Chanukah

Chanukah, also known as Hanukkah, is an eight-day Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem around 165 BCE. It celebrates the miracle of a small amount of sacred oil—enough for one day—burning for eight days, allowing the Jews time to prepare more. Traditional observances include lighting a menorah (a nine-branched candelabrum), playing dreidel (a spinning top game), eating foods fried in oil, and giving gifts. The holiday emphasizes themes of religious freedom, perseverance, and the triumph of light over darkness.