Hosting for Hanukkah: The Festival of Light
Hanukkah is the most inclusive Jewish holiday — non-Jewish friends welcome. Here’s how to word an invitation that works for everyone.
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Hanukkah usually falls in December, lasts 8 nights, and is more inclusive than most other Jewish holidays. No complicated rules about who can light the candles (the whole family, non-Jewish friends included), no fasting, plenty of food, and gifts for the kids. It’s the holiday people invite most widely for — here’s how to word the invitation so it works for everyone.
Which night should you pick?
Hanukkah lasts 8 nights. For one big family gathering, many people pick the 1st or the 8th night (the most symbolic one — the fully lit menorah). If you’re hosting more than one evening, state clearly which night it is. The 1st night falls on a different date every year — Tov.events automatically shows the correct Hebrew date once you enter the Gregorian one.
State the exact lighting time
Candle lighting happens at sundown (or shortly after). It’s a central moment — not a logistical detail. Put the precise time on the invitation: "Lighting at 5:32 PM" rather than "starting around 5 PM." Your non-Jewish guests will appreciate knowing exactly when to arrive so they don’t miss the highlight of the evening.
Tip: check the lighting time for your city in a reliable Jewish calendar or with your community, then add it to the invitation text.
Latkes, sufganiyot, sfenj… what to serve?
The Hanukkah menu centers on fried foods — a symbol of the miraculous oil. Latkes (potato pancakes, an Ashkenazi tradition), sufganiyot (filled doughnuts, very popular in Israel), sfenj (North African doughnuts), bimuelos (Judeo-Spanish fritters) or zalabia (syrup-soaked fritters from North Africa and the Middle East): every family has its own specialty. Mention on the invitation what will be served — curious guests will love the detail.
Dreidel games (for the kids)
If you’re expecting children, the dreidel game (a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters) is traditional. Have Hanukkah gelt (chocolate coins) or candy ready as the stakes. Mention "family evening, kids welcome" if that’s the case — otherwise your friends will hesitate about bringing theirs.
Gifts: yes or no?
Modern American Ashkenazi tradition: a small gift per child on each of the 8 nights. Sephardic tradition: no specific gift tradition, mostly Hanukkah gelt (chocolate coins). If you’re expecting non-Jewish guests who aren’t sure what to bring, spell it out on the invitation: "Just come as you are," "A small gift for the kids is appreciated," or "A bottle of wine if you’d like."
For an inclusive Hanukkah: state explicitly, "Hanukkah open to all, Jewish and non-Jewish alike — come celebrate the light with us." That phrasing reassures a lot of friends who feel unsure about coming to a religious holiday.
What if Hanukkah overlaps with Christmas?
About one year in three, Hanukkah overlaps with the Christmas holidays. As a result, your Christian friends have family commitments. Plan ahead: send the invitation 4-6 weeks out (not 2 weeks), so they can fit it into their calendar. If possible, pick a Hanukkah night that doesn’t fall on December 24th or 25th.
To announce your Hanukkah gathering with the Hebrew date shown automatically, build your invitation on Tov.events — free during the beta, in English, French, Hebrew and Spanish.
About — Written by the Tov.events team, who build the tools Jewish families — Sephardic, Ashkenazi, Mizrahi, secular — use for their simchas.
What’s next?
One invitation per household, sent on WhatsApp.
In 4 languages, with the Hebrew date and the replies followed live.
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