The eight-day holiday of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, starts on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev (which begins sometime in November or early December in the secular calendar). The events in the story of Chanukah took place in ancient Israel during the winter solstice, when the days were getting shorter and nighttime came early. In the UK, it’s dark and cold when the Chanukah candles are lit, and watching the flames flicker brings some warmth and brightness into the holiday. But for PJ Library communities in the southern hemisphere (places like Brazil and New Zealand, for example), Chanukah comes during their summer months, when the days are long and sunny!
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What makes the world feel smaller?
While Jewish families around the world have different Chanukah traditions, we all share one main mitzvah, or commandment, of the holiday: to light candles.
The days — and weather — may feel so different in our own corners of the globe from other places, but this tradition unites us all. That’s why, when we take part in shared rituals, we remind ourselves that we’re all one big Jewish community.
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Explore more with these books:
Do
Learn about Chag Habanot, a special North African holiday that occurs during Chanukah, in Beyond the Bookcase.
Try a Chanukah treat from around the world
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Light the Chanukah Candles
Make and Create for Chanukah
Telling the Chanukah Story
December 1, 2024