JEWISH HOLIDAYS

In 2025, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 and lasts until sundown on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025.

What is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah, which is Hebrew for “dedication,” is the Festival of Lights.

It commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian Greek army, and the subsequent miracle of rededicating the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and restoring its menorah, or lamp.I 

The miracle of Hanukkah is that only one vial of oil was found with just enough oil to illuminate the Temple lamp for one day, and yet it lasted for eight full days.

How Do You Celebrate Hanukkah?

We celebrate Hanukkah at home by lighting the menorah (each night we light one additional candle to the number from the previous night), playing dreidel, and eating special foods unique to Hanukkah. Some people also sing Hanukkah songs or exchange gifts after lighting the menorah, which is also called a hanukkiah. Many people host and attend Hanukkah parties.

What Are Hanukkah Foods?

Many Hanukkah foods are deep-fried in oil, symbolizing the oil from the menorah used in the Temple. These include latkes, or potato pancakes, and jelly doughnuts. Other favorites include the Sephardic delicacy bimuelos and use, of course, applesauce as a latke topping. Chocolate gelt, a candy that gets its name from the Yiddish word for money, is another popular Hanukkah treat.

CHANUKAH - sunset Sunday December 14 - sundown Monday December 22, 2025
TU B'SHVAT - sunset Sunday February 1 - sundown Monday February 2, 2026
PURIM - sunset Monday March 2 - sundown Tuesday March 3, 2026
SHUSHAN PURIM  sunset Tuesday March 3 - sundown Wednesday March 4, 2026
PASSOVER - sunset Wednesday April 1 - sundown Thursday, April 9, 2026
YOM HASHOAH - sunset Monday April 13 - sundown Monday April 14, 2026
YOM HA'ATZMAUT - sunset Tuesday April 21 - sundown Wednesday April 22, 2026
LAG B'OMER - sunset Monday May 4 - sundown Tuesday May 5, 2026
YOM JERUSALAYIM - sunset Thursday May 14 - sundown Friday May 15, 2026
SHAVUOT - sunset Thursday May 21- sundown Friday May 22, 2026
ROSH HASHANAH - sunset Friday September 11 -  sundown Sunday September 13, 2026
YOM KIPPUR - sunset Sunday September 20 - sundown Monday September 21, 2026
SUKKOT - sunset Friday September 25 - sundown Friday October 2, 2026
SHEMINI ATZERET - sunset Friday October 2 - Saturday October3, 2026
SIMCHAT TORAH - sunset Saturday October 3 - sundown Sunday October 4, 2026
CHANUKAH - sunset Friday December 4 - sundown Saturday December 12, 2026