Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century BCE.
The story of Hanukkah revolves around the miracle of the oil: when the Maccabees reclaimed the temple, they found only enough consecrated oil to keep the menorah's candles burning for one day.
Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days, which is why Hanukkah is celebrated for eight nights. Each night, a candle is lit on the menorah, adding one more candle each night until all eight are lit. Traditional foods like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts) are enjoyed, and games like dreidel are played. Hanukkah is a time for family, celebration, and reflection on the themes of perseverance and faith.
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