The Jewish Hanukkah holiday is celebrated for eight nights and eight days and includes a number of traditions and rituals.

I love it because it’s about bringing the light to places where there has been darkness – especially at a time when there is so much darkness in the world.

It’s also about fighting for justice and for the dignity of all people, a timeless endeavour.

And it’s about celebrating joy, and sharing that joy with friends, neighbours, and your community.

So, what’s not to love?

In commemoration of the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days you eat lots of fried foods, like latkes (potato pancakes) and jelly doughnuts. Children play dreidel, a game of luck that involves spinning a top. Many families have the custom of giving gifts at some point during the holiday and others choose to give a gift each night.

Hanukkah (Hebrew for “dedication”) commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by lighting of candles on each day of the festival. The story of the miracle describes how after the the liberation of the Temple, the jug of pure oil that was to be enough to light the lamp (a.k.a. – candles) for one day; instead, it lasted for eight days.

Hence, the Festival of Lights.

Hanukkah Sameach!