Chanukah

What is Chanukah and When Do We Celebrate It?

The name ‘Chanukah’ means ‘dedication’. The name commemorates the rededication of the Temple. An alternate explanation is that the word 'chanukah' consists of two parts: ‘Chanu’ means ‘they rested’ and ‘kah’ means ‘twenty five’. This recalls the day when the fighting stopped and the Temple was rededicated. 

Chanukah is referred to as ‘The Festival of Lights’ or by another name, ‘Chag HaUrim’. This name describes the main features of Chanukah, which involves the lighting of a chanukiah (a candelabrum with nine lights). We celebrate Chanukah for eight days, from the 25th of Kislev.

Chanukah Candle Lighting dates for 2018 (5779)

Menorah	Candle to Light	Date
	Light 1st candle	Sunday evening December 22, 2019
	Light 2nd candle	Monday evening December 23, 2019
	Light 3rd candle	Tuesday evening December 24, 2019
	Light 4th candle	Wednesday evening December 25, 2019
	Light 5th candle	Thursday evening December 26, 2019
	Light 6th candle	Friday evening December 27, 2019
	Light 7th candle	Saturday evening December 28, 2019
	Light 8th candle	Sunday evening December 29, 2019