Did you know?

1.     History behind the 8 Days of Hanukkah:

The festival commemorates the re-dedication of the Second Temple that took place during the Second Century BCE. An army of Jews (named Maccabees) reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem, which had been converted into a pagan shrine by the Greek King Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The Maccabees then built a new altar but found that the Temple’s Menorah had just enough oil to be lit for 1 day. Miraculously, it burned for 8 days. Hanukkah is celebrated for 8 days in commemoration of this miracle.

2.     The date changes every year:

The 25^th day of Jewish month of Kislev marks the beginning of Hanukkah. Each year, the festival starts anywhere between November 28^th and December 26^th and every Jewish home has a Jewish calendar to determine when it will fall out exactly.

3.     The Importance of Light:

Each day of Hanukkah one candle is added until all of the 8 candles are lit. The menorah used during the festival is called “Hanukiah” with 8 candle holders and a 9^th Shamash, which is the main candle that lights the others. 

4. Record Breaking Menorahs:

The world’s two largest menorahs are in Manhattan and Brooklyn, New York, both standing tall at 32 feet (the maximum allowed height for a Menorah under Jewish law).


5.     You can win chocolate coins (‘Gelt’) at the traditional Hanukkah game with a dreidel.

And if you are lucky, you can even win real coins!

6.     It’s a time of gift giving!

The name Hanukkah comes from the Hebrew l’chanech or chinuch, which means “to mold” or “to educate.” By spreading joy and giving gifts of money the gifts are meant to highlight how light triumphed over dark and how the spirit of giving lights up the lives around us.

7.     Hanukkah is also a time of eating lots of fried food!

As per records, about 17.5 million donuts are consumed just in Israel in the 8 days of Hanukkah! Of course, the latkes (potato pancakes) feature a close second! Sweet cream-cheese rugelach, honey dipping fried apple fritters, and cheese blintzes are some other festive favorites.

8.     Hanukkah is celebrated at the White House.

Although the US has never had a Jewish President, this festival is celebrated at the White House in Washington. Bill Gates was the first President to light the Menorah at the White House in 1993.

Looking for the perfect Hanukkah gift? Let us help you light up life with our festive collection!

Hanukkah Judaica

As soon as Hanukkah comes near, it’s time to find special Holiday Gifts for all the members of the family. Choose from a selection of Menorahs and Dreidels in timeless sterling silver or modern colorful aluminum.

Since there are 8 days to celebrate – you may need a few different Hanukkah gifts.

Order early to ensure your gifts arrive before the holiday!

Shop now

If you are confused about what to give, here is a list of unique Hanukkah gifts that you can choose from.

Hanukkah Gifts for the Home

Getting a gift for your own home or for a loved one this year? Hanukkah Judaica is the way to go!

Hanukkah Menorah Options – Lighting of the menorah is an integral part of the Hanukkah traditions, so if you are looking for a gift for a loved one for their home or even want to get something for your home, Hanukkah menorahs are a great idea. They are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and suit a wide variety of budgets. If you have a fixed budget, hanukkah menorahs for sale are available online this time of the year. Of course, buying a good one will ensure it lasts your family for years to come.

For those of you who are always on the go and yet believe in keeping up with traditions, a travel chanukah menorah will work perfectly!

Some Hanukkah menorahs are just so beautiful that they become family heirlooms. Getting a sterling silver menorah is a great holiday gift idea – either for your home or for a loved one. A menorah like this is sure to be cherished!

Candlesticks – You can opt for candlesticks as a gift option. Hanukkah is celebrated with candles signalling light and warmth – such a beautiful gift is a thoughtful expression of your love. You can choose to buy from a wide variety of candlesticks – from simple metal ones to gorgeous sterling silver candlesticks.

Hanukkah Gifts for Her

It is said that “Diamonds are a woman’s best friend” but we can stretch it to include gold, silver and all kinds of jewelry! And Hanukkah is a perfect time to show how much you appreciate the women in your life with some Hanukkah jewelry gifts!

If you shop in good time, you can also add an inscription to make the piece of Hanukkah jewelry even more special! You can be rest assured that your hanukkah gift will be loved and cherished.

Hanukkah Gifts for Him

More often than not, you may find yourself struggling with ideas on what to buy for the important men of your life. After all, men are more difficult to shop for! Is that so? Not it know what to buy!!

Your father, husband, son, grandpa, brother, fiancé – these are all very special bonds. This year get them unique hanukkah gifts. For men, cufflinks, bracelets, tallis clips are great options. You can also get customised items like name cufflinks or chains in gold or silver – they are sure to value such gifts for a long time!

