Hanukkahs

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday celebrated with traditional foods, family gatherings, and the lighting of the menorah. The holiday commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem following its desecration by the Syrians in 165 BCE, and the subsequent victory of the Jewish Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire. The name Hanukkah is derived from the Hebrew word for "dedication," and the holiday is also known as the Festival of Dedication.

The holiday is observed for eight nights and days, beginning on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev. Each night, a menorah is lit with one additional candle each day, culminating in all eight candles being lit on the final night. The ninth candle, known as the shamash, is used to light the other candles and is not counted among the eight nights.

Traditional Hanukkah foods include latkes, a potato pancake; sufganiyot, jelly-filled doughnuts; and hamantaschen, triangular pastries filled with fruit preserves or nuts. The holiday is also marked by the recitation of the Hanukkah story, known as the "Dreidel" game, and the singing of Hanukkah songs.

Hanukkah is celebrated by Jews around the world, with some communities also observing the holiday with special services and gatherings. The holiday is a time for reflection on the miracle of the oil, as well as a celebration of Jewish identity and heritage.