Hanukkah is simply across the nook, and New Yorkers are able to have fun the comfortable challah-days.
This festive season in NYC can really feel like a smack within the face of all issues Christmas, however the Competition of Lights — starting at sunset on Sunday, Dec. 14, and ending at sunset on Monday, Dec. 22 — additionally shines brightly presently of 12 months. There are many occasions and actions occurring right here to correctly commemorate the joyous Jewish vacation.
Listed here are a few of the lit occasions to take a look at this 12 months.
World’s largest menorah(s)
Two menorahs battling over the title of “world’s largest” — one in Manhattan, the opposite in Brooklyn — will gentle up each boroughs every night time of Hanukkah beginning this weekend.
The official victor — based on Guinness World Information, which cited it in 2006 — is a 32-foot-tall, 4,000-pound construction erected at Midtown’s Grand Military Plaza, Fifth Avenue and 59th Road, throughout from the Plaza Lodge. Its rival, a menorah at Brooklyn’s Grand Military Plaza, additionally tops off at 32 toes, however there may be debate that it could also be taller by a half-foot as a result of its shamash, or heart candle, provides about six uncounted inches to its peak. Nevertheless, a consultant for Guinness informed The Submit that the most important menorah is measured by the general peak/size of the menorah, excluding candles.
The Manhattan menorah will comply with this lighting schedule:
- Dec. 14 by way of 18, and Dec. 21: 5:30 p.m.
- Dec 19: 3:45 p.m.
- Dec 20: 8:30 p.m.
The Brooklyn lightings will happen on:
- Dec. 14 and 21: 5 p.m.
- Dec. 15 by way of 8: 6 p.m.
- Dec. 19: 3:30 p.m.
- Dec. 20: 7:15 p.m.
In Brooklyn, the musical group Pumpidisa will host a kickoff live performance at 4 p.m. on the 14th, earlier than the lighting; every night time may have reside music, scorching latkes and presents for youngsters.
Dec. 14 to 21; Grand Military Plaza, Fifth Avenue on the north aspect of 59th Road at Central Park, Midtown; Grand Military Park at Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn
Shine Vibrant at Hudson Yards
Kick off Hanukkah at Shine Vibrant at Hudson Yards with a menorah lighting and celebration on Dec. 15, at round 4:30 p.m.
Offered by Wells Fargo in partnership with Chabad of Midtown, the Public Sq. and Gardens may have each day lightings at sunset. Visitors can get pleasure from different vacation festivities at Hudson Yards after the ceremony, such because the glittering vacation gentle show or a scorching chocolate pop-up on the close by La Maison du Chocolat.
Dec. 15 to 22; eleventh Avenue and Hudson Boulevard
Chanukah menorah lighting and celebration at Seaport
One of many extra distinctive menorah lightings within the metropolis — if seeing the “world’s largest” too ho-hum for you — will happen at The Seaport, which is able to have fun the season with a six-foot Hanukkah lamp made from LEGOs.
The annual neighborhood occasion, hosted by the Chabad Jewish Middle of FiDi, will likely be 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14, and can characteristic latkes, scorching chocolate, reside music, arts and crafts, face portray and a musical efficiency by the FiDi Hebrew Faculty.
The celebration is free, however an RSVP is inspired.
Dec. 14 at 3 p.m.; Heineken Riverdeck at Pier 17, 89 South St.
Chanukah on Ice
Central Park guests can skate below the festive lights at Wollman Rink from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, throughout Chanukah on Ice NYC 2025.
Basic admission tickets for the occasion, that includes a reside DJ, kosher treats and a menorah lighting, value $35 till 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13; they go as much as $40 from Dec. 14 by way of midday on Dec.16. Youngsters below 2 years previous skate free; tickets embrace skate leases, meals and drinks.
Dec. 16 at 6 p.m.; Wollman Rink | 830 Fifth Ave.
MatzoBall 2025
In the event you’re Jewish, single and able to mingle, take a look at Matzoball, the annual ceremony of passage for these trustworthy with nothing to do on Christmas Eve.
“The nation’s No. 1 Jewish Singles Vacation Social gathering,” because it’s billed, brings collectively non-coupled of us — some already utilizing the Jewzz courting app, created by the occasion founders — for an evening of schmoozing, dancing and, of their G-rated evaluation, “romantic prospects.”
MatzoBall is for folks 21 and over, kicking off at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and shutting down at 4 a.m. on Christmas Day. Tickets are $55, or $80 for a VIP, line-skipping “quick move” ticket. Desk costs vary from $235 to $407.
Dec. 24 at 10 p.m.; Musica | 637 W. fiftieth St.
The Jazzukkah Venture
The musicians behind The Jazzukkah Venture have fun the vacation by reimagining songs resembling “Ma’oz Tzur,” “I Have a Little Dreidle” and “Sevivon” as electrical jazz tunes.
Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Grove NYC | 125 MacDougal St.
‘Leaping off the Roof’
Elana Polin‘s cheekily named one-woman musical, “Leaping Off the Roof” explores the seven-member household from the basic “Fiddler on the Roof” in a parody from the females’ perspective.
The play asks: What actually occurs to Tzeitel within the New World? How does she actually really feel about Motel, the tailor? And the way has the Dairyman mentality and group protected and ready her for all times?
