When Is Hanukkah (Chanukah) Celebrated in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028?

January 2, 2925 Reply

In short, strict practitioners of Judaism believe they are fulfilling the commandment "You will not take the name of the LORD your God in vain" by substituting a dash for the vowel in the English words "God" and "Lord". The Name (HaShem in Hebrew) also referred to as the Tetragrammaton, the four letter "unpronounceable" name of God spelled yod - hay - vav - hay, is usually replace by the word LORD or GOD in all caps in Tenach (without dashes) as a substitute for the Tetragrammaton. To play it safe a.k.a. "building a fence around the Torah" so as not to possibly go outside the limits of the Law, some people use the spelling "G-d and L-rd" so as not to "accidently" pronounce or misuse "The Name". Reply

The exact date changes from year to year… sort of. In reality, Hanukkah always begins on the 25th day of Kislev, which is the ninth month on the Jewish calendar. Reply

the Biblical Jewish day starts in the evening. The night before our day, would be the start of their holiday day the evening before our day. If that helps answer your question. Reply

Dear Rabbi Adelman. Thank you for the explanation of the calendar for other holidays. You still have not answered the question why Chanukah cannot fall on a Monday night. Reply

Yes he did, read above!! Reply

He did, he said it's a consequence of the restrictions of the other more major Jewish holidays. Hanukkah is a minor holiday compared to the others mentioned. Reply

I was looking for the mathematical calendar formula. I can't get anyone to explain it. Reply

If in fact, there is a coincidence astronomically that This coincidence astronomically will only happen once in the next 70,000 years lets just send this one off to Neil DeGrasse Tyson and get a mathematical answer and formula. If it's possible. Imho.

- DN Reply

Hi Orlando.
That is still not the answer as why it does not fall on a Monday night.
There is much more to it. Reply

(for clarity, when you say Monday, you mean Monday evening, and day 1 being Tuesday.) Chanukah —25th of Kislev—will always be 83 or 84 days from Rosh Hashana. Cheshvon being one of the two variable months that can be 29 or 30 days. That means Chanukah can ONLY start on the same day of the week as Rosh Hashana of that year or the same day as the eve of Rosh Hashana of that year. However, whenever Rosh Hashana is Tuesday, Cheshvon will always have only 29 days, and Chanukah will fall on the day of the week that was the eve of Rosh Hashana. (Rosh Hashanah cannot be Wednesday, so even with a 29 day Cheshvon, it can not be Tuesday.)
See Maimonides Laws of Sanctifying the new moon chapter 8, par 10. Article 947926 n this site. For even better understanding start at beginning of Chapter 7. For the reasons why this is true, see footnote 12 in chapter 7 and the sources cited. Reply

The comment of the date should really be: Chanukah 2020: Nightfall on December 10 - daytime on December 18 Reply

Yes but it should be a little more specific saying the 8th candle is lit on the evening of Dec 17. Reply

Latkas, Potatoe pancakes fried in oil. The oil is a representation of the menorah candles Reply

Elizabeth, in my humble opinion, anything kosher will be good. A fried food is a central symbol of this holiday, but the rest of the meal is up to the individual, their family and religious traditions, dietary restrictions of a guest, and the local culture. It's people eating together, sharing warmth and remembering the Hanukkah story, that's most important. They may also take a moment to remember and pray for those in the world who are still suffering and don't have religious freedom. Food is an important way to transmit culture to one's children, as well as creating a peaceful atmosphere when people break bread with guests from other cultures and viewpoints. So the dishes themselves, imho, matter less than remembering the point of the Chanukah story, and welcoming everyone to the table. Whatever you cook, you're telling those at your table that you want their lives to continue. It's physical and spiritual nourishment. The foods are up to you. :). Reply

Actually, Eric: Oil in latkes represents the OIL in the ancient menorah wells, which was burned to reconsecrate the temple. NOT CANDLES. Oil was burned for light, in ancient times. That's part of the Chanukah story: they thought they only had a small amount of oil to rededicate the second temple, but it "miraculously" burned for eight days (probably in reality, the pottery was porous and had soaked up enough to last over a week). And, depending on which culture a Jew finds themselves in the diaspora, lots of different symbolic fried foods are traditional. Latkes (potato pancakes) are traditional in Ashkenazic families but in Sephardic families, another example, jelly donuts (sufganyot) are fried, where the round shape and sweetness are also symbolic. Food traditions change in surprising ways in each country, as Jews adapt to local ingredients and cultures. Try shredded Yukon gold, carrot, beets and leeks: they're hot pink, more interesting, and healthier. Reply

