Here’s How the US Military Celebrates Hanukkah

Hanukkah is, at its core, the religious and cultural commemoration of a decisive, ancient Jewish military victory.

In 168 BCE, the Syrian army took over Jerusalem, banning Judaism and its observance and renaming the holy temple for Zeus. In response, a small group of Hebrew resistance fighters led by Judah Maccabee routed the Syrian army in two major battles and drove them from the city. Tradition holds that, when the Maccabees entered the desecrated temple, they found a small jar of oil that would keep the synagogue’s eternal light burning for one day. Instead, the oil was enough for eight days. For that reason, Hanukkah is often known as the Festival of Lights and celebrated by lighting the menorah for eight consecutive nights.

Statistics vary, but it is estimated that anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 U.S. service members identify as Jewish. Hanukkah is a celebration of military might, identity and heritage; perhaps it is most appropriate, then, that many Jewish service members and their families celebrate Hanukkah wherever Uncle Sam sends them.

Here’s what Hanukkah festivities look like on base, at war, on ships and everywhere in between:

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, 2018

Rabbi Warren Yonatan, right, reads the Talmud to chaplain Les Skikorski, middle, and Lt. Cmdr. Rick Chernitzer during a Hanukkah celebration in the chapel aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), Dec. 4, 2018. (Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jairus P. Bailey/U.S. Navy photo)

Hanscomb AFB, Massachusetts, 2017

Howard Worona lights the menorah as members of the Hanscom Air Force Base community in Massachusetts gather. — Howard Worona lights the menorah as members of the Hanscom Air Force Base community in Massachusetts gather outside the chapel Dec. 12, 2017. (Walter Santos/U.S Air Force photo)

FOB Lagman, Afghanistan, 2011

A menorah is lit to commemorate Hanukkah at the Forward Operating Base Lagman chapel in Zabul province, Afghanistan. — A menorah is lit to commemorate Hanukkah at the Forward Operating Base Lagman chapel in Zabul province, Afghanistan, Dec. 24, 2011. (Photo by Sgt. Christopher McCullough)

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, 2017

World War II veteran May Brill, center, participates in a Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony. — Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Nelson L. Mellitz, right, steadies World War II veteran May Brill, center, post honorary commander, Jewish War Veterans Post 126, during a Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony hosted by Lt. Col. Yaakov B. Bindell, back, full-time support chaplain, New Jersey National Guard, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Dec. 18, 2017. (Mark C. Olsen/National Guard photo)

Camp Kosciuszko, Poland, 2022

U.S. Army Col. Shmuel Felzenberg, a chaplain assigned to V Corps, reads the blessings at Camp Kosciuszko, Poznan, Poland. — U.S. Army Col. Shmuel Felzenberg, a chaplain assigned to V Corps, reads the blessings at Camp Kosciuszko, Poznan, Poland, Dec. 23, 2022. (Sgt. James Liker/U.S. Army photo)

Travis AFB, California, 2023

Maj. Andrew Wagner, 9th Air Refueling Squadron flight doctor, holds his son, Everett, left and daughter, Emerson, right, while watching the Travis Air Force Base menorah lighting ceremony at Travis AFB, California. — Maj. Andrew Wagner, 9th Air Refueling Squadron flight doctor, holds his son, Everett, left and daughter, Emerson, right, while watching the Travis Air Force Base menorah lighting ceremony at Travis AFB, California Dec.12, 2023. (Randy Couch/U.S. Air Force photo)

MCAS Miramar, 2013

Capt. Irving Elson, a chaplain with I Marine Expeditionary Force, prepares the menorah lighting for Hanukkah at the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Headquarters building aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Dec. 2, 2013. (Lance Cpl. Michael Thorn/U.S. Marine Corps photo)

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Maryland, 2022

Rabbi Randy Brown, of the Department of Pastoral Care at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and Navy chaplain (Cmdr.) Joseph Blair Sr., clinical chaplain at WRNMMC, hosted a special ceremony marking the first day of Hanukkah on Dec. 19, 2022. (Photo by Harvey A. Duze)

Joint Base Balad, Iraq, 2008

Capt. Andrew Cohen leads the Sabbath evening worship during the 6th day of Hanukkah at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. — Capt. Andrew Cohen leads the Sabbath evening worship during the 6th day of Hanukkah at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Dec. 26, 2008. (Senior Airman Jason Epley/U.S. Air Force photo)

USS Nimitz, 2022

U.S. Navy sailors celebrate the first night of Hanukkah aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. — U.S. Navy sailors celebrate the first night of Hanukkah aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Dec. 18, 2022. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Hannah Kantner/U.S. Navy photo)

Camp Striker, Iraq, 2007

Spc. Daniel Oster, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, meditates after lighting a menorah on Dec. 4, 2007, at the Camp Striker Chapel, Baghdad. (Photo by Spc. Monica Guthrie)

Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, 2020

U.S. Army Maj. Kenneth May, deputy command chaplain at U.S. Army Central Command forward, plays the guitar for attendees of a menorah lighting ceremony on Dec. 10, 2020, on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. (Sgt. Khylee Woodford/U.S. Army Reserve photo)

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