Country: israel
Relevant dates: December 6-10. To catch the candle lighting, the ideal time to start the tour would be 16:30 Jerusalem time (9:45am ET in the USA; 2:30pm in the UK). Join me for a most unusual walk through the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem on one of the eight evenings of Hanukkah. This is the time of year when the stone alleyways fill with small flames, and the whole neighborhood takes on a different character after dark. On Hanukkah it is customary to light candles in a place where they can be seen publicly, such as a front window. In the Jewish Quarter, because of the way the neighbourhood is built, many families light their candles outside instead - in the alleyways, in the doorways and in the courtyards, for everyone to see. You will walk past one glass box after another, each with its own row of flames growing by one each night. You will also see the Hanukkiyot themselves, the candle holders known in English as Hanukkah menorahs. They come in every shape and material, from plain and practical to elaborate and ornate, and together they light up the whole quarter. Almost every evening of the holiday, thousands of people arrive from all over Israel simply to watch the candles being lit and to look at the variety on display. Along the way we will visit some of the historical sites of the Jewish Quarter, and we will come to the Western Wall, where a huge Hanukkiya stands above the plaza. Seeing it lit, with the ancient stones behind it, is one of the strongest images this season offers in Jerusalem. Come and see how the residents of the Jewish Quarter celebrate the holiday, street by street.
Your guide: Joe Freedman