Hanukkah Gifts for Children

Children are gifts themselves and it is most exciting to shop for unique hanukkah gifts for the family’s little ones.  There are so many options to choose from. Driedels and chocolate gelt is the obvious choice every year – kids love them! 

This year, gift your child something precious – a gift they will treasure forever. You can opt for Hanukkah jewelry or customised name jewelry for your little girls.

For the boys in the home, silver kiddush cups make a great gift!

Read on to learn all the action-packed details of the history behind our beloved holidays.

Sukkot

Quickly following Yom Kippur is the holiday of Sukkot. In the Jewish Bible, Sukkot is always referred to as “the time of our happiness.” This begs the question, why is Sukkot a happier time than any other Jewish holiday? The answer is simple but very deep. The joy of Sukkot comes from the lightness we feel after being forgiven and cleansed of all our wrongdoings. We’ve been judged (Rosh Hashanah), we’ve been forgiven (Yom Kippur), and now there is nothing but unburdened joy! To celebrate Sukkot we move into palm frond covered huts outside our homes for a week. This is to symbolize our trust in G-d and to commemorate His protection over us for the forty years the Jewish people wandered in the desert. We also shake a lulav (palm frond) and etrog (citron) every morning while reciting blessings and praises of G-d.

Pesach (Passover)

Perhaps the most significant holiday of the year, Pesach is a celebration of our freedom. It commemorates when G-d took us out of slavery in Egypt and brought us to Israel. It is said that the miracles performed by G-d on our behalf during this time were greater than any in history. The exodus from Egypt is a cornerstone of our faith, showing G-d’s invested interest in our personal actions and well-being. Pesach is celebrated for eight days, the first two of which long feasts (called a Seder) are held at night. It is customary to eat matzah (unleavened bread) and drink four cups of wine at the Seder and to refrain from any leavened bread for the entirety of the holiday.

Shavuot

A holiday that occurs exactly 50 days after Pesach, Shavuot commemorates G-d giving us the Torah on Mount Sinai. It’s a day similar to Shabbat, when people spend time with their families and eat good food and wine. It is also customary for men to stay up the entire night of Shavuot learning Torah.

Tisha B’Av

The saddest day of the Jewish calendar, Tisha B’Av is the day both Holy Temples were destroyed and the Jewish people were cast into exile. It is a fast day which has become a catchall for every tragic event in our history. It is customary to sit on the floor and read the book of Lamentations, and to refrain from joyous or pleasurable activities. It is also a day to yearn and pray for salvation and the rebuilding of the Third Holy Temple, speedily in our days.

Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah is also known as the Jewish New Year. (Like the Chinese New Year, but less dragons). One of the High Holidays, it is a day of re-coronation of G-d as our King, as well as a day of judgment over our actions of the previous year. While serious, it is also a very festive day with delicious food, shofar blowing, and the traditional fruits: pomegranates, dates, and apples dipped in honey.

Yom Kippur

The second High Holiday, Yom Kippur follows ten days after Rosh Hashanah and is the annual Day of Atonement. It is traditional to fast from sundown to sundown and spend the entire day in synagogue. While Rosh Hashanah is a day of judgment, Yom Kippur is a day of mercy, when we are forgiven for our sins.

Simchat Torah

The last day of Sukkot is really a different holiday called Simchat Torah. Every Shabbat morning in synagogue, a portion of the Bible is read and on Simchat Torah we finish the last section and start over again. To celebrate our excitement for Torah, we dance all night and morning holding the Torah and giving out candies and treats.

Hanukkah

The story of Hanukkah took place in the 2nd century B.C.E. when the Syrian-Greek Empire tried to destroy the Jewish faith and desecrate the Holy Temple. The Maccabees, a small army of righteous Jews led by Judah Maccabi, waged war against their Syrian-Greek oppressors. Although hugely outnumbered, miraculously they emerged victorious and reclaimed Israel from Syrian-Greek control. After winning the war, the Maccabees immediately went to rededicate the Temple and light the holy Menorah. They only had enough pure oil to burn for one day, but a miracle occurred and the oil burned for eight days, a sign of G-d’s returned protection over Israel. Hanukkah was then instituted as a national Jewish holiday when we light a menorah every night for eight nights to commemorate the miracle. It is also traditional to eat food fried in oil, such as doughnuts and latkes (potato pancakes). Yum!

