Where the Third Candle Burns: Rishon LeTsiyyon on Hanukkah
You are standing on a street in Rishon LeTsiyyon as the third candle is lit, and the city has done what it does every year: it has moved outside. Hanukkah in Israel is a public holiday, and Rishon LeTsiyyon — one of the country's oldest modern settlements, founded in 1882 — marks it with the same rhythm you'll find across the country, scaled to a city that is both a working town and a pilgrimage site for Israeli wine. Expect sufganiyot frying in oil, children carrying lit candles in glass holders, and the smell of doughnuts drifting from bakeries and market stalls. The third night falls mid-festival, which means the city is fully in its stride: schools are on holiday, the streets are busy after dark, and the candles are lit earlier each evening as the nights draw in.
Light the Third Candle Where the City Began
Rishon LeTsiyyon's Hanukkah is rooted in its own history. The city's founders — the members of the First Aliyah who established the settlement in 1882 — lit Hanukkah candles in a place that had no electricity, and the city's museums and heritage sites keep that story alive. Start your evening at the Rishon LeTsiyyon Museum, which occupies the historic buildings of the early settlement, and walk the old streets around it. The third night is a good time to do this: the first two nights are often spent with family, and by the third, the city's public programming is in full swing.
- Visit the Rishon LeTsiyyon Museum and the surrounding historic quarter, where the city's founding period is preserved.
- Look for the city's public candle-lighting ceremonies, which typically take place in central squares and community centres each night of the festival.
- Walk the old neighbourhood streets after dark, where many residents light their hanukkiyot in glass cases outside their doors — a custom you can see across Israel.
Sufganiyot, Sfenj, and the Oil That Defines the Week
The food of Hanukkah is fried, and Rishon LeTsiyyon does not deviate from the national pattern. Sufganiyot — round, jelly-filled doughnuts — appear in every bakery and supermarket from the start of the festival, and by the third night the queues are steady. You'll also find levivot (potato pancakes) and, in the markets, sfenj — the North African doughnut, fried in oil and eaten hot with sugar. The city's market area is the place to go for the freshest versions, and the smell of hot oil is the signature of the week.
- Buy sufganiyot from bakeries and market stalls — they are sold everywhere during Hanukkah, and the third night is no exception.
- Look for levivot (latkes) and sfenj at market food stalls, where they are fried to order.
- Pair the food with Rishon LeTsiyyon's own wine — the city is the centre of Israel's wine industry, and local wineries are part of its identity.
Concerts, Street Parties, and the City After Dark
Hanukkah in Israel is a school holiday, and cities programme accordingly: concerts, street performances, and family activities run through the week. Rishon LeTsiyyon's cultural venues — including the city's performing arts centre and community centres — host Hanukkah events, and the city's parks and central streets fill with crowds in the evenings. The third night is typically busy but not as frantic as the weekend nights, which makes it a good time to actually get into a venue or find a seat at a street performance.
- Check the municipality's Hanukkah programme for concerts and family events — these run throughout the festival, with the third night falling mid-week in 2026.
- Head to the city's central squares and parks in the evening, where street performances and public gatherings take place.
- Look for firework displays and public lighting ceremonies, which Israeli cities typically hold during Hanukkah — Rishon LeTsiyyon is no exception.
When to Go and How to Spend the Day
Hanukkah 2026 begins on the evening of 4 December and runs for eight nights, so the third candle is lit on the evening of 6 December. In Rishon LeTsiyyon, the festival falls in winter, which means short days and early evenings — plan your sightseeing for the morning and afternoon, and save the candle-lighting and street life for after dark. The city is easily reached from Tel Aviv by train and bus, making it a straightforward day trip or an overnight stay.
- Third candle: evening of 6 December 2026.
- Daytime: visit the Rishon LeTsiyyon Museum, the historic quarter, and the city's wineries.
- Evening: candle-lighting, street food, and public events in the city centre.
- Getting there: regular train and bus services connect Rishon LeTsiyyon with Tel Aviv and the surrounding area.
Beyond the City: A Day Trip Worth Making
Rishon LeTsiyyon sits in the coastal plain, within easy reach of both Tel Aviv and the Judean foothills. If you have a day free during Hanukkah, use the city as a base: the train to Tel Aviv takes you to the heart of the country's Hanukkah programming, and the wineries around Rishon LeTsiyyon — the city is the birthplace of Israel's modern wine industry — are worth a visit in their own right. The third night of Hanukkah is a good midpoint for a day trip, leaving you back in Rishon LeTsiyyon for the candle-lighting.
- Tel Aviv: a short train ride away, with its own Hanukkah events and street life.
- Rishon LeTsiyyon wineries: the city's wine tradition dates to the late nineteenth century, and local wineries offer tastings.
- The coastal plain: easy connections to Ashdod, Yavne, and other towns in the area.
Start planning around the third candle: book your travel for early December 2026, check the Rishon LeTsiyyon municipality's Hanukkah programme closer to the date, and leave room in your evening for the walk between the museum quarter and the city centre. The oil is already heating.