Happy Chanukah to you and your loved ones, from the Team at Shamayim! In this guide you will learn about Chanukah, connections to animal advocacy, vegan recipes, a cruelty-free gift guide, and an 8 day vegan-ish challenge for those who are new to the plant based lifestyle, or are looking to make a change!

What is Chanukah?

Chanukah is our eight-day winter “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods. The word Chanukah means “dedication” because we are celebrating the rededication of the Holy Temple. In the second century BCE, the people of Israel were forbidden from practicing the Jewish religion. Against the odds, a small band of faithful but poorly armed Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove their oppressors out, and reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

We are celebrating the miracle of the oil during Chanukah. When the Maccabee’s went to re-light the menorah in the Temple, there was only enough olive oil to last for one night. They lit the menorah and the one-day supply lasted for eight days, allowing for time to produce more oil, and leaving the menorah lit! Chanukah is observed with nightly Chanukiah lightings. The Chanukah menorah holds nine flames, the shamash (attendant) flame is used to light the other eight lights. On the first night, we light just one additional flame and on every subsequent night, an additional flame is also lit. On the final night, all the flames are lit.

When is Chanukah?

Chanukah begins on the eve of Kislev 25 and continues for eight days. On the Gregorian calendar, it generally coincides with the month of December. Chanukah 2024 runs from December 25th – January 2nd.

What do we eat on Chanukah?

Since the Chanukah miracle involved oil, it is customary to eat foods fried in oil:

• The Eastern-European classic is the potato latke (pancake) garnished with applesauce or vegan sour cream.
• The Israeli favorite is the jelly-filled doughnut, called a sufganya.
• Sephardic Chanukah traditions include Bimuelos (sometimes spelled Bunelos) which are Chanukah fritters in syrup.
• Syrian Jews make Keftes which are like latkes (or croquets, patties, pancakes, or fritters) and use any other vegetable instead of potatoes.
• Italians are known for their Chanukah foods and bring the decadent dessert of Fritelle di Riso* (Italian Rice Fritters) to us as a sweet alternative to the savory latke.
• Indian Jews celebrate with Gulab Jamun which is dough that is rolled into balls and fried and then soaked in sugary syrup.

As you can see the traditional foods are varied and delicious from around the world.

How can we tie the holiday of Chanukah to animal advocacy and veganism?

During Chanukah, we celebrate freedom from oppression, the miracle of the oil, and the lights. As we demonstrate compassion for animals through our food choices, this is a way of rebelling against animal agriculture and factory farming. Plant-based diets are miraculous because they can reverse disease and bring back health, energy, and vitality and can help us stop the environmental disasters that animal agriculture is wreaking on our earth. We are living in a time when the miraculous power of plants is coming to light for health and our planet. Some of the most creative recipes available are plant-based nowadays. Even carrots can be made into lox just as deliciously as salmon can. Miraculous!

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Download the FREE, printable version of this guide + recipes HERE!

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Cruelty- Free Gift Guide!

Shopping Tip: Check out our Cruelty-free pledge page to find information on how to vet if products are cruelty free or not!

Make a gift to Shamayim to celebrate Chanukah!

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Prefer to send a check? Make it out to Uri L’Tzedek and put Shamayim in the memo!

7580 E Gray Rd

Ste 102

Scottsdale, AZ 85260

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Eight Nights of Compassion (Vegan-ish) Challenge!

As Jews, we see care and compassion as minimal expectations of treatment towards all animals – two legged and otherwise. Our tradition sees us as stewards of this earth and guardians of its animals.  With that in mind, we believe that the meat, fish, eggs and dairy produced by the farm factory system as currently constructed are inherently not kosher such that the only authentic expression of kashrut in our day and age, is veganism.

We realize the idea of going 100% plant based is overwhelming to some! We want to invite you to find your way and explore. For each night of the coming nights of Hanukkah, we will share different steps you may try, different paths you may walk to explore a life with less meat, fish, dairy and eggs. 

Night One

Night Two

Night Three

Night Four

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Night Five

Night Six

Night Seven

Night Eight

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