Purim

A fun, festive holiday! Purim commemorates a story that took place in Persia in the 4th century B.C.E. A man named Haman, who was an advisor to the king, plotted to kill all the Jews. The date for this mass execution was picked and approved by the king and letters were sent out throughout the kingdom. It seemed the fate of the Jewish people was sealed. However, prior to this, Esther had been crowned queen of Persia who, unbeknownst to the king, was actually a Jew. Together with her uncle, the great sage Mordechai, she managed to overthrow Haman’s plans and have him executed instead. The day that had been chosen for the Jews’ extinction instead became a day of victory for the Jewish people, and the day afterwards celebrations ensued. Today we celebrate this miracle by dressing in costume, giving out gifts and treats, and eating a festive meal.

Jewish Jewelry Symbols Explained

Ani Ledodi

A phrase found throughout our site, this verse is taken from the ancient book Song of Songs, written by King Solomon in circa 951 BCE. Its translation is most commonly accepted as “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” While this beautiful quote is perfect for any love relationship, its intention was to refer to the everlasting love between G-d and the Jewish people. Read More.

Dreidel

A Yiddish word, dreidel is a spinning top played with during the holiday of Hanukkah. (Hebrew: Sevivon). The dreidel has four sides, each with a Hebrew letter—Nun, Gimmel, Hei, and Shin. These letters are an acronym for “Nais Gadol Haya Shum”—”A great miracle happened there.” In Israel however, the final letter is changed to a Peh, making the sentence “A great miracle happened here!”

Evil Eye

In Hebrew “Ayin Hara,” the evil eye refers to the jealousy and ill-wishes of others in the face of your success. It is common practice in some Jewish circles to quickly say “Bli ayin hara”—meaning, without the evil eye— after giving a compliment or sharing how many children you have. Evil eye jewelry, while called by that name, really refers to the “Good Eye” (in Hebrew, Ayin Tov), which is worn as an amulet to ward off the powers of other peoples’ jealousy.

Chai

In Hebrew chai (or, hai) means life. Judaism values human life above and beyond all things, and encourages us to live good and full lives. The word chai consists of two letters—Chet and Yud. Together, the numerical value adds up to 18, which itself is a meaningful number within Judaism. It’s also common, when giving a monetary gift, to give in multiples of 18—always referred to as Chai.

Hamsa

The Hamsa is a symbol seen throughout Middle Eastern cultures. It’s shaped like a symmetrical hand, and in Judaism often symbolizes the hand of Miriam. As the tradition goes, Moses was sent down the Nile River in a basket when he was a baby and Miriam, his sister, followed to ensure his safety. She sent forth her hand, so to speak, to protect him. Therefore the Hand of Miriam—the Hamsa—is an icon of protection for all time.

Hanukkah Menorah (Hanukkiah)

A Hanukkiah, as opposed to a general Menorah (see below), is used specifically for the holiday of Hanukkah. It has eight equal branches, one for each night of Hanukkah, with a ninth branch at a different height from the rest. We light it each year to commemorate the miracle that a tiny vessel of oil burned for eight days during the re dedication of the Holy Temple.

Hoshen

Also known as the Choshen Mishpat, the English translation being The Breastplate of Judgment. This was a breastplate worn by the High Priest in the times of the Holy Temple, which was set with twelve precious and semi-precious stones. Each stone possessed a different unique color and represented one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. It is said that whenever a critical decision needed to be made, the stones would light up in a cryptic pattern which only the High Priest could decipher, revealing G-d’s will.

Jerusalem

In Hebrew “Yerushalayim,” Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel. Situated right in the center of the land, Jerusalem was chosen to house both Holy Temples where the entire Jewish nation came to on pilgrimage three times a year. In ancient times it was the center of Jewish life, and till today holds immense meaning for the Jewish people. Ever since we were exiled from the land, poets and scholars have poignantly lamented the loss of the Jewish capital and the Holy Temple.

Kabbalah

The literal translation of the word Kabbalah is “that which is received.” It refers to a section of Jewish wisdom which was received together with the Torah, but remained shrouded in mystery. The main book of Kabbalah is the Zohar, written by R’ Shimon Bar Yochai in the 2nd century. It expounds on esoteric concepts such as the structure of the heavens, and supernatural beings and powers. Learn more in our blog post Kabbalistic Themes.

Kiddush

Meaning “sanctification” or “holiness,” Kiddush is a specific passage said over a cup of wine (or grape juice) to sanctify the Sabbath and Jewish holidays. Most families will purchase a special silver goblet for this purpose, called a Kiddush cup.

