Eight Tips for the Eight Nights of Chanukah
By Rabbanit Adena Berkowitz | December 11, 2025
[Orignal Article here: https://jewishlink.news/eight-tips-for-the-eight-nights-of-chanukah-2/]
Adapted from 'Shaarei Simcha—Gates of Joy.'
As we will, iyH, begin our celebration of Chanukah on Sunday night, here is some spiritual inspiration. Feel free to share with friends and family. A freilichin Chanukah!
First Night: Let's dedicate tonight to family harmony, simcha (joy) and expressing gratitude. It's especially appropriate as this is the only night we recite the Shehechiyanu, the traditional prayer that recognizes our appreciation of reaching this moment in our lives of celebrating another Chanukah. Jewish history provides a template for us, in the words of Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav, to never despair and never give up. We have come through, over thousands of years, so many trials and tribulations—including the struggle of the Maccabees to overcome their Syrian oppressors to what Israel faced over the past two years in Gaza. If we can't celebrate in person with family and friends, we can reach out via phone or video chat and wish them a Happy Chanukah. You will be amazed how in a day and age of texting and social media, an “old-fashioned” phone call goes a long way! Also let's try to think of people who have been ill or lost loved ones who would welcome hearing from us. And if we are gathering in person and serving latkes—remember that we can worry about calories another time!
Second Night: Let's make a l'chaim, a toast, to the State of Israel, a true miracle in our time. As the late Prime Minister David Ben Gurion once said, being a realist in Israel means believing in miracles; what our brothers and sisters have gone through over the past two years defies logic. Whatever our political persuasions or viewpoints, make this a night of celebration. Building on last night's theme of connection, we can call friends and/or relatives specifically based in Israel and wish them a Happy Chanukah. In addition, while the war may be over, there is so much need for both financial assistance and chesed to help so many who have been so profoundly affected by the Gaza war. Make a pledge to visit or revisit Israel, to volunteer or just help the tourist-oriented merchants who need the business! And with so much antisemitism/anti-Zionism out there, let's make a promise to make our voices heard in support of the Jewish State. On a happier note—if last night was latke night, then let's not forget to fill our tables tonight with Israeli food including sufganiot, Israeli-style doughnuts, and Israeli wine.
Third Night: This is a night to reach out to those who may not have family or friends nearby and invite them to light candles in our homes. If that is not practical, then let's ask to come by and wish them in person a Happy Chanukah. We can even think of giving them a menorah that Chabad makes available in case they don't have their own. This is a way to not only help them fulfill the mitzvah of pirsumei nisa, publicizing the miracle, but alleviating feelings of loneliness.
Fourth Night: The Talmud teaches that what leaves our mouth is as important as what enters. Let's make a promise to refrain from idle speech. Gossip is so harmful and its effects are wide-reaching. Many of us are familiar with the following story: A man once came to a rabbi to say he wanted to make amends for something derogatory he had said about a neighbor and wanted to know how he could make it up to the neighbor. The rabbi told him to take a feather pillow and go to the center of town, open it up and as the feathers float away, make sure to grab every one and put them back into the pillow. The man protested to the rabbi that it would be impossible as the wind would invariably carry some away and he couldn't grab all of them. The rabbi pointed out to him that gossip and slander function the same way—once they are out of the bag, so to speak, the effects are so far-reaching that we can never fully repair the damage.
Fifth Night: Let's make this a time to increase and reenergize our Torah study. We can make a promise—bli neder—that this will be the year that we dedicate ourselves to making more time on a weekly basis for Jewish learning—for example, joining an in-person study group or, participating online with Jewish learning sites. There is so much available in person and on Zoom, both for men and women. It is an embarrassment of riches! Finally, let's not forget that Jewish educational institutions need our support, whether through our financial donations or through using our brain power to see how we can help make them more affordable for all.
Sixth Night: Tonight is the start of Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh Tevet. It's a perfect moment to reflect on how we can reach out to not-yet-affiliated friends, family or neighbors and share the joy of Judaism. A nice starting point is for us to deliver some candles, challah and grape juice to someone we know who would be open to some outreach. We can also think of folks to invite for a Shabbat dinner who may have never experienced a traditional Shabbat meal. It might just be the spark to get them to connect and affiliate. At the same time, let's make sure to enhance our Shabbat tables by asking guests to share something meaningful that happened during the week, along with extra words of Torah. We can put to good use all the shiurim and lectures we may have been attending or tuning in to!
Seventh Night: As we celebrate Rosh Chodesh Tevet, let's emphasize increasing our acts of chesed. What can we do to help those less fortunate—the poor and the hungry? See which soup kitchens allow volunteers; let's increase our donations to tzedakah or practice some instant chesed: After Shabbat, we can go out and buy gloves, mittens and knit hats to distribute to those in need. Shavua Tov!
Eighth Night: The last night/day of Chanukah is called Zot Chanukah, because on the eighth day of Chanukah, the Torah reading includes the words Zot Hanukkat haMizbeach — this was the dedication of the altar. In Jewish mystical/Chasidic tradition, it is seen as the last “seal” of our judgment from Yom Kippur and an extra last chance we have to make amends. So, if there is someone we wronged, let's make an effort to patch things up. It also serves as a perfect opportunity to dedicate ourselves to loving all Jews. Tradition teaches us that the Second Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed 2,000 years ago because of boundless hate. So tonight, on the last night of Chanukah, as we recall the rededication of the Temple, let's make it a night of boundless love for all Jews no matter what their affiliation. Let's find ways to reach across denominational divides and strengthen our ties and love for all Jews. Remember, what unites us is greater than what divides us. And most of all—be happy—it's Chanukah!
By Rabbanit Adena Berkowitz and Rivka Haut, z”l
Rabbanit Adena Berkowitz, a practicing therapist, is scholar in residence at Kol HaNeshamah NYC, an organization dedicated to reenergizing the spiritual life of both affiliated and not-yet-affiliated Jews. She can be reached at AdenaKB@gmail.com. Adena is the author of the bestselling ”The Jewish Journey Haggadah” and co-author of ”Shaarei Simcha—Gates of Joy,” a mini siddur, together with Rivka Haut, z”l. Rivka was a lifelong agunah activist and was the author of “Daughters of the King: Women of the Synagogue.”
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