Hanukkah For Non-Jews

Hanukkah, for Jewish people, is a fun and celebratory holiday that falls around Christmas time. What you may not realize is that just like with Christmas, gifts are a big part of what Hanukkah has become to be about! Hanukkah lasts for eight days and nights. It starts this year on the evening of December 16^th and ends on the day of the 24^th. They have something called a Menorah, which has 9 places for 9 candles. Each night, using the middle candle, families say blessings and light an additional candle. By the time it gets to the eighth night, the entire Menorah is beautifully lit up! The holiday is usually celebrated by getting together with family members, eating certain traditional foods like Latkes (potato pancakes) and jelly-filled donuts. The kids are also given chocolate coins, which they call Chocolate gelt. There is fun music, dancing and lots of cheer. Gift giving is a big part of Hanukkah, and your Jewish friend, colleague, or client will appreciate your gift wishing them a happy Hanukkah, versus happy holidays. It is also important to remember that if your gift consists of food (like for example a gift basket), you need to find out if they are Kosher or not. If you feel comfortable enough to ask if they are Kosher, do so, and if not, and you don’t know, send a Kosher gift anyways just to play it safe.

As a business, you may have important clients or close partners that are Jewish. Also, you may just have close friends that are Jewish. While you’re getting your Christmas presents out, don’t forget that they are celebrating Hanukkah at the same time! Make sure you don’t leave them out of your gift-giving list! Just like you and your other friends and family are celebrating Christmas with gifts full of candy canes and chocolate, your Jewish friends, clients and partners are celebrating Hanukkah with their own traditions. Find out if these individuals are Kosher and if they are, ensure that any food in your gift is all Kosher. I guarantee you they will send you some extra appreciation. They will recognize that you acknowledged them during everyone’s time of giving!