Kotel

HaKotel Ma’aravi, the Western Wall. This is the last remaining wall that surrounded the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. It was prophesied to never be destroyed and today it still stands, over 2000 years old, despite numerous attempts for its destruction. It is the closest accessible spot we have to the Holy of Holies, the direct line to Heaven. For thousands of years Jews and Gentiles from all over the world have come to weep and pray at this holiest of sites, and leave notes to G-d in its cracks. (To learn more about this meaningful topic, see https://www.aish.com/h/9av/j/48961906.html )

Lion of Judah

In the book of Genesis, Jacob blesses each of his twelve sons while on his deathbed. The blessing he gives his son Judah (Yehuda) is that he will be like a lion and the scepter will never leave him (49:9-10). The kingship of Israel was thus destined to remain within the tribe of Judah, symbolized by a lion. When the kingdom of Israel split sometime around the 10th century BCE, only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained in the Jerusalem area, causing this area to become known as Judah and its people to be known as Jews. In 1949, a year after the creation of the modern State of Israel, the lion was chosen to once again be the symbol of Jerusalem. It can be seen throughout the city on its well-known coat of arms.

Menorah

While also used in Modern Hebrew as a generic term for “lamp,” the Menorah mainly refers to the giant seven-branched lampstand used in the Holy Temple. An integral part of the daily service, the Menorah would be lit daily using only the purest of olive oils. In the Hanukkah story, the first thing the Maccabees did after winning the war and reclaiming the Temple, was search for pure oil to light the holy Menorah. It has become a primary symbol of Judaism, and is used as an emblem on the coat of arms of the State of Israel.

Mezuzah

Literally “doorpost,” a mezuzah refers to an object hung on the doorposts of Jewish homes. Although a common misconception, the mezuzah does not actually refer to the case, but rather to the parchment scroll inside. On that scroll is written the holy Shema in which G-d commanded us to “write [these words] upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates.” In order to beautify this commandment, many people will purchase beautiful cases for their mezuzah scrolls; so much so that the case itself has become somewhat of a symbol of Judaism.

Pomegranate

In Hebrew “rimon,” the pomegranate plays a special role in Jewish custom and tradition. It is one of the seven species of Israel as listed in the Bible, and of all the fruits contains the most symbolism. For one, Jews are compared to pomegranates—the Talmud says “even the empty ones are full of mitzvot (good deeds) like a pomegranate is full of seeds.” It is also the fruit which inspired King Solomon who mentions it allegorically many times in Song of Songs, as well as letting the shape inspire the design for his crown. Perhaps the pomegranate’s most common place, however, is as the new fruit eaten on Rosh Hashanah.

Priestly Blessing

In Hebrew, “Birkat Kohanim.” The kohanim, the sons of Aaron the High Priest, were sanctified by G-d to bless the Jewish people using the following blessing: “May G-d bless you and protect you. May G-d deal kindly and graciously with you. May G-d bestow His favor upon you and grant you peace.” This was recited daily in the times of the Holy Temple, and today it is still recited by the kohanim in most synagogues.

Shabbat

Shabbat, or Sabbath, is the Jewish day of rest. Just as G-d created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, so too He commanded us to rest on the seventh day—Saturday. Shabbat begins at sundown on Friday and it is traditionally brought in by lighting the Shabbat candles. Sterling silver candlesticks have become the traditional standard for Shabbat, beautifying the home and bringing in the warmth and specialness of Shabbat. It is a time to eat good food, spend time with family, sing and pray; and especially to take a well-deserved break from the stress of the week.

Shema Yisrael

Hear O Israel, the L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is One. This most fundamental declaration of G-d’s Oneness is said three times a day in prayer and is a cornerstone of the Jewish faith. It’s brought down in tradition that these should be the last words to leave a Jew’s mouth before he dies. It’s a proclamation of our willingness to die for the glory of G-d.

Star of David

Also known as the “Jewish star,” the Star of David is a relatively recent symbol of Judaism. Its origins are traced by some to the Middle Ages but it did not become well known as a Jewish symbol until its adoption by the Zionist movement in 1897. The star is comprised of two interlocking triangles which together form a six-pointed star (a hexagram). In Hebrew it is called a Magen David which translates to Shield of David, which is symbolic of G-d—the ultimate shield and protector. The star is emblazoned on the flag of Israel, sealing it as an eternal symbol.

Tallit

The Tallit Gadol is the prayer shawl worn during morning prayer services. It’s a large four cornered garment with Tzitzit (ritual strings) attached to each corner. It’s worn wrapped around the entire body to symbolize being enveloped and protected by G-d. However, it can slip off from time to time which is why many people will choose to purchase tallit clips—beautiful gold or silver clips attached by a chain to ensure the Tallit stays in place.