Happy Hanukkah!

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights or Festival of Rededication, began at sundown last night and continues through sunset on December 23rd. The holiday is typically celebrated by lighting candles each night of the festival in a special Hanukkah menorah (or Chanukkiyah) in a visible location. Other traditions include playing the dreidel (or sevivon) game, and eating foods fried in olive oil, such as lattkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts).

The holiday was called Hanukkah meaning "dedication" because it marks the re-dedication of the Temple after its desecration under Antiochus IV. Spiritually, Hanukkah commemorates the Miracle of the Oil. According to the Talmud, at the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem following the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire, there was only enough consecrated olive oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days - which was the length of time it took to press, prepare and consecrate new oil.