Chanukah

Chanukah Begins Tonight; Kindle One Light this evening.

The first night of Chanukah is Sunday December 21 2008 at sunset, corresponding to 24 Kislev, 5769 on the Jewish Calendar.

The eight-day festival of Chanukah begins tonight. In commemoration of the miracle of the oil we kindle the Chanukah lights — oli lamps or candles — each evening for eight days, increasing the number of lights each evening.

Tonight, the first night of Chanukah, we kindle one light.

• In the Jewish calendar, the day begins at nightfall; this evening, then, commences the 1st day of Chanukah.

On the 1st night of Chanukah, we recite three blessings before lighting.

The ideal Chanukah lighting time for Toronto is 4:44 p.m. The lighting can be done, however, later in the evening as well.