By michael

December 4, 2007 8:27 AM | Link to this

Since my wife isn’t too fond of latkes, we have started having fresh Krispy Kremes for Hanukah! Kosher and made in oil…yummy!

By greg

December 4, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this

who celebrates Hanukkah???

By Heather

December 4, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this

Since my mom and dad live in Marietta and I am all the way in Philadelphia, PA I call them on the phone and we say the blessings over candles together. Even though we are over 800 miles apart, it makes me feel that I am with them lighting the menorah like when I was a kid.

By FCM

December 4, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

Heather I love that you do that. That is a beautiful idea!

We are not Jewish however, I recognize the importance of this event—therefore we discuss the importance of the Macabee revolt and partake of traditional foods in celebration. I have never been sure if it would be wrong to light the candles in celebration since we are not Jewish.

By Debbie

December 4, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this

We invite friends over to have a nice feast of latkes(potato pancakes) and sufganiyot(jelly donuts). We play dreidl games and the kids use M&M’s and depending on how the dreidl lands, put in or take out M&M’s. We say the blessings and sing songs. It’s a nice way to celebrate the festival of Lights with friends. It traditionally is not a big gift giving holiday though it has become more over the years. The gift(s) tend to be small and useful-nothing extravagant. Wishing anyone who celebrates a happy Chanukah :) It is a time to remind us that miracles can happen.

By Oogie

December 4, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this

I would add more oogity in the boogity.

By joe

December 4, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this

Chinese restaurant and a movie with the family.

By Alex

December 4, 2007 2:03 PM | Link to this

My husband and I have been married for ten months and this will be our first Chanukah. We are celebrating the first night with an elaborate dinner for two we are cooking together (lamb, latkes, doughnuts). My husband moved from New York City to Atlanta, where the Jewish community is somewhat less palpable - particularly amidst a sea of red and green this time of year. I hope our candles burn brightly enough so that, although his family is far away, he will feel their warmth tonight.

By John Love

December 4, 2007 2:13 PM | Link to this

Hanukkah’s theme is of a miracle. During Hanukkah Jesus spoke of His miracles: If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him (John 10:37-38). Jesus wanted the people of his day to see His miracles and believe in Him as a result. His miracles point to his divine and messianic identity. In this way Yeshua personifies the message of Hanukkah: God actively involved in the affairs of his people. Hanukkah reminds us that God is a God of miracles, not just of concept and religious ideals. He has broken through into human history and continues to do so today.

By Daniels Family

December 4, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this

we light candles we thank God that Miricles can and do happen, we are not Jews, but we love the children of Isreal and the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.

By David

December 4, 2007 3:05 PM | Link to this

Thank you for all the suggestions and comments. This is my first Hanukkah. Shalom and blessings to your families.

By Angela James

December 4, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this

I like what many have written. One thing I’d like to add is that I am studying the Jewish roots to my Christian faith. By faith in who we believe was the Hebrew Messiah, we are grafted into the community of Israel through the Lion of the Tribe of Y’huda (Yeshua HaMachiach) not the other way around. The way I look at it — we are “completed Gentiles”. We should be following in the footsteps — Hebraically speaking — of our brothers and sisters of the Hebrew faith — celebrating the feasts, keeping kosher, etc. Happy Hanukkah to all.

By Ahsan Rabin

December 4, 2007 5:44 PM | Link to this

My great great grandmother(and my family from her all the way back)were Jewish. However, since my great great grandmother convert to Islam, were Muslims. We still have the Menorah from my great great grandmother and have kept it to show respect to our ancestors. I would really love to celebrate Hanukkah like my ancestor. After all, Islam and Judaism have far more relations than differences and are considered by many as very much the same.

By dudets

December 4, 2007 6:53 PM | Link to this

hello. I am catholic but i would like to learn what people do for certain celebrations when they are jewish.I was very intrested in yopur religion. I would like to know what you believe in and what you don’t. Thank you.

By tim

December 4, 2007 7:12 PM | Link to this

on hannukah, we say prayers to hope that jesus comes down to save us

By Michael

December 4, 2007 7:23 PM | Link to this

We read webpages like this one. It’s so nice to read these comments. The best part tonight was finding out Krispy Kreme donuts are kosher! I called my sister cross country and told my little nephews about the donuts and we all laughed together.

By Marion

December 4, 2007 7:50 PM | Link to this

Thank you for making this available. Reading the comments of other celebrators of the miracle of lights is so comforting. That even today after so many years, the tradition to remember what God has done for us, and continues to do for us is wonderful. May God’s will be done on earth just as it is in heaven.

By Lani

December 4, 2007 7:53 PM | Link to this

Happiest Hanakkah to you all brothers and sisters, be blessed this season and always for your faithfulness to the Creator!

By Emily

December 4, 2007 8:42 PM | Link to this

I would like to knoe what latkes are? and what is dreidl? thanks and Happy Hanullah.

By Ben

December 4, 2007 8:55 PM | Link to this

I light the candles with my family, exchange gifts, eat tons of Latkes and read the story of Hanukkah.

I also think about the retaking of the temple and think of the Joy we shall have when Moshiach comes and we all may go back to the temple once more and light the grand Menorah.

