Hanukkah Festival

Jews around the world will celebrate the Hanukkah Festival beginning on 14 December 2025 and continuing until 22 December 2025. Recently, an attack targeting the Jewish community occurred in Sydney, Australia, while people were celebrating Hanukkah, highlighting concerns related to religious intolerance and communal violence.

What is Hanukkah (Chanukah)?

Hanukkah, also spelled Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish festival celebrated during winter. It is popularly known as the Festival of Lights.

The festival is observed by lighting the menorah, reciting special prayers, and eating fried foods, symbolising joy and remembrance.

Meaning of Hanukkah

The word Chanukah means “dedication”. The festival commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after it was reclaimed and purified.

Timing According to the Jewish Calendar

According to the Jewish lunar calendar, Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of the month of Kislev and continues until the 2nd day of the month of Tevet. The final day of the festival is known as Zos Chanukah.

Historical Background of Hanukkah

In the 2nd century BCE, the Holy Land was under the rule of the Syrian-Greek (Seleucid) Empire, which attempted to impose Greek culture and religion on the Jewish population.

A small group of Jews, led by a Jewish priest named Mattathias, revolted against the Seleucid rulers. They successfully defeated the Syrian-Greek army and reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

Following this victory, the Temple was rededicated to the worship of God, an event that forms the historical basis of the Hanukkah festival.

Significance of the Festival

Hanukkah symbolises religious freedom, faith, and the triumph of light over darkness. It holds enduring significance as a reminder of cultural resilience and spiritual identity in Jewish history.