Indy Jewish Community to light community Menorah each night of Chanukah

The Indianapolis Jewish Community will light the Community Menorah this year during each night of Chanukah (Dec. 25 to Jan. 1).

Each night, different Jewish community organizations sponsor the lighting. They will lead a brief prayer and light the Community Menorah, located on the Jewish Community Campus, 6701 Hoover Road, Indianapolis (located at the roundabout between Doors 1 and 3).

Chanukah begins tonight, Dec. 25, and continues until the night of Jan. 1. The last night of the candle lighting is on Jan. 1.

Community Menorah Candle Lighting Schedule

• First Night: 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 25 – Etz Chaim Sephardic Congregation
• Second Night: 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26 – Hooverwood Living & Jewish Community Center ECE
• Third Night: 4:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27 – Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation & Jewish Community Relations Council
• Fourth Night: 6:45 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28 – Hasten Hebrew Academy of Indianapolis
• Fifth Night: 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29 – Congregation Beth Shalom & Congregation Shaarey Tefilla
• Sixth Night: 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30 – Indianapolis Jewish Discovery Center
• Seventh Night: 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31 – Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis & PJ Library
• Eighth Night: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025 – Congregation Beth-El Zedeck

Chanukah is the Festival of Lights, commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a successful revolt by a band of Jewish fighters called the Maccabees against the Syrian-Greek empire that had attempted to destroy the Jewish faith. As part of the rededication, the victorious Jews needed to light the Temple’s menorah (seven-branch candelabrum), but they only had enough oil to last one day, and it would take eight days to prepare more. Miraculously, the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days, which is why Chanukah lasts for eight days.

A chanukiah (nine-branch menorah – one candle for each day of Chanukah plus another candle, called the shamash, to light them) is lit each night, starting with one candle on the first night and adding a candle each day until the whole chanukiah is lit on the last night of Chanukah. The chanukiah is traditionally placed in a window facing the street, sharing the light and celebration with the world.

It is traditional to eat fried foods on Chanukah to commemorate the miracle of the oil. These include latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), among others.

Visit jewishindianapolis.org/chanukah for holiday resources and all local events happening in the community this Chanukah.