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At Artza, our team of experienced writers and editors strive to bring you stories from the Holy Cities of the Christian Bible and grow your faith in God. We review Artza's content to ensure theological relevance and accuracy. We only source content from the Bible, reputable sites, and academic research institutions and cite these wherever relevant. Learn more about our editorial process here.

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Cookies for Hanukkah celebration with menorah and Christmas decor on wooden background
Do Jews Celebrate Christmas?

For Christians, the 25th of December is the day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ (better known as Christmas). For Jews, the 25th of December may fall on the Jewish 8-day festival that is known as Hanukkah. The dates do change slightly because Hanukkah is celebrated according to the Hebrew calendar on the 25th of Kislev. This does not always fall on the same day in the Gregorian calendar. Since the holidays are not synonymous, and nor do they necessarily fall on the same days, what, if anything, does Christmas time mean for the Jews? In short - it does not have any significance, and it is not celebrated by the Jewish people. Although you can find Christmas celebrations all around Israel by the Christian population. » While Christians celebrate Jesus' birth at Christmas, learn about the 10 most significant events in His life Jews celebrate Hanukkah, which has festivities lasting for 8 days. Hanukkah celebrates the victory that the Maccabees, a group of Jewish rebel warriors, had over Judea. Antiochus Epiphanes IV was the Syrian ruler who had control over Israel at the time. He decimated the Temple in Jerusalem and made studying the Torah (the divine revelation to Israel that includes the first 5 books of the Hebrew bible) punishable by death. He was overthrown by the Maccabees who took back the Temple of Jerusalem. Following this, he issued an 8-day celebration of the Jewish faith. This was marked by the rekindling of the menorah on the 25th of Kislev. The menorah is a candelabrum with four places for candles on either side of a central candle for nine candles. The candle in the middle, called the Shamash, is used to light the surrounding eight candles. The reason for lighting these candles during Hanukkah is to represent the 8-days of Jewish celebration. The Shamash represents the small amount of oil that was able to keep the lamps in the Temple burning throughout. Do Messianic Jews Celebrate Christmas? Messianic Jews are essentially the middle ground between Jews and Christians. They believe that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah but still celebrate Jewish holidays and follow other Jewish beliefs. While they believe in Jesus as the Messiah, Messianic Jews tend to not believe in Christmas. They are of the same Jewish belief that Westernized Christmas traditions like Santa Claus are ways for industries to gain profits. » Explore unique Christmas finds Does Israel Celebrate Christmas? Israel has, in recent years, started decorating the streets for Christmas, for the Christina citizens and the influx of tourists around this time. Christmas in Israel is not really celebrated by locals, as most of the population is Jewish. Christmas in Jerusalem is great for tourists as the streets are decorated beautifully, and places such as the YMCA hold special Christmas services. The Meaning of Christmas to Jews Aside from sharing a date, there is no relationship between Hanukkah and Christmas. They celebrate vastly different things. Christmas, for this reason, doesn't mean much to Jews. For Israel's Jewish population, Christmas simply means an influx of tourists in the holy land.

a stack of almond cookies next to a glass of milk
Authentic Israeli Sachlab Cookies: A Sweet Middle Eastern Delight

Originating from Turkey, Sachlab is made from the dried and ground up bulbs of the Sachlab Orchid flower. The secrets of Sachlab made its way across the borders to Israel, and is considered to be one of the quintessential Israeli deserts. The Sachlab blub is know to have many natural homeopathic healing effects and is often drunk in the winter to cure and sooth the common cold and flu. There are hundreds of variations of the Sachlab drink, and we can’t wait for you to try our Sachlab almond cookies. With their unique flavor and exotic taste – they are sure to impress at any table you serve them. Enjoy! INSTRUCTIONS Preheat the oven to 3 45F. Mix all the ingredients together by hand until you have a soft dough - careful not to overmix! Form 1⁄2 inch balls from the dough, place on the cookie sheet. Press an almond into the top of each ball slightly flattening the dough. Bake for 20 minutes. The cookies will stay white - you can check if the bottom is slightly golden if you’re unsure. Bete’avon! INGREDIENTS 3 CUPS Flour1⁄2 CUP Sachlab Powder Mix1⁄2 CUP Sugar1 1⁄4 CUPS Canola OilOPTIONAL TOPING Almonds Experience the culinary wonders of Israel like never before with Artza! Indulge in tantalizing Artza recipes meticulously crafted by top chefs in Israel, using locally sourced ingredients that capture the essence of the Holy Land. Join the ever-growing Artza community of over 100,000 members and unlock the magic of our faith subscription box. Every three months, prepare to be amazed as a treasure trove of delights arrives at your doorstep. Discover exotic Israeli spices, mouthwatering recipes, captivating crafts, extraordinary gifts, awe-inspiring art, and so much more. Don't miss out on this extraordinary journey. Click here to embark on an adventure of flavors, culture, and faith with Artza today!

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