Hanukkah is just around the corner and Jerusalem is gearing up to celebrate this great holiday with local families and tourists. Don’t let the planning stress you out. We’ve done the work for you!
Check out the full list of Hanukkah events and activities here.
Here are some fun family highlights, to give you a taster of what’s on offer.
Special Events & Holiday-Themed Tours
Candle-lighting at the Kotel
It is an annual tradition to watch the candle lighting ceremony at the Kotel, the site closest to the Hanukkah miracle. The candles will be lit in a magnificent menorah made entirely of bronze casting, more than 2 meters high and about 2 meters wide, weighing about one ton. Daily at sunset throughout Hanukkah.
Or B’Yerushalayim – Hanukkah March of Light
Join the YMCA and Hebrew Union College for a festive musical march from the YMCA to the HUC Taube Family Campus, ending with a community candle-lighting ceremony. Enjoy messages of hope, sufganiyot (donuts) and a warm holiday atmosphere. Starts at YMCA (26 King David St.), concludes at HUC (13 King David St.). December 18 @ 5pm.
Festival of Light at Kol HaOt
Alongside Kol HaOt’s new art exhibition, enjoy family-friendly workshops for all ages that bring the holiday’s stories and traditions to life through making, crafting and creating. Hanukkah Heroes, a vintage comic book activity. Stamps & Candles, creating stamps inspired by the Talmudic stories of Hanukkah. Folding Maccabees, create foldable pop up books. Reservations – [email protected]
Menorah Lighting at First Station
Chabad of Baka is hosting a communal menorah lighting every night of the holiday at 6p.m. at First Station. On the 4th night, between 5pm-7pm, they’ll be joined by the Solomon Brothers for the annual Hanukkah concert, complete with a fire show, jugglers, donuts and dancing.
Lantern Tours at the Herzl Museum
Experience the story of Theodor Herzl in a magical nighttime atmosphere. Guided by lantern light, these special Hanukkah tours bring Herzl’s vision to life through immersive exhibits and inspiring storytelling for the whole family. (Hebrew). Reservations – [email protected]
“Yonina” Hanukkah Musical Tour
Join “Yonina” for a special Hanukkah musical tour in ENGLISH, around the Old City of Jerusalem. The tour is family friendly, off-the-beaten-track and filled with stories, music and inspiration for our times, tying together the stories of Chanukkah, the Maccabees and their courage, to the state of Israel and our resilience throughout the generations. Reservations – [email protected]
Speciality Hanukkah Tours
Immerse yourself in the Festival of Lights with a unique “Chanukiyot & Sufganiyot” tour. Sample world-class sufganiyot (doughnuts) and other holiday themed delicacies while exploring charming neighborhoods like Nachlaot or the Old City to view the beautiful Hanukkah menorahs displayed in windows, with Debra Tours. Reservations – [email protected]
Hanukkah-themed Museum Tours
Join The Museum Guy, Nachliel, as he guides you through some of the best-loved museum exhibitions in Jerusalem that tell the Hanukkah story. Nachliel has his own unique and engaging style. Private family tours can be arranged as well for ages 6+. Reservations – [email protected]
What’s New?
