Christmas takes the spotlight as soon as the calendars read December across the top. Christmas lights get put up, Christmas songs reach the tops of the charts, and movies like Home Alone and Elf are played nonstop. There is no question that Christmas is the star of December every year, but it is about time that we shine a menorah light on Chanukah, as there is so much to learn and enjoy.

Chanukah has so many amazing aspects. For one, the amazing food! Chanukah is a great time for some classic Jewish food. The amazing taste of challah, the crispiness of latkes, and the comfort of having matzah ball soup always bring me back to a nostalgic Chanukah dinner. The memories you make with your family are what makes Chanukah such a special holiday. Yes, presents are great, but the memories you make with your loved ones during each Chanukah night last a lifetime. Chanukah is filled with fun and joy, and the dreidel is often the center of that. Dreidel, a game of luck that can be played at high stakes or for just a little chocolate, is one of the highlights of this amazing holiday.

Many think all Chanukah is about presents, food, and family, but Chanukah means much more than that. In 164 BCE, Jews called the Maccabees rebelled against the oppressive rule of the Syrian Greeks, who had outlawed practicing Judaism. After defeating the Syrian Greeks, the Maccabees reclaimed the second temple in Jerusalem. In the temple, they found a flask of oil to light the menorah for one day. In Jewish law, the menorah must burn continually. Miraculously, the oil was able to last for eight days and nights, which allowed the Maccabees to find more oil. This story symbolizes hope and miracles. It shows that no matter what happens and what challenges the Jewish people face, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

As many know, Berkley is a melting pot of different cultures, including a large Jewish population who value the history and meaning of Chanukah. Chanukah means a lot to Jewish freshman Abby Hirschhorn. She says, “My favorite part of Chanukah is lighting the candles on the menorah.” She tells me, “Family is what Chanukah means. There are so many great aspects of Chanukah, but making memories with my family is most important.” Chanukah is often overlooked, especially when for many years it overlaps with Christmas. Abby Hirschhorn claims, “Because Chanukah and Christmas are so close together, Chanukah is often seen as just the Jewish version of Christmas, but this is completely untrue. Chanukah is its own holiday with its own traditions.” She explains, “If there was one thing I would want someone to know about Chanukah, it is that it symbolizes miracles.”