Yahoo Finance Hanukkah starts early this year. Find local celebrations and info on traditions
Hanukkah, known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays — and it starts a little early this year.
Jewish for Good, a local non-profit organization that works to nourish the roots of Jewish life in the Triangle, estimates there are about 11,000 Jewish individuals (over 4,000 Jewish households) across Durham, Orange, Wake and Chatham counties.
Here’s what to know about this year’s holiday — its history, traditions and how it’s celebrated.
When is Hanukkah this year?
Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah) begins at sundown on Nov. 28.
In Jewish tradition, the day begins at sunset, so Jewish people will begin celebrating this holiday after the sun goes down on Sunday.
The holiday lasts for eight days, so the celebration will conclude after sunset on Monday, Dec. 6.
Why is Hanukkah significant for Jewish people?
“The message of Hanukkah, with candles, is both internal and external,” Rabbi Daniel Greyber of Beth El Synagogue in Durham told The N&O in a previous report. “It’s a celebration of hope for the Jewish people during a time of darkness and difficulty.
“It reminds us of the continued existence of light in dark times. This message has continued to be relevant and meaningful in people’s lives after almost two years that have felt very, very dark.”
A central part of Hanukkah, which is the Hebrew word for “dedication,” is lighting the menorah.
“Lighting the menorah is about sending the light out,” said Rabbi Jen Feldman of Kehillah Synagogue in Chapel Hill. “You’re not supposed to put the menorah in your house for only you to see. The light needs to be seen by everyone that passes by.”
How is Hanukkah celebrated?
Much of the holiday is celebrated at home.
▪ The menorah: The menorah, which is also called a hanukkiah, is an eight-branched candelabrum with one candle lit each evening of the holiday. By the eighth day of Hanukkah, the menorah is full with light.
Lighting the menorah is usually done individually or in a small group setting, like with a small group of friends or family. Jewish people will often gather for communal celebrations and public candle-lightings throughout the eight days of Hanukkah, too.
▪ Fried foods: It’s traditional to eat foods fried in oil to signify the miracle of the lamp burning for eight days on such a small supply of it. Some well-known Hanukkah foods are potato pancakes (“latkes”) and jelly donuts (“sufganiyot”).
▪ Dreidel: Dreidel is a traditional Hanukkah game played in homes around the world. (Find a how-to guide to play dreidel below, courtesy of My Jewish Learning.)
▪ Songs: Those celebrating may sing traditional holiday songs. U Discover Music compiled a list of the 25 best Hanukkah songs, including both modern and traditional tunes.
How to play dreidel
A dreidel is a small spinning top with Hebrew letters etched into its sides. The Hebrew word for dreidel translates to “to turn around.” Players spin the dreidel in hopes of winning all the game pieces.
Dreidels have four Hebrew letters on them, and they stand for the saying “A great miracle occurred there.” (In Israel, one of the letters is different, as the saying translates to “A great miracle occurred here.”)
These instructions were taken from My Jewish Learning’s guide to play the holiday game.
▪ Any number of people can take part.
▪ Each player begins the game with an equal number of game pieces (about 10 to 15). You can use poker chips, candies, nuts, marbles, coins, nuts or anything else you’d like.
▪ At the beginning of each round, every participant puts one game piece into the center “pot.” In addition, every time the pot is empty or has only one game piece left, every player should put one in the pot.
▪ Every time it’s your turn, spin the dreidel once. Depending on the side it lands on, you give or get game pieces from the pot. For those who don’t read Hebrew, some dreidels also feature a transliteration of each letter.
Here’s what the Hebrew letters mean:
Nun means “nisht” — “nothing.” If the dreidel lands on nun, the player does nothing.
Gimel means “gantz” — “everything.” If the dreidel lands on gimel, the player gets everything in the pot.
Hey means “halb” — “half.” If the dreidel lands on hey, the player gets half of the pot. (If there is an odd number of pieces in the pot, the player takes half of the total plus one).
Shin (outside of Israel) means “shtel” — “put in.” Peh (in Israel) also means “put in.” If the dreidel lands on shin, the player adds a game piece to the pot.
▪ If you find that you have no game pieces left, you are either “out” or may ask a fellow player for a “loan.”
▪ When one person has won everything, that round of the game is over.
A good Hanukkah tradition for all? Help our neighbors
“Hanukkah is not about gifts, although it’s often associated with that based on its close proximity to Christmas,” said Jill Madsen, CEO of Jewish for Good.
