukkah is preserved in the books of the First and Second Maccabees.

The eight-day festival is marked by the kindling of lights — one on the first night, two on the second, and so on — using a special candle holder called a Chanukkiyah, or a Hanukkah menorah.

There is a custom to give children money ( Hanukkah gelt ) to commemorate the learning of Torah in guise of Jews gathering in what was perceived as gambling at that time since Torah was forbidden.

The Menorah is also a symbol closely associated with the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

The Hanukkah menorah therefore has eight main branches, plus a ninth branch set apart as the shamash ( servant ) light which is used to kindle the other lights.

One candle is lit on each day of the week-long celebration, in a similar manner as the Hanukiah ( which was modeled after the menora ) during Hanukkah.

This event is commemorated each year by the festival of Hanukkah.

Among American Jews, the practice of eating latkes ( fried potato pancakes ) is common during the festival of Hanukkah.

He is not the king who oppressed Judea and was resisted by the Maccabees in the Jewish story of Hanukkah ; rather, that was his son, Antiochus IV.

In addition, Yalda, Saturnalia, Karachun, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Yule ( see winter solstice for more ) are also celebrated around this time.

The group also provides programs that provide their Christian interpretation of Jewish holidays such as Passover, Sukkot and Hanukkah, explaining what they consider messianic elements and how they believe these festivals are related to Jesus.

During the holiday season the show also airs one or more Christmas and Hanukkah themed stories narrated by past or present announcers.

While potato pancakes ( latkes or levivot ) are also eaten in Israel, sufganiyot are considered a more " Israeli " Hanukkah treat.

He is also Jewish since in " Walls " he tells Jack that he celebrates Hanukkah when Jack says that Christmas has come early upon Bridge and him receiving new patrol bikes.

It has also been described as a commentary on the way Jewish children are overlooked during the Christmas holiday ; this theme is overtly stated by Stan, who says at the end of the episode that Jews and Hanukkah " can be cool " as well as Christmas.

The name " Hanukkah " derives from the Hebrew verb "", meaning " to dedicate ".

Linguists are interested in the letter because the names of the community members are of Turkic, Slavic, and Hebrew origins ( for example, names such as: " Hanukkah ," " Yehudah ," " Gostata ," and " Kiabar ").

His book The Star that Astonished the World claimed the " Star of Bethlehem " was the planet ( or " wandering star " in antiquity ) Jupiter, or Zedeq (" Righteousness ") in Hebrew, leading the wise men to Jesus in Bethlehem on December 25, 2 BCE, coinciding with the Jewish Festival of Lamps or Hanukkah that year.

The Hanukkah menorah ( Hebrew: מנורת חנוכה m ' noraht khanukkah, pl.

In the English-speaking diaspora, the lamp is most commonly called a " Hanukkah menorah ," or simply " menorah " for short, whereas in Modern Hebrew it is exclusively called a chanukkiyah, and the Hebrew word menorah simply means " lamp ".

In 2008, Cohen released an album entitled " Songs in the Key of Hanukkah " collaborating with Yasmin Levy, Jules Brookes, Y-Love, Dana Kerstein, Idan Raichel and Avivit Caspi, in English, Hebrew, Yiddish and Ladino.

And she wrote the libretto for an oratorio on the subject of Judas Maccabeus performed at the Hanukkah festival which came in December.

Various menorot used for Hanukkah.

Both the Catholic and Jewish traditions have even set aside days for gambling, ( for Jews Hanukkah ), although religious authorities generally disapprove of gambling.

The Christian cross | cross of the war memorial and a Menorah ( Temple ) | menorah for Hanukkah coexist in Oxford.

According to Davis, he wrote the story when he was unable to find a story that he liked for a Hanukkah reading.

* 2003 The Stone Lamp: Eight Stories of Hanukkah through History, Illustrated by J. Brian Pinkney ( Hyperion Books for Children, ISBN 978-0-7868-0619-5 )

" The celebratory festival of Hanukkah is instituted: " When the fire had been kindled anew upon the altar and the lamps of the candlestick lit, the dedication of the altar was celebrated for eight days amid sacrifices and songs.

On Hanukkah, Margot longingly recalls past celebrations and Anne produces little presents for everyone.

The oil for cooking the latkes is symbolic of the oil from the Hanukkah story that kept the Second Temple of ancient Israel lit with a long-lasting flame that is celebrated as a miracle.

While not mandated ( a mitzvah ) for Hanukkah ( the only mandated mitzvot are lighting candles and saying the full hallel ), spinning the dreidel is a traditional game played during the holiday.

He finally opens his parents ' Hanukkah card, which contains a message praising him for being a good son.

He lights a Hanukkah candle for a Holocaust survivor.

School-wide events include Grandparents ’ & Special Friends ’ Day on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving ; Yule Festival – a longstanding holiday assembly that acknowledges both the common and varying traditions of the school ’ s diverse community in songs and readings that capture the principles and spirit of Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa ; and May Day – a special assembly welcoming spring for students in Pre-K through Grade 5.

Both types are most popular for sending holiday greetings such as Christmas, Hanukkah & for baby showers.

" After they closed production for that special, they begin considering the Hanukkah special and eventually created it in 1996 as the episode " A Rugrats Chanukah.

The only references to how it was celebrated, other than the family displaying both a Christmas tree and a Hanukkah menorah, was that the Cohens spent Christmas Day itself rather than going out for Chinese food and a movie as many American Jews have taken up in recent years, watching movies like It's a Wonderful Life and Fiddler on the Roof at home while eating Chinese takeout.

Unlike Chrismukkah, Christmanukkah is twenty days long ( twelve days of Christmas and another eight for Hanukkah ), and all of the days are spent receiving gifts and eating until passing out.

During the 1990s, stamps for Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Eid, and Chinese New Year have become a regular part of the holiday program, although the designs tend be used for several years, distinguishable only by a different denomination or year date.