I always thought it was because of the oil that did not give out, although in actual fact it ought to have. Reply

The American system of government is secular and not based on any religion. Reply

It was based and founded on Judeo-Christian values, not secularism which at that time was more of imperialism. Reply

Correct. It now is very much secular. But it WAS based on Abrahamic principles like the Judaic and Christian beliefs. Sadly, G-d has been taken out. G-ds system of government will always reign, nonetheless. Reply

You must have slept through your history classes. That is the thought secular individuals and groups advertise to diminish our Judeo-christian heritage. It is imperative that we Christians rediscover our Jewish roots. Reply

Totally agree! Reply

Don't forget how many Jewish people converted in order not to be killed (for example, in the Christian Crusades). You may have Jewish ancestors. Another possible explanation is European ancestry. Many European recipes are similar to traditional Jewish dishes. Reply

Leniege of Abreham. Bingo! God's blessing to Abraham was, I will multiply you as the sand and stars, he doesn't lie. In my studies I have discovered that the Spanish names ending in es and ez are definitely origened of the time of the convert or die proclimation by Ferdinand. Reply

So true. My great grandfather and grandma came from Germany. Did a DNA and found out I was very very Jewish decent. So one never knows. Maybe that’s why I always felt a close connection to the people. Thank you Lord for opening my eyes. Reply

The Crusaders fought the Islamic invaders in the Holy Land, not the Jews. Reply

I thought the order was released by Isabel la Catolica and that was the reason for Columbus to search for new lands. Wasn't it from the God of Abraham? And why Ashkenasis searched North America while Safardism searched South America? Reply

This also happened to me. I thought I was German and Irish. It turns out I am 28% Ashkenazi Jewish which I found out after DNA testing. How I wish my parents were still alive to maybe get some answers. My family now celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah out of respect to all my ancestors. Reply

In Jewish tradition, holidays and sabbaths begin at sunset. From one sunset to the next is one day. Chanukah's only eight days long. ;) Reply

I thought this year Hanuka started on the 22 not the 23. Which is it? Reply

Which eighth day it always changes every year be more descriptive Reply

2nd of Tevet obviously. The same day that the 8th day of Chanukah is every year. Aurelia's statement was descriptive enough for any Jew who knows this - unless the gregorian calendar was what you were asking about; in which case I wouldn't know why that would matter to you as I don't see why that information would be important enough for you to go out of your way to specifically ask. Reply

I guess I am dumb, if this year Chanukah is celebrated from Dec 12 to Dec 20 and Dec 22 to Dec 30 in 2019, how can it be the eighth day when none of the days are the same for those two years. Reply

*applause* Reply

Easy now, kindness is a much greater mitzvah than being right about anything. OK? Reply

The 8th day is always the same on the Hebrew calendar however it changes as you stated in the Gregorian calendar. That is because it's a lunar vs solar calendar Reply

The year she was born it was the second day of Hanukkah., not every year. Reply

That was very nice. Thank you, Brett! Reply

Jewish Mom of Emma & Mendel Happy Chanukah to all my family and friends! My daughter Emma & son Mendel are my blessing from Hashem. My heart breaks every day because I miss my mom. She made every Jewish Holiday special. She would include people who didn't have a place to go. Chabad of Lomita (Rabbi Hecht) along with my parents are the reason I raise my kids as observant as possible. We only celebrate Chanukah & I get negative remarks from people who think my kids are missing out on celebrating the other Holiday. My kids are Jewish & why would I celebrate anything other than the Jewish holidays? I live in an area where we are definitely the minority. I work very hard to maintain a Jewish happy home. My son had to get special pemission to cover his head at school. Very sad that people think that we don't have amazing, important & meaningful holidays. I feel honored & blessed to be raised by Chabad of Lomita. I have wonderful memories of my mom cooking & preparing wonderful foods & the rituals of the holidays. Reply

Brett, you are very precious and special. Nobody is entitled to judge you, except The Creator. I’m thankful for your love to my people...
You have a very beautiful Season, filled with love, and understanding and many, many gifts. Shalom! Reply

Thank you Brett. You made me cry. Please keep loving us as much as we love/respect you. Reply

AMEN!!! Reply

I live in boynton beach too Reply

Terminology. I agree to a point. However, Jerusalem was originally located in Benjamin. Judah usurped it when the men were killed as a result of a certain prophet making a claim that I find highly doubtful in verasity. I, as a convert, joined my life to Israel, not ny particular tribe. I'm probably Dannite or Naftahlie as I'm Dutch/Irish. Reply

What? Expression of ignorance is not exposition of intelligence! Reply