Hanukkah (Day 3) in Israel

History and Traditions: Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire. It is celebrated from the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar.

The holiday is marked by several key traditions:

• Lighting the Menorah: On the third day of Hanukkah, three candles are lit on a nine-branched candelabrum called a menorah or hanukkiah. The central candle, or shamash, which is used to light the other candles, is also lit, making it four flames in total for that evening.
• Dreidel Playing: The dreidel, a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters on each side representing "A great miracle happened there," is played with during Hanukkah. It involves a game where players spin for chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil (gelt).

Activities on Day 3:

• Menorah Lighting Ceremonies: Families and communities gather to light menorahs in homes and public spaces.
• Eating Traditional Foods: Foods fried in oil such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts) are typically consumed to commemorate the miracle of the Temple oil.
• Distributing Gifts and Gelt: While gift-giving is not a traditional part of Hanukkah as it is for Christmas, some Israeli families give small presents or money to children on each night of Hanukkah.
• Attending Cultural Events: In Israel, concerts and special events related to Jewish culture often take place during Hanukkah.

The third day continues with these celebratory customs, maintaining a festive atmosphere throughout Israel as they remember their historical triumphs and cultural heritage.