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What IS Hanukkah?

(It's not what you think it is)

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What IS Hanukkah?: (It's not what you think it is)

We know the facts on why we celebrate Chanukah, the Festival of Lights. But is that all? Could it be that the inner meaning of the holiday has been hidden from plain sight?

Based on the teachings of the Rebbe (Likkutei Sichot, Volume 25 pp. 235-242)

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22 Comments

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Lisa B NC December 16, 2025

Thank you for explaining. We are Christian with a new Jewish family member. Reply

Milca Berenice Berrios Eugene Oregon December 15, 2025

What a beautiful way to explain it so that our young people can understand. Reply

Asher I. December 30, 2024

We play the children’s choir video avails on this websight, everyday now, while lighting the menorah and doing the blessing. The children voices gives me hope for our future, the Jewish people and their friends, and great pride in the people who endured so many heartaches from the beginning of our history, and especially after Oct 7th, 2023… Reply

Mark Wiener McDonald December 26, 2024

A cruel Greek ruler and Greeks vs Jews. Greeks vs other people. Jews vs other people Other people vs Jews. A slain pig. A slain apostate Jew. All sorts of killing. All sorts of killing before and all sorts of killing since. Run the clock up to 2024. Killing in Gaza. Killing seemingly ending in Syria. Killing continuing in Ukraine. Will killing ever stop? Killing in Africa among people not involved with places further North. People further North who could care less. Reply

Simcha Bart for chabad.org December 30, 2024

in response to Mark Wiener:

This is what we are trying to do. Spread the light of Chanukah and peace the light of Torah and Mitzvot to usher in the ultimate era of peace when Moshiach comes and there will be no more war. Reply

Asher Vancouver December 30, 2024

in response to Mark Wiener:

Human nature is such, that there will always be killings and biases. But remember that is a very small percentage compared to all the good out there. In the news, bad behaviour sells. Good you hear less of. It’s all about perspective. Happy New Year if you not Jewish. Reply

Salomão Goiania, Goiás, Brazil December 26, 2024

So beautiful the meaning of hanukkah related to the soul and talks about the miracle of the oil, and how it's cited in Torah. Meant a lot to me. I'm blessed. Reply

Asher Vancouver December 25, 2024

The children choir made me veklempt in honor of all the Jewish and Israeli victims who couldnt be here today since 7/10/2023. Bless their souls and loved ones carrying on - Asher I. Dec 25, 2024 Reply

Asher Vancouver December 30, 2024

in response to Asher:

Also the non Jewish people who died serving in the IDF, IAF, foreign workers who worked in Israeli farms, and Arab Israelis who were shown no mercy by these jihadist insane terrorists. Reply

MsRhuby Star-Diamond Sun Valley December 25, 2024

Shared on Facebook Reply

K J Wells Las Vegas December 8, 2023

Very nice explanation. Thank you. As a Christian with a new Jewish family in my life I wanted to honor their celebration. This helped me to understand a little. Reply

Emma Nelson Germanton North Carolina December 17, 2022

Really enjoyed this video. Reply

Taratoot Esther Dunwoody December 14, 2022

Such a amazing video loved this Reply

David Aviv London, UK December 13, 2022

About comments on this topic may I suggest you have a look at
The video: The Kabbalah of Chanukah: Discover the soul of the Maccabees.
By Rabbi Zushe Winner.

I hope to contribute to some of you to find extended explanation on this important topic. For me it's the keywords to open a new level of understanding of Chanukah. Reply

Michael Olympia November 30, 2022

Wow, enlighening! Reply

Anonymous McDonald December 22, 2019

1st, let us start with the premise that G-d created everything. Anyone who does not believe that, stop reading now, you will be wasting your time. But presuming G-d created everything, that means G-d created the Greeks and the Jews and everyone else. So, the Greeks had their beliefs, the Jews had their beliefs and everyone else had and has their beliefs. And among these human beings that G-d created and across millenia, these humans have been willing and sometimes eager to kill other human beings, ostensibly over beliefs. As one who has seen life end horrifically and violently working for 5 years as a TV News cameraman, it makes me sad to know and have witnessed in person, the aftermath of the destructive side of human nature. Yes, G-d granted humans "free will" but nevertheless, the contrast between compassion and cruelty across history to this very day mystifies and scares and sometimes appalls me. Reply

Patricia December 29, 2019

in response to Anonymous:

It's plain to see isn’t it? The contrast between cruelty and compassion. Reply

Pleinair December 11, 2020

in response to Anonymous:

I agree with you anonymous! It's disgraceful and appalling what humans do in the name of their G-d.! Reply

Patricia S Pasadena via chabadpasadena.com December 22, 2019

The Spirit of Chanukah can be felt in the wind. It is an infinite light that has illuminated the lives of the jewish people for generations. A tremendous miracle happened, and we are still here. We remember our ancestors, and despite their overwhelming challenges, we can still remember who we are as a people.
A candle is lit for eight nights, and it is in the midst of darkness that our inner light shines through. Chanukah is a time of illumination and community. A light that brings blessing. A remembrance of the gratitude of life. Reply

Amitai December 26, 2019

in response to Patricia:

What? Reply

Patricia via jewisharcadia.com December 29, 2019

in response to Amitai:

What? What? Reply

Eli December 21, 2019

This is related to Pachad Yitzchak on Chanukkah, Ma'amar Aleph, which explains that Chanukah, compared to Purim, was less about saving the lives of the Jews and more about saving the Jewish identity. Reply

What IS Hanukkah?

(It's not what you think it is)

What IS Hanukkah?: (It's not what you think it is)

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What IS Hanukkah?: (It's not what you think it is)

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