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History and Significance: Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century BCE. This occurred after the Maccabees successfully revolted against the Seleucid Empire and its imposition of Hellenistic practices. The holiday is particularly associated with the miracle of a small amount of oil, enough for one day, which miraculously lasted for eight days, allowing the menorah in the temple to remain lit.
Traditions: On the second day of Hanukkah:
Lighting the Menorah: Families light two candles on the menorah at nightfall (in addition to the central candle known as 'shamash'), from right to left. A blessing is recited before or after lighting candles, and special songs such as "Ma'oz Tzur" are sung.
Dreidel Playing: People play with a dreidel (a four-sided spinning top), which has Hebrew letters inscribed on each side representing "A great miracle happened there."
Eating Fried Foods: There's a tradition of eating fried foods like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) to symbolize the oil that burned in the lamp.
Charity: Giving to charity or engaging in community service is another tradition observed by some during Hanukkah.
What People Do: On day two, families and friends often gather together to celebrate much like they do on all nights of Hanukkah:
They might attend synagogue services.
Homes are further decorated with festive items, including small gifts that might be exchanged.
Some may also attend public menorah lightings or other Hanukkah events organized by local communities across Israel.
The focus remains on spending time with loved ones, reflecting on themes of resilience and freedom that underpin Hanukkah's historical roots.
