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For 8 days each year in November or December, Jewish people across the world celebrate Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, the Festival of Lights. Hanukkah is a time for family, community, and religious observance.

The holiday commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after it was reclaimed by the Jews from a Syrian-Greek ruler in the 2nd century BCE. According to the story, after the Jews retook the Temple, they found only enough pure oil to light the menorah for one night. However, the oil miraculously lasted for eight days, allowing enough time to produce more oil.

To remember this miracle, Jewish people light a special nine-branched candelabrum called a menorah each night of Hanukkah. The middle candle, known as the shamash, is used to light the other candles. Each night, an additional candle is lit until all eight are burning on the last night of the holiday.

Alongside the menorah, traditional Hanukkah foods include latkes, or potato pancakes, and sufganiyot, or jelly-filled donuts. Children often receive small gifts or money, called gelt, and play with dreidels, spinning tops with Hebrew letters on each side.

While the origins of Hanukkah are religious, the holiday also has significant cultural and modern-day relevance. It is a time to come together with family and friends, celebrate Jewish identity and heritage, and recognize the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.

Overall, Hanukkah is a joyous and meaningful time for Jewish people around the world. It serves as a reminder of the power of faith, tradition, and community, and continues to be celebrated with enthusiasm and gratitude each year.