Chanukah or Hanukkah - is one of the most popular of Jewish holidays. It is celebrated to remember the rededication of the Holy Temple 2000 years ago after the Maccabees regained control of the land free the Greeks. The Maccabees needed pure oil to relight the Menorah in the Holy Temple, but they could only find one small jug. The small quantity of oil from this jug miraculously burned for eight days.
Chanukah is celebrated for eight days and beings on the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev, which usually falls during December. Each night of Chanukah, we add another candle to the Menorah to remember the great miracle. The shamash, or middle candle, is used to light all the others. We play dreidel with Chanukah gelt or coins and eat special holiday foods such as potato latkes or sufganiyot (doughnuts)