Hanukkah

Post-Hanukkah educational challenge:

Jewish hoiidays - Why do we focus on Miracles?

Last week we celebrated Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights - which is all about Miracles. Why are miracles so important? Watch and find out.

Suspected antisemitic attack

Melbourne car with Hanukkah sign torched

Australian police investigate a car fire targeting a Hanukkah display in Melbourne. Rabbi calls it an antisemitic attack amid rising hate crimes.

Under Secretary of State:

'Hanukkah reminds us that light must be actively chosen'

Under Secretary of State Jacob S. Helberg wrote on social media that Hanukkah teaches the need for moral clarity and principled leadership in confronting rising antisemitism, praising President Trump’s consistent stance on the issue.

Israel Dog Unit trains with IDF special forces

The Israel Dog Unit took part in an extended overnight training exercise this week alongside the Israel Defense Forces’ Haruv special forces unit, marking a first-of-its-kind drill for the Haruv unit.

Amid growing tensions:

Iceland’s small Jewish community lights Hanukkah menorah

In Reykjavik, Hanukkah offers a chance for Iceland’s tiny, isolated Jewish community to come together.

Police summon Arab who extinguished Hanukkah menorah

Police summoned two individuals for questioning after security footage and social media videos showed Hanukkah candles being intentionally extinguished at a Tel Aviv mall.

'This light will never go out'

Hanukkah candles lit in Rafah

Hanukkah candles lit in Rafah with chanukiya from the Bibas family home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, symbolizing resilience after October 7.

Watch:

Noa Tishby and Amy Schumer light the final Hanukkah candles

Noa Tishby ends her Hanukkah series with comedian Amy Schumer, who reflects on her Jewish roots, support for Israel, and how comedy helps her and others overcome trauma.

Finding light in a time of darkness

Hanukkah reflections after war, tragedy, and hidden miracles

In the shadow of war, terror, and loss, Hanukkah invites reflection on resilience, hidden miracles, and the enduring light of the Jewish spirit.

Antisemitism in Turkey:

Jews attacked on their way to Hanukkah candle lighting

Jews on their way to light Hanukkah candles attacked in Istanbul by pro‑Palestinian Arab demonstrators waving flags and shouting anti-Jewish slogans.

For the 8th day of Hanukkah:

Humility and Hanukkah:The science and soul of the Menorah's oil

In Judaism, there is a core and ancient teaching that we should strive to learn an important lesson from every experience in our lives, especially when that experience is connected to a significant and Divinely inspired holiday like Hanukkah. What we learn from olive oil.

Israel can't be extinguished

Wounded warrior's message to Arab who blew out menorah

IDF soldier Ofir Engelsman, who lost his leg in the war, visited a Tel Aviv mall menorah that was extinguished last week, recording a message of solidarity and resilience.

Crowds light eighth Hanukkah candle at Hostages Square

Crowds gathered with menorahs to light the eighth Hanukkah candle at Hostages Square to call for the return of Ran Gvili, the last remaining deceased hostage in Hamas captivity.

Watch:

IDF Chief of Staff dances with haredi soldiers

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir lit Hanukkah candles with soldiers from the Hashmonaim Brigade, praised their work, and announced the opening of a dedicated officers' training course for haredi troops.

'We'll continue being victorious'

Netanyahu lights the menorah with Chabad emissaries

Prime Minister Netanyahu lit the eighth candle of Hanukkah with Chabad emissaries and marked one week since the Sydney massacre: 'We have not lost our spirit, nor will we lose it.'

'Palestinian Rosa Parks'

Israeli journalist celebrates Arab who blew out menorah

Israeli journalist Gideon Levy praised an Arab woman who blew out the candles on a menorah in a Tel Aviv mall, calling the act 'a spectacular act of non-violent protest.

Eighth Hanukkah candle lit at Bondi Beach shooting site

In a ceremony alongside hundreds of members of Sydney's Jewish community, volunteers from ZAKA's international unit lit the final Hanukkah candle at the site where the attack occurred.

One Family Across Generations

The Annual Riklis Hanukkah Celebration at Bet Elazraki, One Family Across Generations

'My Hanukkah miracle'

US filmmaker finds Hanukkah light in Kyiv amid Ukraine war

While filming a documentary in wartime Ukraine, American filmmaker Andrew Cohen encountered a Chabad rabbi in Kyiv, enabling a moving Hanukkah candle lighting amid the shadows of war.

Bondi Beach vigil marks 1 week since Hanukkah massacre

The city of Sydney is holding a vigil at Bondi Beach to mark the end of Hanukkah and honour the victims of last week's mass shooting in which 15 people were murdered.

