Trust celebrates Hanukkah

30 Dec 24

Hanukkah, or Chanukah in Hebrew, is the Jewish festival of light and colleagues from across the Trust came together with their families to celebrate.

Hanukkah is Hebrew for “dedication” and candles are lit each day for the eight days of the festival. On the 6^th night, colleagues shared the Hanukkah story, played dreidel, sang, lit candles and enjoyed eating doughnuts. These are traditionally eaten during the festival, because they are fried in oil and remind Jewish people of the miracle of the oil lasting eight days in the temple.

People lighting candles Table of candles in front of Happy Hanukkah bunting

The story of Hannukah

Hanukkah: What is it? How is it celebrated? What do you eat and why? - BBC Newsround

The festival reminds Jews of a time over 2,000 years ago, when the Jews won a battle against the Greeks to practise their religion freely.

The Greeks had banned all Jewish rituals. King Antiochus tried to make Jewish people bow down in front of a statue of him that had been put in the Jewish temple, and pray to Greek Gods, but they refused.

A small group of Jews called the Maccabees fought against this and, after a three-year war, they won. However, their Jewish temple had been destroyed.

They cleaned and repaired the temple. Then, to celebrate the victory, an oil lamp was lit in it.

There was only enough oil to burn the candle for one day, but miraculously it burned for eight days.

This is why the Hanukkah festival lasts for eight days and why light is really important in the celebration.

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Trust celebrates Hanukkah