“For me, my tradition is finding ways to spread light, so I do something each night that does that. Volunteering for an organization that is meaningful to me. Doing something for someone in need. Making a financial contribution to a place spreading light onto the world.”
Jewish for Good has a list of local Jewish organizations — such as Carolina Jews for Justice, Moishe House and the North Carolina Museum of Art Judaic Art Gallery — that need support both financially and in the form of volunteers.
“Consider which organizations are doing important work to you, and make a donation,” she said.
Madsen said she will be making an $18 donation to a different local cause in Durham for the eight nights of Hanukkah, and she encourages Jewish and non-Jewish North Carolinians to do the same.
“The number 18 is meaningful, as it means ‘to life!’” she said.
What is the history behind Hanukkah celebrations?
Hanukkah celebrates two stories: One is of military victory, and the other is of a miracle, per Jewish for Good.
▪ The winter holiday commemorates the victory of a small group of Jewish rebels (led by Judah Maccabee and his brothers, collectively known as “the Maccabees”) over the armies of Syria in 165 B.C.E. and the subsequent liberation and “rededication” of the Temple in Jerusalem, per ReformJudaism.org.
▪ The Hanukkah miracle is that only one small jar of oil was found with just enough left in it to light the lamp in the Temple for one day, per My Jewish Learning. It burned for eight full days, which was the amount of time it took to get more oil to keep the lamp lit. In remembrance of this, Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah for eight days, and one candle is lit for each night.
Hanukkah celebrations in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Apex
▪ Chanukah Wonderland and Concert — Celebrate Chanukah at this downtown Apex festival, which includes an Outdoor Chanukah Wonderland and a menorah lighting. Date: Nov 28 (3:30-6 p.m.) Location: Apex Nature Park, 2600 Evans Road, Apex. Tickets: Free. Info: facebook.com/chabadofcary.
▪ Community Chanukah Celebration — Celebrate the first night of Hanukkah at this outdoor Chanukah celebration at Streets at Southpoint. Date: Nov 28 (4:30 p.m.) Location: 8030 Renaissance Parkway, Durham. Tickets: Free. Info: facebook.com/events/1060413211438008.
▪ Cary Menorah Lighting — A menorah lighting on the third night of Hanukkah. Treats, kids’ activities and holiday music. Date: Nov. 30 (5:30-6:30 p.m.) Location: Cary Arts Center, 101 Dry Ave., Cary Tickets: Free. Info: shalomraleigh.org.
▪ Community Chanukah Glow Party — Glow sticks & neon light up the night to celebrate Chanukah 2021 at this community-wide glow party on the lower court at the David R. Kahn Community Campus. Free donuts, hot chocolate & apple cider, craft stations, neon art, music & dancing and food & adult beverages for purchase. Date: Dec. 2 (5:30-8 p.m.) Location: David R. Kahn Community Campus, 12804 Norwood Road, Raleigh Tickets: RSVP by Nov. 30. Info: shalomraleigh.org.
▪ Durham Menorah Lighting — A candle lighting by new members of Beth El Synagogue, songs, donuts and celebrations. Date: Dec. 2 (5:30 p.m.) Location: Downtown Durham Plaza (near “The Bull”) Tickets: Free. Info: betheldurham.org/.
▪ Storytime & Tot Shabbat — Join for books, songs, fingerplays, rhymes, outdoor storytime and bubbles. Great for babies through preschoolers. After storytime, stay for Tot Shabbat with songs, blessings, juice and challah. Date: Dec. 3 (9:15-10:15 a.m.) Location: Levin JCC patio, 1937 W Cornwallis Rd, Durham Tickets: RSVP required. Info: jewishforgood.org/hanukkah.
▪ Hanukkah Parade and Menorah Lighting — Congregational Sha’arei Israel / Chabad Center of Raleigh is celebrating Chanukah with a parade (which will pass by the Brookdale and Cardinal Senior Centers) followed by a Menorah Lighting at Lafayette Village with music, dancing and doughnuts. Date: Dec. 5 (4:30 p.m.) Location: Congregational Sha’arei Israel / Chabad Center of Raleigh-Jewish Life Center, 7400 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh Tickets: Free Info: jewishraleigh.org.
▪ Jewish for Good Adult Art Workshop — Paint and canvas will be provided for this virtual Hanukkah-themed adult art workshop. Date: Dec. 5 (2 p.m.) Location: Virtual Tickets: $25. Info: jccfed.wufoo.com/forms/s1y8mhud1nmkfcu.
