Haaretz - back to home page

LOG IN SUBSCRIBE NOWSubscribe now

Hanukkah

The Real Story of Christmas The Real Story of Christmas: From Sun-worship to Sinterklaas

The first Christians wouldn't recognize today's Santa-centric holiday, let alone figure out what that tree is doing in the living room.

How to Make a Hanukkah Sambousak (Iraqi Chickpea Turnovers) How to Make a Hanukkah Sambousak (Iraqi Chickpea Turnovers) – Recipe

Hanukkah Donuts Have Never Been So Fun - Sufganiyot in Shapes Hanukkah Donuts Have Never Been So Fun - Sufganiyot in Shapes (Video Recipe)

Latest Headlines

Hanukkah: What Does It Mean, Anyway? The Little-known Meaning of the Word Hanukkah

Maccabean Revolt: The True Story The Revolt of the Maccabees: The True Story Behind Hanukkah

Boris Johnson Says U.K. Will Stand With Jewish Community in Hanukkah Message

Trumps' Hanukkah Tweets Rankle anti-Semitic Supporters Trumps’ Hanukkah Greetings Draw anti-Semitic Attacks From Disappointed Supporters

Matzoball Under Fire for Ads 'Steeped in Rape Culture' Matzoball, the Party Mecca for U.S. Jewish Singles, Under Fire for Ads 'Steeped in Rape Culture'

Hanukkah Recipe: North African Debla Cookies

Hanukkah Recipe: Iraqi Chickpea Turnovers (Sambousak)

Hanukkah Recipe: Papanash, Romanian Cheese Dumplings

More Stories

Fourth century Menorah in Rehov stands on three legs, not a base.

Oldest-known Images of Menorahs: Not What We Know Today Oldest-known Images of Hanukkah Menorahs: Not What We Know Today

Croquembouche doughnuts.

Pastry Chefs' Most Impressive Hanukkah Donuts

A reproduction of 'The Maccabees,' a 1842 painting by Wojciech Korneli Stattler.

Hanukkah for Dummies, From Maccabees to Trump Hanukkah for Dummies, From Judah Maccabee to the Days of Donald Trump

President-elect Donald Trump responds to cheering reporters at a rally in Orlando, Fl., on December 16, 2016.

Trump's War on Christmas: A 'Dog Whistle' for White Supremacists? What if Trump's War on Christmas Ends Up Being a 'Dog Whistle' for White Supremacists?

A collage of some of the best Hanukkah-themed TV episodes ever.

From Rugrats to Friends |

The 8 Best Hanukkah-themed TV Moments

Spencer is noncommittal over the potential role of Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in advising Trump.

Jewish Insider's Daily Kickoff: December 15, 2016

President Barack Obama delivers remarks during a Hanukkah reception at the White House, December 14, 2016.

In Last White House Hanukkah, Obama Praises Jewish Tradition In Last Hanukkah at White House, Obama Praises Spirit of Jewish Tradition

Will the president-elect find himself in a largely empty, ornate Trump International Hotel ballroom on Tuesday?

Major Jewish Groups Snub Trump Hotel Hanukkah Party in DC ADL, Major Jewish Groups Snub Invite to Trump Hotel Hanukkah Party in DC

U.S. President Barack Obama toasts with former President Shimon Peres during an official state dinner in Jerusalem, Israel, March 21, 2013.

In Obama's Last Hanukkah in Office, a Special Role for Peres Family Heirloom

Sufganiyot from Mambo Patisserie: From left, alfajores, Ferrero Rocher, bianco.

This Hanukkah, Sufganiot Add to Your Waistline and Lighten Your Wallet

Burger King's SufganiKing: a Whopper inside two halves of a traditional Jewish donut.

Burger King Launches Donut Whopper for Hanukkah in Israel

Jewish community members attend the re-opening ceremony of the Great Synagogue in Edirne, Turkey, March 26, 2015.

Turkey's Jews Are Coming Out of the Shadows

Latkes.

The True Story of the Modern Latke A Timeline of the Shocking True Story of the Modern Latke

Fluminense team supporter wearing rice powder, the team’s symbol, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 27, 2015.