A Psalm for Hanukkah

There is no guarantee that our enemies will no longer attack us here in Israel - but at least their sadistic joy is guaranteed to be short-lived and thoroughly repaid. And one day we will sing a Psalm for the coming of Mashiach.

Watch:

Noa Tishby lights Hanukkah candles with producer Phil Rosenthal

Noa Tishby lights the seventh Hanukkah candle with Phil Rosenthal at his new diner in LA, reflecting on childhood memories and the beauty of passing traditions to future generations.

Watch: Captivity survivor Eitan Mor lights Hanukkah candles

Hamas captivity survivor Eitan Mor lights Hanukkah candles with Israel's 'Meet the Press,' led by journalists Amit Segal and Daphna Liel.

Watch: Mamdani lights Hanukkah menorah

NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani visits home of American Jewish actor Mandy Patinkin to help make latkes and light Hanukkah candles.

For the 7th day of Hanukkah:

Hidden Light: Yosef, the dreidel, the sufganiyah, and faith

Hanukkah does not offer simple answers, nor does it lessen the pain. It asks something deeper of us: to hold on to faith even when matters are unclear and the Hand of G-d seems concealed.

In face of terror and antisemitism:

Ukraine intel chief lights Hanukkah candles with Kyiv Jews

Hundreds gathered at Kyiv’s JCC for the third Hanukkah candle lighting, led by Chief Rabbi Yonatan Markovitch and attended by Ukraine’s intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov alongside international diplomats.

Watch:

Noa Tishby lights Hanukkah candles with Carla Bruni

Israeli actress Noa Tishby lights Hanukkah candles in Paris with Carla Bruni, who reflects on her Jewish roots, rising antisemitism in France, and the importance of resisting through education.

Watch:

Arab blows out menorah in Tel Aviv mall

Hijab-clad woman caught on camera blowing out candles on a menorah in Weizmann City Mall in Tel Aviv as another man applauds her. Police investigating.

Interviewer moved to tears

Survivor's emotional statement: 'We won't turn off the menorah'

Sorella Abrahams moves Sky News reporter Sharri Markson to tears with her story of how her family, children, and neighbors responded to the masscare in Sydney.

Before performing for Trump

Hasidic singer studies Gemara at White House

Between the hallways of the West Wing, a place where almost no one is allowed to enter, Hasidic singer Shulem Lemmer sat and studied his Gemara.

Watch:

Alan Dershowitz in a surprising chazanut performance

Hasidic singer Shulem Lemmer met his cousin, top US attorney Alan Dershowitz, at a Hanukkah event at the White House. The two burst out in a Hasidic song.

'Increase the light':

Chanukiya from Palestine Square lit on Mt. Herzl

The fifth Hanukkah candle was lit this evening at the Mount Herzl National Memorial Hall using the chanukiya which Brigade 401 fighters lit candles in at Palestine Square in Gaza a year ago.

Segev Kalfon recalls: How I sewed kippahs in captivity

Former hostage Segev Kalfon recounts the harrowing moments in the tunnels - sewing kippahs for fellow captives from a torn galabiya - and his longing for his parents’ bakery during Hanukkah.

Watch:

Noa Tishby lights Hanukkah candles with Julie Bowen

Noa Tishby lights Hanukkah candles with actress Julie Bowen, who expresses deep curiosity about Jewish culture and history, sparked by recent events and a desire to learn more.

Dvar Haftorah:

On Hanukkah and Sydney

The prophet does not deny the danger. He transcends it.

Hanukkah 1967 and today: The rise and decline of Spain

It was only in 1967 that living and praying openly as Jews as a community was finally officially permitted in Spain. Now, barely a half century later, we are back to the dark days of Spanish antisemitism. Op-ed.

Questions and Answers:

Aspects of Hanukkah - interview with Rabbi Shlomo Aviner

From the Yeshiva's Beit Midrash in the Arab Quarter (actually the Old Jewish Quarter) of the Old City, Rabbi Aviner talks about miracles, why we don't say Hallel on Purim, and more.

Fifth night of Hanukkah at the Western Wall

Rabbis, public figures, and foreign dignitaries participate in the ceremony to light the fifth Hanukkah candle at the Western Wall.

For fourth day of Hanukkah:

Torah versus Greek wisdom

What was the real conflict?

Nova massacre survivors celebrate Hanukkah, experiencing closure

Hundreds of Nova massacre survivors gather for emotional Hanukkah candle-lighting in Jerusalem.

