Haaretz - back to home page

LOG IN SUBSCRIBE NOWSubscribe now

Hanukkah

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

It's not just Americans who have trouble pronouncing the name of this winter holiday. Israelis get it wrong too.

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

Latest Headlines

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

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

Pastry Chefs' Most Impressive Hanukkah Donuts

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

More Stories

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

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?

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

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

What's a Jew to Do on Christmas?

Introducing the Geltwich - a Guilty Hannukah Treat

Hanukkah Hazards: The Dark Side of the Festival of Lights

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

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

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

Recipe: Moroccan Couscous Fritters for Hanukkah

The Case Against Banning Hanukkah

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

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

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

The 10 Best Sufganiyot in Israel, 2014 Edition

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

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

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

ICYMI

Time for Jews to Admit: Other Gods Exist

9/11, 20 Years On: The Three Lessons We Americans Failed to Learn 'Israel Gave America 3 Tips for the War on Terror. We Ignored Them All'

I Was Terribly Worried About My Brother. I Had Good Reason How 9/11 Changed Your Life and Country: 15 Stories

Israel's New Leader Wants to 'Shrink' the Occupation. Meet the Man Behind the Idea Israel's New Government Wants to 'Shrink' the Occupation. Meet the Man Behind the Idea

'Vicious Cycle': The Reactions to My Story on Narcissistic Parents Were Overwhelming The Reactions to My Story on Narcissistic Parents Were Overwhelming

How Did Religious Jews Become Enthusiastic Supporters of the Occupation? How Did Religious Jews Become the Most Enthusiastic Supporters of the Occupation?