Brazil's Jews Honor Soccer Team That Helped Fight Nazis

The damaged menorah in Evanston, Illinois.

Illinois Menorah Vandalized in Possible Hate Crime Evanston, Illinois Menorah Vandalized in Possible Hate Crime

Menorah displayed alongside a Christmas tree in Lakewood, NJ.

NJ Town Removes Menorah, Keeps Xmas Tree New Jersey Orthodox Enclave Removes Menorah, Keeps Christmas Tree

The Christians for Israel menorah being mounted in Nijkerk near Amsterdam on Nov. 25, 2013.

Dutch Rabbi Hosts Muslims at Menorah Lighting Dutch Chief Rabbi Hosts Muslims at Lighting of Giant Kosher Menorah Built by Christians

Mini soufganiyot with marzipan, milk chocolate-espresso, white chocolate-strawberry.

A Primer to Israeli Hanukkah Donuts - Mini Soufganiyot

Stephen Colbert Celebrating Hanukkah Online

WATCH: Stephen Colbert Celebrates the First Night of Hanukkah WATCH: Stephen Colbert’s Eight Nights of Hannukah

Frittelle, an Italian version of sufganiyot that Venetian Jews eat on Hanukkah.

On Hanukkah, Looking for Myself in Venice On Hanukkah, Looking for Myself in the World's Oldest Ghetto

Three of Miki Shemo's donut creations for Hanukkah.

How to Make Hanukkah Donuts Like a Professional Pastry Chef

Fiddler on the Roof cast and audience members ring in Hanukkah at Hebro's HanuCon celebration in New York, December 6, 2015.

If Tevye Had Another Daughter, 'She Would Be a Lesbian'

Women of the Wall, along with MKs Michal Rozin and Tamar Zandberg, hold a small Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony at the Western Wall, December 18, 2014.

Knesset to Host First-ever Hanukkah Event With Reform, Conservative Rabbis

A selection of donuts from the Piece of Cake chain.

The Best Donuts of the Year Doughs of Passion: Tel Aviv's Best Donuts of the Year

Women of the Wall chair Anat Hoffman, holding onto MK Ksenia Svetlova (center), who is helping carry a Hanukkah menorah to the women's section at the Kotel.

Women’s Group Lights Candles at Kotel, Loses Bigger Battle Women of the Wall Pulls Off Candle-lighting Ceremony at Kotel, but Loses Bigger Battle

A smiling boy and dad plant a tree.

8 Earth-friendly Tips for Hanukkah 8 Easy Tips for an Environmentally Friendly Hanukkah

A screenshot from a video demonstrating the use of the menorah bong.

Kosher Adele and Menorah bongs:Fun Hanukkah Videos for a 'Meh' Year From Kosher Adele to Menorah Bongs: Fun Hanukkah Videos for a 'Meh' Year

Children, wearing sweaters to ward off the December chill, lighting Hanukkah "candles", in this case gas-fired flares, at Hula Park. The origin of the custom to light fire to mark Hanukkah remains obscure - but may have originated with the Roman vassal king Herod.

Why Do We Light Candles on Hanukkah? Why Do We Really Light Candles on Hanukkah?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) lights Hanukkah candles during a press conference at the Israeli Museum in Jerusalem, on December 17, 2014.

The Troubling Link Between Hanukkah and Modern Israel The Troubling Link Between the Hanukkah Miracle and Modern Israeli Policy-making

Parsnip and kale latkes

Hanukkah Guilt? Try These (Somewhat) Healthful Latke Recipes

A singer from the New York City based A Capella group Six13 dances in a 2015 Hanukkah parody.

Jams Sure to Get You in the Hanukkah Spirit WATCH: 5 New Holiday Parodies and Jams Sure to Get You in the Hanukkah Spirit

DJ Flow in a screengrab on pot latkes video

WATCH: Hanukkah’s New Viral Hit: “Pot in the Latkes” WATCH: Hanukkah’s New Viral Hit: 'Pot in the Latkes'

Oaxanukkah Dinner at Comal

You’ve Heard of Thanksgivukkah; Now Meet Oaxanukkah

Women of the Wall, along with MKs Michal Rozin and Tamar Zandberg, hold a small Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony at the Western Wall, December 18, 2014.

