Hanukkah in Israel: The Third Day
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival, beginning on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, which usually falls in late November or December. In Israel, the holiday is widely observed as both a religious and a national celebration. The third day is not distinct in ritual terms from the other days of the festival; it is one of the eight nights on which candles are lit, blessings are recited, and the themes of the holiday are marked. What follows describes how the third day fits into the broader Israeli observance of Hanukkah.
Meaning and Origins in Israel
Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BCE, after the Maccabean revolt against Seleucid rule. The central miracle celebrated is that a small quantity of ritually pure oil, sufficient for only one day, burned for eight days in the Temple menorah. Because the events took place in Jerusalem and the Hasmonean kingdom that followed was based in the Land of Israel, the holiday has a strong connection to the land and to Jewish national history.
In modern Israel, Hanukkah carries both religious and national significance. It is observed as a festival of Jewish independence and religious freedom, themes that resonate with the modern state. The third day, like every day of the festival, is part of this dual framing: a religious commandment to light candles and a civic occasion tied to Jewish history and sovereignty.
Religious Observances
The core religious practice of each of the eight nights, including the third, is the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah, known in Hebrew as a hanukkiah. On the third night, three candles are lit, plus the shamash (the helper candle used to light the others). The candles are added from right to left, and the blessings are recited before lighting. The traditional blessings include thanks for the commandment to kindle the Hanukkah lights and for the miracles performed for the ancestors.
After lighting, many families sing Ma'oz Tzur, a hymn that recounts Jewish deliverance from oppression, and other Hanukkah songs. The third night is not marked by any special additional liturgy beyond what applies to all eight days. In synagogues, the daily prayers include the Al HaNissim addition, thanking God for the miracles of the Hasmonean victory, and the full Hallel psalms are recited each morning of the festival.
Customs and Traditions
Several customs are observed throughout the eight days, including the third:
- Candle lighting: The hanukkiah is placed near a window or doorway to publicize the miracle, a practice especially visible in Israeli apartment buildings and streets.
- Gift-giving: While gift-giving is more associated with Hanukkah in the Diaspora, in Israel the emphasis is traditionally on small gifts, Hanukkah money (dmei Hanukkah), and treats rather than large presents.
- Spinning the dreidel: The four-sided top, called a sevivon in Hebrew, is a common children's game. Its Hebrew letters stand for the phrase "A great miracle happened there," though in Israel the phrase is often adapted to "here."
- School vacations: Israeli schools are on a Hanukkah break, so families often use the days for outings, visits, and travel.
Food and Drink
Foods fried in oil are central to the holiday, recalling the miracle of the oil. On the third day, as on all days, common foods include:
- Levivot (latkes): Potato pancakes fried in oil, served with applesauce or sour cream.
- Sufganiyot: Round, jelly-filled doughnuts, often topped with powdered sugar, which are especially popular in Israel and sold in bakeries and cafes throughout the festival.
- Other fried treats: Fried dough, fritters, and similar items appear in homes and markets.
Dairy foods are also sometimes eaten, linked to the story of Judith, though this custom is less central than the oil-fried foods.
Civic and Public Observances
In Israel, Hanukkah is a public as well as a private holiday. The third day falls within the national school vacation, and public life reflects the festival:
- Public candle lighting: Large hanukkiot are lit in public squares, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, and in many municipalities, often with official ceremonies.
- Torch relays: A torch relay from Modi'in to Jerusalem is a notable Hanukkah event, commemorating the Maccabean route, though it is not specific to the third day.
- Cultural events: Museums, community centers, and theaters hold Hanukkah-themed performances, workshops, and activities for children and families.
- Media: Israeli television and radio feature Hanukkah programming, including songs, stories, and special broadcasts.
Regional Variations
Observance is broadly similar across Israel, but some regional differences exist:
- Jerusalem: As the site of the Temple and the Maccabean story, Jerusalem hosts large public lightings, including at the Western Wall and in central squares. The city's religious character makes the candle-lighting ritual especially prominent.
- Modi'in: The city is associated with the Maccabean revolt, and Hanukkah events there often emphasize the historical connection, including the torch relay.
- Tel Aviv and coastal cities: Public celebrations tend to be more secular and commercial, with street fairs, sufganiyot sales, and family entertainment.
- Development towns and peripheral areas: Community centers and local councils organize lightings and parties, often with a focus on bringing residents together.
Despite these variations, the third day of Hanukkah in Israel is marked by the same core practices everywhere: lighting three candles, reciting blessings, eating fried foods, and participating in the national and communal life of the festival.