For the fourth time since 1900, Hanukkah, Judaism’s eight-day Festival of Lights, begins this year on Christmas Day. The rare alignment of these two significant holidays offers a unique chance for interfaith engagement and celebration, as communities come together to share in the festivities.

A Time for Interfaith Engagement and Collaboration

The overlap of Hanukkah and Christmas this year is more than just a coincidence; for many, it’s seen as an opportunity to foster dialogue and collaboration between different faith communities. Rabbi Josh Stanton, a vice president of the Jewish Federations of North America, emphasizes the importance of learning and sharing experiences without the intention of proselytizing.

“This can be a profound opportunity for learning and collaboration and togetherness,” Stanton said. “The goal is not proselytizing; it’s learning deeply from each other.”

In cities like Houston, Jewish and Latino communities have come together to celebrate this rare occasion, offering a space for cultural exchange. The Chicanukah party held at the Holocaust Museum of Houston on Dec. 19 brought together Jews and Latinos, some with Latin American Jewish roots, for a festive, cross-cultural holiday celebration.

• Latke Bar: A fusion of traditional Hanukkah food and Latino flavors, featuring guacamole, chili con queso, and pico de gallo.
• Sufganiyot & Buñuelos: The popular Jewish doughnut-like pastries alongside their Latino counterparts.
• Mariachi Performance: A mariachi band even took a stab at playing the Jewish folk song “Hava Nagila.”

“This is a way we can come together and show we support each other,” said Rabbi Peter Tarlow, who has seen the event grow from a small gathering to a much-anticipated celebration of community, drawing over 300 attendees this year.

Hanukkah’s Spiritual Meaning Amid Global Challenges

While Hanukkah is traditionally a joyous occasion marked by candle lighting and festive meals, this year’s celebration comes against the backdrop of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and rising antisemitism globally. Rabbi Moshe Hauer, executive vice president of the Orthodox Union, acknowledged the anxiety many Jewish people may feel as they enter the holiday season. However, he remains confident that the spirit of Hanukkah will persist, especially through the symbolic lighting of the menorah.

“The posture of our community — without stridency, just with determination — is that the menorah should be in our windows, in a place where the public sees it,” Hauer said. “It’s less for us, the Jewish community, than for the world.”

By displaying menorahs in windows, Jews are sending a message of resilience, a quiet declaration of their faith in the face of adversity. The act of lighting the menorah symbolizes being a “light among the nations,” a beacon of hope and freedom.

The Significance of Public Menorah Lightings

This year also marks the 50th anniversary of a pivotal moment in the public lighting of menorahs. On Dec. 8, 1974, the Lubavitcher movement, led by Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, lit a menorah outside Philadelphia’s Independence Hall. This public display of Jewish heritage was a bold step in celebrating religious freedom, a message that continues to resonate today.

Rabbi Motti Seligson from Chabad-Lubavitch highlights the significance of this anniversary. “Hanukkah is a celebration of religious liberty, so that it’s not taken for granted,” he said. This year, Chabad will organize about 15,000 public menorah lightings across the globe.

Despite growing concerns over antisemitism, Seligson is optimistic. “The only way through these difficult times is by standing stronger and prouder and shining brighter than ever.”

Why Is Hanukkah So Late This Year?

The late start of Hanukkah in 2024 is due to the Jewish calendar, which is based on lunar cycles and doesn’t align with the Gregorian calendar. Hanukkah always begins on the 25th day of Kislev, the ninth month of the Jewish calendar, which can fall anywhere between late November and late December on the Gregorian calendar.

The last time Hanukkah coincided with Christmas Day was in 2005. The term “Chrismukkah,” which blends Christmas and Hanukkah, rose to popularity during this period, especially after it was featured in the TV show The O.C. in 2003. Despite the occasional blending of the two holidays in pop culture, Rabbi Stanton says the real focus for many Jews today is strengthening their own traditions.

“There’s a surge in Jews seeking deeper connections to their own traditions and community,” Stanton explained. “Hanukkah is a holiday of freedom, hope, and showing proudly that you are Jewish.”