Kotel Rabbi Ordered to Include Women in Hanukkah Ceremony Attorney General Orders Western Wall Rabbi to Include Women in Hanukkah Ceremony

Two traditional Hanukkah sufganiyot, filled with jam. One won't kill you, but two...

Sin City and the Sufganiya |

Hanukkah Donuts, Not as Healthy as Beer

Traditional latkes.

Latkes So Good You Can Eat Them All Year: Three Recipes

Drone operator lights the menorah.

The Creepy IDF Hanukkah Tweet The Israeli Army Hanukkah Tweet That Creeped the World Out

Get busy this Christmas.

What's a Jew to Do on Christmas?

The Geltwich, an ice cream sandwich created by Jared Goodman for his Hanukkah pop-up.

Introducing the Geltwich - a Guilty Hannukah Treat

Donuts are great fun - until they're not (illustrative).

Hanukkah Hazards: The Dark Side of the Festival of Lights

Shelly and Danny Kaufman with the Hanukkah menorah, at home in Haifa.

Menorah That Survived Holocaust Burns Bright Buried Menorah That Survived Holocaust Burns Bright on Hanukkah

Heirloom potatoes

Making Hanukkah More Sustainable 8 Ways to Make Your Hanukkah More Sustainable

A perfect marriage? Not quite, on the face of it.

Hanukkah-Christmas Paradox What Jews and Christians Can Teach Each Other This Holiday Season

Couscous fritters with cauliflower and feta cheese.

Recipe: Moroccan Couscous Fritters for Hanukkah

Residents of Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood light a candles on the third night of Hanukkah, December 18, 2014.

The Case Against Banning Hanukkah

The Maccabeats (screenshot).

The Hanukkah Beat The Hanukkah Beat: 8 Songs to Play While Making Latkes

A Christmas tree topped by a Star of David. Illustration by David Lockard

How to Be a Christmas Jew, Within Reason Holiday Fusion and Confusion: How to Be a Christmas Jew, Within Reason

Hanukkah beer

Hanukkah Beer 'Lights Up' the Holiday Break Out the Dreidel Drinking Game, Hanukkah Beer Is Here

Sufganiyot from Mambo Patisserie: From left, alfajores, Ferrero Rocher, bianco.

The 10 Best Sufganiyot in Israel, 2014 Edition

Biblical food expert Tova Dickstein makes cheese in honor of Hanukkah.

Podcast: Death by Cheese on Hanukkah Death by Cheese: Hanukkah's Forgotten Story / Tel Aviv Table Podcast

A reproduction of 'The Maccabees,' a 1842 painting by Wojciech Korneli Stattler.

The Great Hanukkah Cover-up The Rabbis and the Great Hanukkah Cover-up

Among the stunning man-made caves at Beit Guvrin-Maresha, one place you could visit on Hanukkah.

An Alternative Hanukkah Tour of Israel An Alternative Hanukkah Tour of Israel: From Hasmonean Archaeology to Turtles

A woman gestures during a protest along a street in Ferguson, Missouri on August 19, 2014.

Which Hanukkah Message Will Win Out? Which Hanukkah Message Will Win Out in Today's Jewish Political and Social Climate?

A band of Santas performing on the streets of Nazareth.

Jesus' Hometown Dreaming of Bright Christmas Arabs Betting on a Very Merry Christmas in Jesus’ Hometown

The Hanukkah sweater and stocking: Without them, the Festival of Lights wouldn't be complete.

Beyond the Hanukkah Bush Beyond the Hanukkah Bush: 6 Awesomely Bad Holiday Items

Hanukkah Menorah.

The More Likely Explanation of the Menorah The Obscure Origins and Evolution of the Hanukkah Menorah

The lighting of the Hanukkah candles.

Why Do We Light Hanukkah Candles? Why Do Jews Light Hanukkah Candles Anyway?

A Greek relief sculpture showing nude wrestling, the kind that was practiced at the gymnasium in Jerusalem.