Behind the Scenes Tour of the Hollander Distillery
Take a factory tour of this unique family-run distillery in the Jerusalem Hills, specializing in alcoholic fruit distillation (liqueurs, schnaps, and brandy). Follow the production process and hear the family story. Tours are open to families (tastings are for adults only). Reservations – [email protected]
Biblical Salve Making
Discover the ancient art of skin and body care through herbs, oils, and biblical ingredients in this hands-on workshop held in a warm Jerusalem home. Learn how our ancestors soothed skin, muscles, and spirits using simple, powerful ingredients from the Land of Israel — and then make your own handcrafted salve and herbal infusion to take home. Reservations – [email protected]
Salome Stones Studio
Hands-on workshops at House of Quality, focusing on Jewelry Creation using natural stones from the Land of Israel or a Natural Watercolor Workshop where you create pigments from local minerals. Perfect for ages 8+. – [email protected]
Painting Workshops with Gita Stern
Gita offers traditional step-by-step painting, as well as unique methods like string-pulling and guided modern art (the kind that leaves Picasso shaking in his boots). Regardless of what you choose, everyone walks (or skips!) away after a short session with an impressive piece of art. She also has some really fabulous paint kits, available for purchase if you’re looking for an at-home Hanukkah family activity. For women & children aged 7+. Reservations –[email protected]
Hanukkah Photography Workshops with Nili Auerbach
Discover the beauty of Jerusalem through your camera’s lens with Nili Auerbach a photographer and educator with over 20 years experience! She’s passionate about sharing her love for photography with people of all ages. Participants can use either smartphones with cameras or DSLR cameras. Popular locations include Machane Yehuda Market, the Old City and Yemim Moshe / Mishkenot Sheanenim. Reservations – [email protected]
Hanukkah Tours of the Zomet Institute
Explore how rabbis and engineers solve modern challenges by blending halacha and technology at the Zomet Institute in Gush Etzion. New hands-on exhibition “Smart Technology in your Home” cool new halachically approved devices for household systems and products, making keeping Shabbat & Chag even easier! Reservations –[email protected]
Tours of the Adumim Region with Shelley Brinn
The weather is always better over the winter in the Adumim region! Shelley will coordinate an exciting family day in the Maale Adumim Region. Jeeping, camel riding, museums, factory and artist visits, workshops, Bedouin hospitality and more. Reservations – [email protected]
Tours with Robby Berman
This Hanukkah take a tour with Robby Berman; the only tour guide in Israel that is a Harvard graduate and stand up comedian who has performed on the Israeli Tonight Show. These days, he often guides at The Gaza Envelope and Nova, the site of the Music Festival where hundreds of young Israelis were murdered on October 7, 2023. Reservations –[email protected]
IDF Birthday Project for Milluim Families
A meaningful creative workshop where families can make special, heartfelt gifts (mugs, cups, birthday packages, care packages) for IDF reserve duty soldiers and their families. All profits are used to support soldiers and milluim families. Located in Efrat. Reservations – [email protected]
Build A Rest Area, Just One Chesed
An inspiring and hands-on experience, with Just One Chesed, where participants will sponsor and help build a brand-new rest area on an army base. This space will give soldiers a place to relax, recharge, and know they are appreciated. Other projects include Pizza Making for Soldiers and Build A Bed. Reservations – [email protected]
Dead Sea Bikes – Hanukkah Family Rides
Hanukkah is a wonderful time of year to visit the Dead Sea, with Dead Sea Bikes. They have Riders – a totally new concept in bike riding. It’s like a Segway which hovers just above the ground. And a huge array of different bikes for families to enjoy. If you have younger children, ask about tandem and add on options for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers! Reservations – [email protected]
Holiday-themed Family Workshops
Glass Sculpting Dreidel Workshop
If you are looking for a really exciting experience then making glass dreidels at the special Hanukkah Glass Blowing and Flame workshop is just for you! Learn about the art of Glass Blowing and Flame Working from Yael, a Bezalel graduate. Yael will introduce you to the science and art of the craft and then gives you a hands-on experience to create your own pieces of art. This is a really unique workshop that both kids and adults can enjoy together. Reservations – [email protected]
Sun Printing or Candle Making Workshop
Discover the magic of sun printing (Cyanotype) by creating unique blue prints on textile or paper using plants and photo negatives, perfect for the holiday of light. A separate Candle Making Workshop is also offered. Reservations – [email protected]
Hanukkah Clay & Pottery Workshops
Hand build or paint your own functional art for the holiday, under the guidance of Chaya Esther Ort, Artist and owner of Kiyor Ceramics. Located opposite Shuk Machane Yehuda, this studio lets you create menorahs, dreidels, and tableware using clay from the Land of Israel, making a meaningful and memorable keepsake. No experience is necessary. Reservations – [email protected]
Hanukkah Judaica Wood Working Workshop
Experience an incredible woodworking workshop and walk away with handmade pieces of Judaica. Choose from an array of different Judaica, including a beautiful wood engraved candle-holder for your Hanukka lights – the perfect holiday gift. Reservations –[email protected]
Jerusalem will be packed over Hanukkah, so whatever you do, we recommend that you plan ahead and make reservations in advance!
Main Image: Nachliel Selavan, AKA “The Museum Guy”
