Chanukah 5786 December 15-22, 2025 25 Kislev - 2 Tevet 5786

HAPPY CHANUKAH FROM DARKHEI NOAM

Chanukah begins this year at sundown on Sunday, December 14th (at 4:53 PM)

Chanukah is a celebration commemorating the rededication of the Temple in the time of the Maccabees in the second century BCE.

The name Chanukah means “dedication” (Chanukat haBayit - Dedication of the Temple). Our tradition tells us that when the Maccabees defeated the Greeks and entered the Temple, there was not enough pure oil to light the menorah for more than one night. But the single cruse of oil that they found burned for eight full days.

To publicize these miracles, we light candles and say Hallel on all eight days of Chanukah, including Al Hanisim during Birkat Hamazon. Some customs of the holiday include playing dreidel and eating sufganiyot (jelly donuts), latkes (fried potato pancakes), dairy foods, and chocolate gelt. Join the Darkhei Noam dreidel-a- thon on Shabbat December 20th during kiddush! SHABBAT REMINDERS: The sixth night of Chanukah begins on Friday night, December 19 - remember to light the chanukiah BEFORE lighting Shabbat candles at 4:12 PM.

At least one of the candles should be big enough to last for about an hour and a half. Some people use Shabbat type candles (thicker and longer-lasting) candles in their chanukiah to ensure that the flame stay lit into the night The seventh night of Chanukah begins on Saturday night, December 20 - remember to light the menorah AFTER havdalah at 5:17 PM.

The seventh day of Chanukah, Rosh Chodesh Tevet, is known as Chag haBanot/ Eid al-Banat. Celebrated primarily by North African Jewish communities, this day honors the role of women in Jewish life and female heroes such as Judith. The last day of Chanukah is known as Zot Chanukah, from the words of a Torah verse read on that day, and has special significance for some Jews at the culmination of the holiday. Candle lighting is at 4:56 PM.

כל אחד הוא אור קטן וכלנו אור איתן

Everyone is a small light and all together we are a powerful unwavering light” - from the Chanukah song Ba’nu Choshech Legaresh.

May the lights of our menorahs drive out the darkness in the world. CHAG OORIM SAMEACH!