INDIANAPOLIS — Jewish people around the world will begin celebrating Hanukkah, also called Chanukah, on Sunday, Nov. 28.
The eight-day celebration begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar, which usually falls in November or December.
Hanukkah goes by many names including the Festival of Lights and the Festival of Rededication. It commemorates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem after the Maccabees, a group of Jewish fighters, defeated the Syrian-Greek empire that outlawed the Jewish religion, according to the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis.
When the fighters went to light the temple's menorah, they discovered they only had enough oil to last one day and it would take eight days to prepare more. Still, they lit the menorah and it kept burning for eight days.
Now, every year during Hanukkah, the menorah is lit over the course of eight days. The festival is also celebrated with gifts, games and traditional fried foods, like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), to celebrate the oil lasting eight days.
Here are some events taking place in central Indiana to celebrate Hanukkah:
Sunday, Nov. 28:
- Chanukah Dinner Celebration at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life
- Hanukkah Handmade Family Workshop at Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center
- Community candle lighting at Indiana Jewish Discovery Center and Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis
Monday, Nov. 29:
- Chanukah Concert with Mister G and Friends
- Community candle lighting at Jewish Community Center and Hooverwood Living
Tuesday, Nov. 30:
- MoPo Indy Hanukkah Party and White Elephant Gift Exchange
- Community candle lighting at Hasten Hebrew Academy of Indianapolis
Wednesday, Dec. 1:
- Community candle lighting at Etz Chaim Sephardic Congregation
Thursday, Dec. 2:
- Menorah lighting and after-party at Indiana Michigan War Memorial
- Community candle lighting at Chabad Lubavitch of Indiana and Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis
Friday, Dec. 3:
- Beth-El Zedeck's Night at the Menorah Museum: Hanukah Celebration and Siddur Ceremony
- Community candle lighting at Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation and Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council
Saturday, Dec. 4:
- Beth-El Zedeck Tot Shabbat: Hanukah-themed Shabbat celebration for children and their families
- Chanukah Celebration at Pottery by You
- Chanukah Pizza and Pottery with Chabad Lubavitch of Indiana
- Community candle lighting at Congregation Shaarey Tefilla and Congregation Beth Shalom
Sunday, Dec. 5:
- Latkes and Lights: Newfields and the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis takeover Winterlights.
- Hadassah Greater Indianapolis Chapter Hanukkah Celebration & Installation
- Community candle lighting at Congregation Beth-El Zedeck
