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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 616

Hanukkah

2,300-year-old gold rings found at the Givati Parking Lot excavation, outside Jerusalem's Old City in 2024 and 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 21, 2025, 5:02 pm
2nd gold ring found in City of David sheds light on enigmatic Hellenist era in Jerusalem
The artifacts might have been buried by a young girl on the eve of her wedding, but whether she was Judean, Greek or both remains a mystery
By Rossella Tercatin
A bronze hoard, composed of civic coins of ‘Akko-Ptolemais, was recently found in the excavations at the Hellenistic site Khirbet el-Eika. The find was published in January 2025. (Tal Rogovski)
February 5, 2025, 3:38 pm
Hoard of coins illuminates triumphant Maccabee campaign in 2nd-century-BCE Israel
A rare intact Hellenistic estate at Khirbet el-Eika in Eastern Galilee was likely abandoned by its inhabitant as Yonatan Maccabee and his army drew nearer, new research shows
By Rossella Tercatin
A sign for The New York Times hangs above the entrance to its building, on May 6, 2021 in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
December 30, 2024, 6:24 pm
NYT game misspells Hanukkah in Festival of Lights-themed puzzle
‘Strands’ puzzle irks Jewish users with several gaffes, including listing challah and brisket as Hanukkah foods; ‘like putting “egg nog” in a puzzle about Easter,’ says one player
By PHILISSA CRAMER
Some of a cache of newly discovered Maccabi-era coins, in an image released on December 29, 2024. (Dr. Shai Bar/ Zinman Institute of Archaeology at the University of Haifa)
December 29, 2024, 9:08 pm
‘Miracle’ hoard of Hasmonean coins discovered during Hanukkah in Jordan Valley dig
Haifa University team finds cache of 160 extremely rare coins – dated to 80/79 BCE, during the reign of Judah Maccabee’s grand-nephew – near Alexandrion Fortress, north of Jericho
By Gavriel Fiske
"Oy, Santa" is among the Hanukkah children's books that also deal with Christmas that have come out in 2024. (Collage by Joseph Strauss / JTA)
December 27, 2024, 2:05 am
Hanukkah-Christmas convergence inspires flood of intercultural books for kids
From a ‘Parent Trap’-esque switcheroo to a exploration of traditions around the world, publishers are ringing in the winter holidays with stories for Jewish and interfaith families
By Penny Schwartz
Illustrative: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (third right) lights Hanukkah candles with rabbis in Kyiv on December 25, 2024. (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE)
December 26, 2024, 10:45 pm
Zelensky lights candles with rabbis to mark third wartime Hanukkah
Jewish president tells visiting Chabad dignitaries that menorah used in office ceremony was given to him by Argentine leader Milei, promises light will overcome darkness amid war
By PHILISSA CRAMER
US President Joe Biden speaks during a Hanukkah reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington, December 16, 2024. (Rod Lamkey, Jr./AP)
December 26, 2024, 12:14 pm
‘Capacity for faith is light of the Jewish people’: Biden marks start of Hanukkah
President cites quote from former UK chief rabbi Sacks that a people who can ‘walk through a valley of shadow of death’ and still can rejoice cannot be defeated by force or fear
By ToI Staff
Rare, 1,700-year-old oil lamp with Temple menorah decoration found in Jerusalem, in an image released on December 26, 2024. (Emil Aladjem/Israel Antiquities Authority)
December 26, 2024, 11:02 am
Rare oil lamp with Temple menorah found from time when Romans barred Jews from Jerusalem
Intricately designed 1,700-year-old artifact was discovered intact near the Mount of Olives, will go on display in Jerusalem
By Gavriel Fiske
Ezra Cohen with his dreidel collection, whch includes more than 1,000 items (Courtesy)
December 26, 2024, 7:52 am
Spinning tales: A collector shares dreidel stories from ancient Egypt to October 7
Ezra Cohen has been collecting the spinning tops used on Hanukkah for more than 30 years, and loves discussing their rich history and how they connect cultures
By Zev Stub
The Hanukkah House in Midwood, Brooklyn, is an annual tradition. (Courtesy)
December 25, 2024, 4:36 pm
As Hanukkah begins, here are 8 special activities in New York City
Events in the Big Apple over this holiday season include a Yiddish festival, menorah lightings, a pop-up bar and nightly concerts
By Lisa Keys
Pope Francis delivers the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica as part of Christmas celebrations, at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican on December 25, 2024. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP)
December 25, 2024, 3:26 pm
On Christmas, Pope Francis calls for Gaza hostage-truce deal, Ukraine peace talks
As Hannukah and Christmas coincide, pontiff uses his annual ‘Urbi et Orbi’ address to urge ‘all peoples and nations… to silence the sound of arms and overcome divisions’
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Ilan Stavans and Margaret Boyle, co-authors of 'Sabor Judio: The Jewish Mexican Cookbook.' (I. Rabchinskey /courtesy The University of North Carolina Press)
December 25, 2024, 9:18 am
Latkes con mole and other delicacies feature in this Mexican-Ashkenazi fusion cookbook
‘Sabor Judío’ by Ilan Stavans and Margaret E. Boyle contains more than just recipes from Eastern European immigrants to Mexico – it also dishes up a slice of Jewish history
By Penny Schwartz
Illustrative: Police and community safety vehicles at a Jewish event in Brooklyn, New York City, May 19, 2022. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)
December 24, 2024, 7:50 pm
ISIS, protests, cybercrime: US Jewish security group warns of holiday threats
No known concrete dangers for American Jews during Hanukkah, but calls for attacks by extremist groups raise concerns
By Luke Tress
A volunteer from the Border Police with a suspect apprehended while attempting to loot the Horbat Binit site in the lower Galilee, in an image released on December 23, 2024. (courtesy Israel Antiquities Authority)
December 23, 2024, 3:09 pm
Cops put squeeze on suspected looters at ancient olive oil complex
Four suspects, already under investigation, nabbed while attempting to loot artifacts from remote Galilee site linked to Hasmoneans
By Gavriel Fiske
Jacob Monty joins Rabbi Peter Tarlow at the podium during a 'Chicanukah' event at Holocaust Museum Houston on Thursday, December 19, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan)
December 22, 2024, 6:50 am
Rare Christmas, Hanukkah overlap opens up opportunities for interfaith engagement
In Houston, Latino and Jewish communities come together for ‘cross cultural holiday celebration,’ while around the world, Chabad plans to hold 15,000 public menorah lightings
By David Crary
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