Jerusalem / New York, December 14, 2025: Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah or the Festival of Lights, officially began at sundown on Sunday, December 14, 2025, marking the start of an eight-day Jewish celebration that will conclude at nightfall on Monday, December 22, 2025. Jewish communities across the globe are observing the holiday with prayers, candle lighting, festive foods, and public celebrations symbolizing faith, resilience, and religious freedom.
The festival commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE. Central to Hanukkah is the miracle of a small cruse of oil that, according to tradition, burned for eight days instead of one when the Temple’s menorah was relit—an enduring symbol of light prevailing over darkness.
Traditional observances include the nightly lighting of the hanukkiah, a nine-branched menorah, with one additional candle lit each evening using the shamash (helper candle). Families recite blessings, sing hymns such as Ma’oz Tzur, and offer prayers of praise, including the Hallel. Popular customs also feature playing dreidel, exchanging gifts or Hanukkah gelt, and enjoying oil-fried foods like latkes and sufganiyot, which commemorate the oil miracle.
Public celebrations are drawing large crowds this year, with giant menorah lightings held in cities across the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In the U.S., notable events include prominent menorahs in New York City, San Francisco’s Union Square, Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Charlotte. Many of these gatherings are organized by Chabad-Lubavitch centers, continuing a tradition of public menorah displays popularized in the 1970s.
Although Hanukkah is not among the most sacred holidays in the Jewish calendar, its cultural significance—particularly in the diaspora—has grown over the decades. This year’s early December observance coincides with the broader winter festive season, inspiring concerts, workshops, parades, and family-oriented activities that emphasize unity, hope, and continuity amid global challenges.
