Hanukkah

Worksheet Description

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday that typically occurs in December, lasting for eight days and nights. It commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century BCE. The holiday’s name, Hanukkah, means “dedication” in Hebrew, symbolizing the temple’s restoration after it had been desecrated by foreign rulers.

The central tradition of Hanukkah is the lighting of the menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum. Each night, one additional candle is lit, along with the central candle known as the shamash, until all eight candles are ablaze. Families also enjoy playing dreidel, a spinning top game, and exchange gifts and gelt (chocolate coins) during the holiday. Hanukkah is a joyous celebration of faith, resilience, and the triumph of light over darkness, and it is a time for families to come together to remember the miraculous events of their history.