By Hannah

December 5, 2007 6:49 AM | Link to this

I love this holiday. I’m a Christian, but my family came from the Jewish faith, and we observe it in response to the great things God did for his people—we remember the other great trials and victories as well as the story of the Macabbean Revolt. My brothers and I used to play the driedl for raisins, peanuts, or marbles, but since I’m away at college, I spend time alone as the sun sets, thanking God for his great love and mercy, not only in the past with my ancestors but in my own life. God never changes—he is the same age to age, and I look forward to seeing what great miracles He has planned for my generation. Since we’re not allowed to have candles in the doors, I pin up a paper candlabra and tape a new paper flame on each night. Maybe I’ll make latkes and applesauce this year for my roommates…those were always my favorite.

By richard

December 5, 2007 7:22 AM | Link to this

I am a Lutheran pastor. Today I will lead an Advent Service, but instead of lighting an Advent wreath candle will light one on a small menorah. As Christians await both the first Advent in the birth of Jesus, and the 2nd Advent of his return, we are not unlike the still-waiting Jews in seeing the season as a time of renewal, re-dedication, and hope.

By pheej xiong

December 5, 2007 10:35 AM | Link to this

How many candles are their.

By John DuBois

December 5, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

Hanukkah reminds me of my youth when I was invited to dinner at the homes of some Jewish friends. Today, as a Christian, I had forgotten the meaning until my son asked me. After visiting this site, I proud to remember that Hanukkah marks another of God’s many miracles that He continues to do today. So to all Christians and Jews Happy Hanukkah.

By Yael

December 5, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this

Chanukah is not a holiday it is a festival commemorating a miracle. The “commercial” part of Chanukah is mostly for kids, kind of like Santa Clause at Christmas. Chanukah is much different than Christmas though because Chanukah is not a holy day, like Christmas.

As to the questions above, latkes are pancakes made from potatoes that are fried in oil. The oil is symbolic of the miracle of Chanukah. There are nine candles on the menorah; to simplify, one candle is lit for each night of Chanukah (8 total) by the nineth candle which is called the shamash. More traditional menorahs have jars of oil rather than candles. A dreidl is a spinning top with 4 sides that spell out “A great miracle happened there” in Hebrew. Each side signifies a different part of the game.

By Yael

December 5, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this

Chanukah is not a holiday it is a festival commemorating a miracle. The “commercial” part of Chanukah is mostly for kids, kind of like Santa Clause at Christmas. Chanukah is much different than Christmas though because Chanukah is not a holy day, like Christmas.

As to the questions above, latkes are pancakes made from potatoes that are fried in oil. The oil is symbolic of the miracle of Chanukah. There are nine candles on the Chanukkiyah; (a menorah has 7 and is not used for Chanukah) to simplify, one candle is lit for each night of Chanukah (8 total) by the nineth candle which is called the shamash. More traditional Chanukkiyahs have jars of oil rather than candles. A dreidl is a spinning top with 4 sides that spell out “A great miracle happened there” in Hebrew. Each side signifies a different part of the game.

By Stephen Kappesser

December 5, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this

I am a Born-Again Christian and know nothing about Hanukkah but want to learn. It is part of my Christian heritage, after all my Saviour was a Jew! Growing up in upstate NY, we only had one Jewish guy in town and I don’t think he was religious. What are the candles for - what do they represent?

By Annette Hanks

December 5, 2007 11:45 AM | Link to this

I was raised Catholic. On such an important day for some of us, lets make it easy to forget that we are all one kind, that is, we all are the children of God no matter what religion we practice. Lets just be loving to one another like any Father would like his children to behave. Shalom and blessings to all.

By niasha

December 5, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this

what the heck is chaunnakku?

By George

December 5, 2007 4:29 PM | Link to this

For the best Hanukkah stuff I used www.Hanukkah.org

By FCM

December 5, 2007 5:11 PM | Link to this

My youngest came home telling me she knew a new name for the potato pancakes (we eat them from time to time at home).. “Latkaes Mama, Latkaes” then went on to tell me about the candles, oil, and lights. I was very excited for her.

Then I realized I was sad too…for she is in public school. She was allowed to listen and hear this great story in school but not the one of Jesus’ birth….no my faith is reduced to being symbnolized in school as a fat man in a red suit with a reindeer. Can we now allow both to be taught?

Still, we had fun discussing Chanukkah at home last night.

By Ben

December 5, 2007 5:18 PM | Link to this

To answer questions of what is Chanukah, best place is chabad.org

By Julia Walter

December 5, 2007 7:55 PM | Link to this

Hanukah at my parent’s house meant a lot of candles. There, each person in the family got his her own menorah. Just one grandparent, but four children plus two parents meant seven menorahs. On the eighth night that’s a lot of candles! Who got the Shamash varied with the day and age. We sang Hanukah songs and blessings, played dreidel, ate latkes, got one present each night.

Now, with my own family we each have our own menorah, there are just three of us, eat latkes on the first night, sing Hanukkah songs, or listen to them, we get a present each night, but usually very “small” ones.

As a teacher of ninth graders, yesterday I read some Hanukkah books, today I made my students latkes, tomorrow we will play dreidel. These are custom, not religion. I teach my students that all people do not have their customs, that’s a basic concept in Global Studies. So is religion.

By nicole

December 6, 2007 7:14 PM | Link to this

Im a Christian so I have never celebrated hanukkah but I was wondering.. Whats the differance between Christians and Jews?