Chanukah sameach! What is the Jewish celebration and where can it be celebrated in London in 2022?

Today marks the second day of Chanukah, and synagogues in London are opening their doors to multi-faith celebrations.

Sunday evening saw the first day of Chanukah celebrated across London, with menorah lighting ceremonies taking place in Islington and a giant version of the Jewish centrepiece currently lighting up Trafalgar Square. But what is Chanukah?

The hebrew word for “inauguration,” Chanukah is a wintertime celebration of lights, which begins the eve of Kislev 25 and continues for eight days. It celebrates the story of a small band of Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, defeating one of the mightiest armies in second century BCE, the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks.) This poorly armed group reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of God.

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When they sought to light the Temple’s Menorah (the seven-branched candelabrum), they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks. Miraculously, they lit the menorah and the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity.

The story explains the premise behind the menorah, which for the eight days of chanukah is lit each evening from the shammash (the first flame lit on the menorah), which is used as the main source of lighting the remaining flames of the menorah. On Friday afternoon, care must be taken to light the menorah before Shabbat candles are lit, and the following evening they are to be kindled only after Shabbat has ended.

Asides from the menorah, Chanukah also has its own customs akin to Christmas; Christmas Dinner is replaced with helping of fried foods including latkes and doughnuts, while playing with a dreidel with friends is also another activity usually associated with the celebration.

Hanukkah sameach to everyone from Londonworld over the next seven days remaining of Chanukah, and for those curious about the celebrations and what is still on offer in London during the Jewish celebration, take a look at some of the activities below.

How to celebrate Chanukah in London in 2022

  • A giant menorah is currently lit up on Trafalgar Square, which will remain throughout the duration of Chanukah
  • The Liberal Jewish Synagogue will be holding both a Sixth Night of Chanukah and Shabbat Chanukah service on Friday (December 23) at 6.45pm and Saturday (December 24) at 11am. The synagogue will also hold a Multi-Faith Chanukah Celebration on Monday (December 19) from 4.30pm.
  • JW3 will be holding an Interfaith Chanukah Celebration open for everyone on Wednesday (December 21) from 6.30pm.
  • Rinkoff Bakery will be selling sufganiyot throughout the duration of Chanukah; the pillowy, jam-filled doughnuts are often eaten during the festival of lights. 

If those delicacies have you longing for more Chanukah bites, Tongue & Brisket will be serving salt beef stacks and freshly fried latkes during the week.

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