Today marks the start of Hanukkah, an eight-day holiday celebrated by millions of Jews worldwide.
The holiday, also known as the Jewish Festival of Lights, celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees revolted against the Seleucid Empire.
Though you may be separated from Jewish friends and colleagues due to the tier lockdown, you can still wish them a happy Hanukkah by call or text.
Here are some greetings you can send to your loved ones this festive season.
How do you wish someone a happy Hanukkah in Hebrew?
A simple ‘Happy Hanukkah’ in your native language would be greatly appreciated, but if you want to give Hebrew (the language used for Jewish prayer and study) then try ‘Hanukkah Sameach!’ which means ‘Happy Hanukkah!’.
There is also ‘Chag Sameach!’ which is a standard greeting used on all Jewish festivals, which simply means ‘happy holiday!’.
Alternatively, if you want to really impress your Jewish friends and colleagues, you could also say ‘Chag Urim Sameach!’, meaning ‘Happy Lights Festival!’.
When is Hanukkah 2020?
Hanukkah kicks of this evening (December 10), and will last for eight days.
The day Hanukkah begins changes slightly every year – though it is usually near the middle of December.
Each year, Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev, which is the ninth month of the Jewish calendar. It ends on the second day of Tevet, which is the tenth month of the Jewish calendar.
The eight days is significant, as Judas Maccabeus found a jar of oil in the Second Temple of Jerusalem that only had enough to burn for one day. However, it miraculously burned for eight whole days.
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