A Story of a Fallen High Priest On the Eve of Hanukkah, a Story of a Fallen High Priest

Dreidel.

Gyration Nation: The Weird Ancient History of the Dreidel

Sammy Davis Jr.

Being a Jew Means Recording Christmas Songs When Being a Jew Means Recording Christmas Songs

Hanukkah on the Square, in London's Trafalgar Square, 2013.

Shining a Light on Hanukkah in Europe Is Hanukkah Getting More Popular in Europe?

Illustration: books.

Hanukkah Gifts for Bookworms

Hanukkah in the U.S. isn't the same as elsewhere (illustrative).

A Story of 3 Hanukkahs What Celebrating Hanukkah on Three Continents Taught Me

It’s not hard to understand how the campaign struck a nerve.

Can Hanukkah Gifts Oppress Women? No Gender December: Does a Pink Sparkly Barbie as a Hanukkah Gift Really Oppress Women?

The standard jelly donut, with berry-flavored jam.

We're Jamming: How to Make the Perfect Hanukkah Doughnut

Ultra Orthodox Jews and children watch Hanukkah's fourth candle lights during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012.

Learn From the Maccabees and Shmita What the Maccabees and Shmita Can Teach Us About Living Consciously

The wraps are coming off a finer, more chocolatey gelt for Hanukkah.

Hanukkah Gelt Gets a Makeover Hanukkah Gelt Gets a Makeover as Chocolatiers Raise the Bar

An app for every Jewish holiday.

An App for Every Jewish Holiday Jewish Apps to Guide You Through the Holidays

From left: Designs by Joelle Medina Eckstein, Keren Peled and Meytal Bar-Noy.

Israeli Products / Peace Offerings Israeli Products of the Week / Give These Peace Pendants a Chance

Donuts as fashion.

Help Your Hips Survive Hanukkah How to Get Through an Israeli Hanukkah Without Gaining Weight

Gruyere, Bûcheron and white wine quiche for the seventh night of Hanukkah.

The Heroic Tale That Gave Rise to a Quiche The Heroic Tale That Gave Rise to a Quiche and a Hanukkah Tradition

This is the type of oil lamp used in ancient times and nowhere do Jewish sources say it stayed alit for 8 days.

The Astonishing Real Story of Hanukkah

The classic sufganiyah.

Word of the Day / Sufganiya: The Doughnut That Used to Be a Latke

The "Candle Quest" board game.

Drop That Dreidel! Drop That Dreidel! A Grotesque Game That Reinvented Itself With Cute Hanukkah Candles

Swiss chard latkes

Not Your Mother's Latkes: 3 Unique Recipes

Pirozhki. An addictive twist on a seasonal delight.

Iranian Pirozhki: An Addictive Twist on a Hanukkah Delight

We know "sevivon" means "top," as in spinning toy, but who came up with the word first?

Word of the Day / Sevivon Word of the Day / Sevivon: Who Dunnit?

Ultra Orthodox Jews and children watch Hanukkah's fourth candle lights during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012.

The Evolution of Jewish Holidays Not Ironic, but Natural: The Meanings of Jewish Holidays Are Ever Evolving

Rainbow Rocket menorah by Laura Cowan.

Israeli Products / 5 Hot Menorahs Israeli Products of the Week / 5 Hot Menorahs for Hanukkah

Like it? I got it on the Internet.

Designer Goods You Can’t Find at a Store The Israeli Designer Goods You Can’t Find on Any Store Shelf

ICYMI

America’s 'World War III' Plan for Iran, and Israel’s Part in It America’s Wild 'World War III' Plan for Iran, and Israel’s Part in It

This Filmmaker Dares to Question the Figure of 6 Million Jewish Victims in WWII

'The Chameleon': U.S. Experts Shaken Over What This Iranian Scholar Just Said

How Israel Intentionally Destroyed the Dead Sea

Everybody Asks, What Does Putin Want? We Think We Have an Answer

While Researching Heart Meds, They Found a Way to Grow a Different Kind of Muscle They Wanted to Cure Heart Disease. They Discovered a Way to Grow a Different Kind of Muscle