Hanukkah is an eight-day holiday that begins on the twenty-fifth of Nisan and falls in December. It was established to commemorate the miracle that occurred during the cleansing of the Jerusalem Temple after the Greco-Syrian armies were defeated and expelled from the Temple Mount.
Throughout the eight days of the holiday, it is customary to light candles in a special candlestick (chanukiah) to commemorate the miracle that took place on Hanukkah: one candle is lit on the first day, two on the second, and so on up to eight.
According to an ancient custom, the Hanukkah is placed on a windowsill so that passersby can see it. Jewish wisdom says: “A little light is enough to dispel great darkness.”
On Hanukkah, it is customary to give money to children (Hanukkah gelt), cook sufganiyet donuts, latkes potato pancakes, and play a special Hanukkah spinning wheel called the sevion.
On Hanukkah, the windows of our lyceum are lit with beautiful Hanukkah lights, the school theater performs the traditional play “The Hanukkah Miracle,” and we have fun eating donuts and latkes!