What is Hanukkah
Hanukka is one of the happiest of Jewish holidays. In 167 B.C.E., the Syrian emperor Antiochus set out to destroy Judaism by making its observance a capital offense. In one horrible instance, two Jewish mothers who had secretly circumcised their sons were paraded through the streets of Jerusalem and then executed along with the infants. A Jew named Mattathias, along with his five sons, initiated a revolt against the Syrian monarch. Three years later, the rebels ousted Antiochus's troops from Palestine.

The Jewish revolutionaries, known as Maccabees or Hasmoneans, regained control of the Temple in Jerusalem, which during the years of Syrian control had been defiled. Antiochus had even arranged for swine to be sacrificed in the Temple. The Jewish troops wept when they saw the Temple's degradation, and immediately resolved to restore it to a state of ritual purity. According to Jewish tradition, they could find only one cruse of uncontaminated olive oil; unfortunately, it contained oil sufficient for only one day. The Jews were very upset because it would take eight days to prepare ritually permitted oil. However, a miracle happened and the small quantity of oil continued to burn the full eight days.
In commemoration of this happy event, Hanukka is celebrated for eight days. On the first night, one candle is lighted, on the second, two candles, and so on, until the last night, when eight candles are lighted. The candles are placed in a menorah, a candelabrum that has eight openings, and a ninth, elevated opening known as a shamash. The shamash candle, which is lit first, is used to light the others.

Jewish law dictates that the candles be placed near a window, so that passersby can see them from the street. This is in fulfillment of the rabbinic dictum "to publicize the miracle." Indeed, this is the sole function of the Hanukka candles; it is forbidden to use them for any other purpose; one cannot, for example, read by the Hanukka lights (it is fully permissible, however, to use the Sabbath lights for illumination). During the time the candles are burning, it is also customary that women relax and not work.

A popular Hanukka children's game is spinning of the dreidl, a four-sided cylindrical figure that spins like a top. On each side, a Hebrew letter is printed: Nun, Gimmel, Hay, Shin, which make the acronym "Nes Gadol Haya Sham – A Great Miracle Happened There [in Israel]." Bets are taken on what letter will be showing when the dreidl stops spinning. If it stops on the nun, no one wins; on the gimmel, the spinner takes the pot; on the hay, half the pot; and on the shin, he or she puts money into the pot.

Among American Jews, the latke, a pancake made of potatoes and onions fried in oil, is the food most associated with Hanukka. And because the Hanukka miracle concerned oil, all the preferred holiday foods are fried in oil; in Israel the most popular Hanukka delicacy is the sufganiyah, a fried jelly roll.
                                                                                                                fromTelushkin, Jewish Literacy

Hanukkah Laws and Customs

Who should light the menorah?
According to Jewish tradition, every man, woman and child should light his/her own menorah.  At the minimum, there should be one menorah per household.

When to light?
Candles should be kindled at dusk, so that people will see them in the window as they come home from work.  Many families light candles together just before or after dinner.

What is the Shamash?
 The Shamash, the most conspicuous of the candles, is the assistant or helper. According to tradition, one is not permitted to make use of the Hanukkah lights for any purpose except the Mitzvah of kindling.  In order to avoid inadvertent use of the lights, the Shamash was added.  Thus, the light we "use" derives from the Shamash and not from the other candles.

Why do we eat latkes and donuts?
The Hanukkah holiday focuses on the miracle of the one jar of oil which lasted for eight days.  Therefore, we eat food fried in oil to celebrate the miracle.

Should I decorate our house with Hanukkah decorations?
                Absolutely! Play it to the hilt!

It's true that Hanukkah is not as central in Jewish tradition as Shabbat, Pesach, Shavuot or Sukkot.  It's true that Hanukkah is not in the Bible, while Purim is.  It's true that the rabbis of the Talmud tried to play down Hanukkah in general, and certainly the aspect of the Maccabees' military victory over the Syrian Greeks.  And it's true that Hanukkah achieved some of its hype for us because of its proximity to Christmas. But so what?  It's a joyous holiday, and its observance strengthens us as Jews and Jewish families.  Rabbi Havivi says: "Go for it!"

More Things to Know About Chanukah

It doesn't matter how you spell it in English: Hanukah, Chanukah, Hanukkah, Channukah. The word Hanukah means dedication.
                There is no special meal required on Hanukah, but very oily foods (like potato latkes or sufganiyot – doughnuts) are traditional.
                A Hanukah lamp is called a hanukiah. It can be made out of any material (preferably non-flammable, and fairly heat resistant, to avoid bothering the fire department).
                In traditional hanukiot (plural of hanukiah), all eight candles are all on the same level, in a line, with a higher or separated shamash (helper candle).
                You may use either candles or olive oil in a hanukiah. Make sure that the wicks are separate.
                Place your hanukiah in the window, if possible, so that you can "publicize the miracle"– pirsumei­ nisah in Hebrew.
                One may not make use of the Hanukah candles while they are burning for anything other than their ritual use. You shouldn't read by their light or cook by their flame – there is even a tradition that women do not do housework while the candles are burning.
                Candles are lit each night just after sundown. (This year, the first night is Tuesday, December 4th. The first day of Hanukkah is the 5th, but Jewish holidays start the night before).
                Each night, you add a new candle to the hanukiah. Place the candles in the hanukiah from the right (as you face it), and light them from the left. Light the shamash first, and using it, start with the "newest" candle each day.
                On the Shabbat Hanukah, light Hanukah candles before you light Shabbat candles. Try to use extra-long burning candles so that at least one lasts into Shabbat.

How to Light Chanukah Candles

1) Prepare the menorah with the proper number and placement of candles.  On the first night, put one candle in the far right holder.  On the second night, put a candle on the far right, and one to the left of it.  On each subsequent night, add one new candle to the immediate left. The placement of the Shamash candle depends on the configuration of the individual menorah.
2)  With the menorah on a table (or on a windowsill) light the Shamash extra helper candle.  Men and boys should wear a kipah while lighting the menorah. Recite the blessings:
                Bahrooch ata Adonai, Elohaynu Melech ha'olam, asher keed'shanu b'mitzvotav, v'tzeevanu l'hadleek nair shel hanukkah.
                Bahrooch ata Adonai, Elohaynu Melech ha'olam, sh'asah neeseem la'avotaynu, bayameem hahaym, baz'man hazeh.
                Bahrooch ata Adonai Elohaynu Melech ha'olam, shehecheyanu v'keymahnu v'heegeeyanu la'zman hazeh.  (only on the first night)
3) Light the newest candle (the left most candle) first, and continue lighting from left to right.  The rule is "place right to left, light left to right."
4) Sing or recite Hanerot Halalu and Ma'oz Tzur (see words to these and other Chanuka songs elsewhere in the bulletin).
5)  Place the menorah in the window facing the street, so people outside can see it.
6) Enjoy the lights – play, talk, eat with your family and friends while they are burning.