Hanukkah 2025: Everything you need to know

Hanukkah 2025 will begin on the evening of Sunday, December 14, 2025 (the 25th of Kislev, 5786 [December 14]), and will conclude at the end of Monday, December 22, 2025 (the 2nd of Tevet, 5786 [December 22]). During the eight days of the holiday, candles are lit each evening to commemorate the miracle of the oil flask and the Maccabees' victory over the Greeks.

When are Hanukkah candles lit? Lighting times vary by stream within Judaism. Ashkenazi Jews customarily light at sunset, so the light will be visible when day transitions to night. Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews typically light at nightfall, usually 12 to 15 minutes after sunset.

Blessings for lighting Hanukkah candles:  On the first night, three blessings are recited: "to kindle the Hanukkah light," "who performed miracles," and "who has kept us alive." On the remaining days of the holiday, only the first two blessings are recited.

Hanukkah candle lighting times 2025

When are Hanukkah candles lit on Friday evening? On Friday evening, Hanukkah candles must be lit before Shabbat begins. On Saturday night, one waits for the Havdalah service to conclude before lighting.

Order of lighting Hanukkah candles Most people follow the method of the Shulchan Aruch, the Rama, and the Arizal. On the first night, the rightmost candle is lit. On the second night, a new candle is added to the left of the first candle and is lit first.

This pattern continues throughout the holiday: each night, one candle is added to the left of the previous one, and the new candle is always lit first.

This method is based on the principle of "ma'alin bakodesh ve'ein moridin" ("ascending in holiness and not descending"), so the new candle is lit first as a sign of adding light and holiness each evening.

What are the main Hanukkah customs?

Lighting candles: Each evening, Hanukkah candles are lit and the menorah is placed in a visible location, usually near a window facing the street. In Ashkenazi custom, each household member lights their own menorah, while Sephardic and Mizrahi families typically have the head of household light for the entire family.

Holiday foods: Hanukkah is associated with foods fried in oil – sufganiyot (jelly donuts) with various fillings and levivot (potato pancakes). In recent years, innovative recipes have driven social media trends. In our food section, you'll find all the hottest trends and recipes to make your holiday special.

Playing with the sevivon: The sevivon (dreidel) bears the letters nun, gimel, hei, peh – an acronym for "a great miracle happened here." The game stems from a tradition recounting that during the decrees of Antiochus, when the Greeks forbade Torah study, Jewish children hid and studied in secret. The custom today serves as a remembrance of those children's bravery and resourcefulness, and as a way to celebrate the miracle that occurred.

Hanukkah gelt: Distributing coins, real money, or chocolate coins is considered a widespread custom expressing joy and giving.

Reading Hallel: On all days of the holiday, the full Hallel is recited in synagogue as thanksgiving for the miracles performed for the Jewish people.

Why do we eat sufganiyot on Hanukkah? The accepted explanation relates to the miracle of the oil flask. In other words, Hanukkah and oil went well together for our ancestors, and thus sufganiyot and levivot joined Jewish tradition, or as a wise Jew once said, "The Jewish principle is: We were in mortal danger, we survived, let's eat."

In the Mishnah (earliest codification of Jewish oral law) (Challah 1:4), a food called sufganin is mentioned: "The sufganin and the duvshanin [...] are exempt from challah (portion of dough given to priests)," it states. Rabbi Ovadiah of Bartenura explained that this refers to "bread whose dough is soft and made like a sponge." In the year 5657 [1897], David Yellin wrote that sufganiyot were called this because they are soft and spongy, and from them the singular form – sufganiyah – was derived.

Hanukkah 2025 – Frequently asked questions

Do people work as usual during Hanukkah? Yes. There is no prohibition of work on Hanukkah, except for the custom among some women not to perform certain tasks while the candles are burning.

Can children light a menorah? Yes. According to the law of education, children are permitted to light. In Ashkenazi custom, each household member even lights their own candles.

Where should the menorah be placed? It is preferable to place the menorah in a location visible from outside – usually on a windowsill facing the street, to publicize the miracle.

How many candles are lit in total during Hanukkah? During the eight days of Hanukkah, 36 candles of the mitzvah are lit (not counting the shamash): on the first night one candle, on the second two – until reaching eight on the eighth night (1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8 = 36). If one also counts the shamash, which is added each night for using the light, a total of 44 candles are lit throughout the holiday: 36 mitzvah candles plus 8 shamash candles (one for each night).

What is the difference between a menorah and the Temple candelabrum? The original candelabrum in the Temple had only seven branches. The menorah used on Hanukkah includes eight branches for lighting plus one additional branch for the shamash.

Is it permitted to relight if the candles went out? If the candles went out after the minimum time has passed (half an hour from nightfall) – there is no obligation to relight. If they went out before then, one should relight without a blessing.

Does one need to remain near the menorah while the candles are burning? There is no obligation to stand near the menorah, but there is an obligation for the candles to be in a safe place, without fear of fire or extinguishing.