Hanukkah

Hanukkah Festival Latest News

The Jews around the world will celebrate Hanukkah Festival, which will begin on 14 December, 2025 and last until 22 December, 2025. Recently, an attack targeting the Jewish Community took place in Sydney, Austraila, while they were celebrating the Hanukkah Festival.

Hanukkah (Chanukah)

• Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish festival celebrated in winter.
• It is known as the Festival of Lights and is marked by lighting the menorah, reciting special prayers, and eating fried foods.
• The word Chanukah means dedication, because it celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
• According to the Jewish calendar, Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev and continues until the 2nd day of the month of Tevet, a date known as Zos Chanukah.

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Hanukkah Festival Historical Background

• In the 2nd century BCE, the Holy Land was ruled by the Syrian-Greek (Seleucid) Empire, which tried to force Jews to follow Greek culture and religion.
• A small group of Jews, which was led by A Jewish priest, Mattathias, fought back, defeated the Syrian-Greek army, and reclaimed the Holy Temple.
• They rededicated the Temple to the worship of God, which is why this festival is celebrated.

Source: Chabad.org