Watch: Freed hostages come full circle in moving candle-lighting

Brodetz family experiences emotional moment at Schneider Children's Medical Center, lighting Hanukkah candles in the same room where they were hospitalized following their release from Hamas captivity.

Watch:

Noa Tishby lights Hanukkah candles with Andy Cohen

Noa Tishby lights the fourth Hanukkah candle with Andy Cohen, who discusses teaching his kids Jewish identity, valuing tradition and family, and speaking proudly against rising antisemitism.

EU official:

'No place for the poison of antisemitism'

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen lights Hanukkah candles in Brussels, condemns rising antisemitism across Europe and unveils plan to protect Jews after deadly Sydney terror attack.

Hero Of Bondi:

'I knew they were killing Jews, and I would stop them again'

Lawyer Sam Issa, representing Ahmad al-Ahmad, who was wounded while fighting the terrorists in Sydney, described his condition and stressed, 'He only wanted to save lives.'

Live:

Fourth Hanukkah Candle Lighting at the Western Wall

The fourth Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony took place at the Western Wall with Rabbis, public figures and representatives of the Israel Police.

Parashat Miketz/ Hanukkah:

Never play the victim

How should Yosef have dealt with the Chief Butler so that his plight would be remembered after interpreting the two prisoners' dreams?

White House Hanukkah event:

Yiddish in the White House

Singer Shulem Lemmer performed at the White House Hanukkah event attended by President Trump, stunning those present with a Yiddish rendition of 'God Bless America.'

White House Hanukkah event

Elizabeth Pipko: Trump is greatest president world has ever seen

Former campaign aide Elizabeth Pipko thanks President Trump for changing her life, speaks of meeting her husband during the 2016 campaign, and urges Jews to recognize the miracle of celebrating Hanukkah in the White House.

White House Hanukkah event

Sid Rosenberg praises Trump: "I love him, Nobody is better"

President Donald Trump honors New York radio host Sid Rosenberg, highlighting his media success and strong support for the Jewish community. Rosenberg responds with an emotional tribute, calling the moment 'one of the most meaningful of his life.'

The first Hanukkah, the Sukkot that wasn’t - and Bondi

As we reflect on the origin of Hanukkah, we can better understand the Jewish response to the devastating Bondi Beach Hanukkah massacre of Jews by terrorists in Australia. Opinion.

Hanukkah gift from Bloomingdale’s with “Free Palestine” note

New York woman says her Hanukkah gift from Bloomingdale’s was marred by a handwritten 'Free Palestine' note, triggering an internal investigation and condemnation from Jewish leaders.

OU message for the 3rd day of Hanukkah

Sometimes it's hard to see the light

It is all too easy to look around us and feel hopeless...

Watch:

Noa Tishby and Erin Foster light Hanukkah candles

Israeli actress Noa Tishby and Erin Foster light the third Hanukkah candle. Foster, a Jewish convert, discusses her show, faith, and backlash over false claims of anti-Israel propaganda.

Trump at Hanukkah party:

'We will not allow denial of October 7'

At the White House Hanukkah party, President Trump celebrates Jewish faith, denounces antisemitism, praises Israel’s strength, and vows: “I’ll always be a friend and a champion of the Jewish people.”

'We got all of them'

Trump honors hostages at White House Hanukkah celebration

At a White House Hanukkah party, Trump praises hostage families; Ronen Neutra, father of deceased hostage Omer, reminds everyone that Ran Gvili remains in Gaza.

Rabbi of Mizrachi Bondi:

'We won't let terror win'

Rabbi Shua Solomon, President of the NSW Rabbinical Council, said that the Bondi Beach shooting has touched every Jew in Australia.

PM lights Hanukkah candles

'We perform great miracles thanks to our heroic soldiers'

The Prime Minister participated in the third candle lighting ceremony in his office with the office's employees, their children and their families.

Live

Lighting candles for 3rd night of Hanukkah at Western Wall

Bereaved families who lost loved ones in the recent war participate in the lighting of the candles for the third night of Hanukkah at the Western Wall.

MK Biton to Australian Jewry:

'Israel stands with you after deadly attack in Sydney'

MK Michael Biton praises Australian Jews' Zionist commitment, noting their children’s service in the Israeli army. 'We stand with you,' he said, pledging full support for their safety and security.

Chabad Rabbi in Sydney:

'We’re not canceling Hanukkah - we have to add light'

"We saw ‘globalize intifada’ in action in Bondi" says Chabad emissary and President of the Rabbinical Council of Australia, Rabbi Nochum Schapiro.