Hanukkah, the festival of lights, celebrates the restoration of the second Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. In 164 BCE, a group of Jewish rebel fighters called the Maccabees regained control of the Temple from its previous Hellenistic rulers. According to an account in the Talmud, a single container of oil was found in the ravaged Temple, which should have only sufficed to light the Temple’s candelabrum (or menorah) for one day but miraculously kept it burning for eight days and nights.
Ever since, in the winter holiday of Hanukkah, the Hanukkah candles are lit on eight consecutive nights. Over the centuries, the triumph of a small band of resistance fighters against a mighty army grew into a legend that bolstered a common identity, praised bravery, and gave reason to believe in miracles.
Hanukkah is a festive celebration, but it is not one of the important Jewish holidays. It is mostly celebrated at home in the company of family and friends, who light candles and say blessings at nightfall. The Hanukiah is placed in a visible place in front of the house or in a window. The festivities include a number of traditional Hanukkah songs and even a Hanukkah game played with a spinning top called a dreidel. To recall the special role of oil in the Hanukkah miracle, foods cooked in oil are favored, including latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiot (a type of doughnut).
Five Hanukkah cutters for children; Jewish Museum Berlin, photo: Jens Ziehe
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Chrismukkah
Stories of Christmas and Hanukkah
Exhibition Website
2005
Hanukkah Objects
Toys, decorations, and historical images: discover more Hanukkah objects from our collections (in German).
Online Collections
“8 Facts” about Hanukkah
David Studniberg on the Jewish Feast of Dedication
Essay
2016
Hanukkah Toys
Hanukkah doesn’t traditionally involve gift-giving, but the Jewish festival of lights is increasingly commercialized.
From our Holdings
Chrismukkah
Exhibition catalog, with index of the exhibits for download, in German
Publication
2005
Menurkeys for Thanksgivukkah?
Food for thought and recipes by Signe Rossbach
Essay
2013
“If I were a rich mouse ...”
Michal Friedlander on Mickey, Minnie and their Hanukkah message
Essay
2015
In the Sleeping Car with Ten Hand-puppets and a Travel Hanukkah Candelabrum
by Shlomit Tripp
First hand story
2015
Hanukkah at the JMB
Candle lighting with Yiddish songs, instrumental music and dance
Video Recording
12 Dec 2020
The Jewish “Advent Hero” Who Doesn’t Celebrate Christmas – and Hanukkah either!
A somewhat peculiar honor for the Shalom Rollberg initiative
Gloss
Dec 2020
Hanukkah at the JMB
Hanukkah 2021: Candle lighting with Yiddish songs, instrumental music and dance
Video Recording
2 Dec 2021
Hanukkah Menorah made by Ludwig Wolpert
One of the the first pieces of modern Judaica
From our Holdings
Dreidel
Paper Model Sheet
Hanukkah Lasts Eight Days...
and for each day, we’ve got a little treat for you here
Online Feature
2017/20