Dec. 13 to fifteen at 3:30 p.m.; The Triad Theater | 158 West 72nd St.
The 8 Nights of Hanukkah with Yo La Tengo
Indie rock band Yo La Tengo is again with their annual Hanukkah run at Bowery Ballroom — a convention in New York Metropolis practically yearly since 2001.
They may carry out totally different setlists every night time of Hanukkah from Dec. 14 by way of 21.
Dec. 14 to 21 at 7:30 p.m.; 6 Delancey St.
Zamir Choral Basis Hanukkah Live performance
On Saturday, Dec. 13, Zamir Chorale, a premier Hebrew singing choir in North America, and Zamir Noded, a Jewish choir for younger professionals, will collaborate on a live performance performed by maestro Matthew Lazar.
“Celebrating Hanukkah: Jewish Independence, Resilience and Hope” will characteristic each ensembles singing individually and collectively. Tickets can be found on-line for $40 for balcony seats and $65 for orchestra.
Dec. 13 at 8 p.m.; Merkin Corridor at Kaufman Music Middle | 129 W. 67th St.
The Nice Chanukah Doughnut Duel 2025
The annual battle for the “Golden Doughnut trophy” is billed because the “final vacation showdown” to seek out Hanukkah’s greatest candy deal with within the Large Apple.
Hosted by comic Eitan Levine, NYC’s prime cooks will go head-to-head at The Moxy Williamsburg on Dec. 16, bringing their most artistic sufganiyah — the spherical jelly doughnut pastry eaten around the globe in the course of the Jewish vacation — to the neighborhood.
Visitors will pattern daring, over-the-top doughnuts and forged votes to assist determine this 12 months’s champion. Tickets can be found on-line for $36.
Dec. 16 at 7 p.m.; The Moxy Williamsburg | 353 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn
Hanukkah meals choices in NYC
After all, together with occasions, there are many notable meals choices throughout NYC for Hanukkah. With every little thing from conventional vacation eats to artistic spins on classics, listed below are some choices for the foodies:
Mama Mezze
Chef Einat Admony at Mama Mezze will serve a crispy latke with apple bitter cream, combining the 2 extremely debated toppings into one. The apples are roasted with Aleppo pepper, honey, rosemary and thyme, then blended with yogurt and bitter cream.
1123 Broadway
Acadia
For Hanukkah dinner from Dec. 14 by way of 22, Acadia presents a ltkes particular with freshly grated latkes and a broad vary of toppings, resembling smoked salmon, lamb ragu, silan-ginger applesauce, schug, sweet-and-sour harissa, and tahina–amba. In addition they serve a crispy potato latke with two eggs, smoked salmon and labneh at lunch and brunch year-round.
101 W. 57th St.
Russ & Daughters
Russ & Daughters areas will serve their basic, gold-standard potato latkes, handmade in small batches. They arrive with applesauce or bitter cream, with the choice so as to add smoked salmon or roe.
179 E. Houston St. | 127 Orchard St. | 502 W. thirty fourth St. | 141 Flushing Ave.
Gertie
Gertie’s will provide three latkes with mix-and-match toppings, resembling apple butter and bitter cream, lox with dill, hot-and-cold smoked salmon with scorching honey mayo, pickled herring, tuna soften or reuben-style.
602 Vanderbilt Ave., Brooklyn
12 Chairs Café
12 Chairs Café has a Hanukkah-only latke, served with basic toppings resembling bitter cream and applesauce, plus Center Jap-forward sides together with labneh and smoked salmon.
From Dec. 15 by way of 22, each SoHo and Williamsburg areas will serve sufganiyot, and candles will likely be lit at 6 p.m. nightly all through the vacation.
56 MacDougal St. | 342 Wythe Ave., Brooklyn
Misi
Williamsburg’s Misi is bringing an Italian twist to Hanukkah, serving latkes with whipped ricotta and rosemary apple butter, accessible for vacation pre-order.
329 Kent Ave.
Levantine
Head to Levantine in Williamsburg to get candy potato latkes with a yogurt-chive dip, a contemporary variation on the crispy vacation normal.
361 Graham Ave.
Edith’s
There are a number of latke-centric dishes at Edith’s this vacation season, together with the BEC&L, a bacon-egg-cheese on a crispy latke; bite-size Totkes; and a Latke, Egg & Cheese on a bagel or malawach.
495 Lorimer St.
Miriam
Miriam will likely be serving their beloved gluten-free chickpea latkes, made extra-crispy with chickpea flour, for Hanukkah this 12 months, due to a trick handed down from chef and proprietor Rafael “Rafi” Hasid’s mom.
Plus, the restaurant may have house-made raspberry sufganiyot dusted generously in powdered sugar, in addition to DIY-style latkes, which may have add-ons like labneh, smoked salmon, salmon roe, applesauce and crudités.
The specials will likely be accessible in any respect eating places — Park Slope, Higher West Aspect, Higher East Aspect and West Village — from Dec. 14 by way of 22.
300 Amsterdam Ave. | 79 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn | 140 Seventh Ave. South | 973 Lexington Ave. | 81 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn
Miznon
Miznon will provide latkes in any respect of its New York Metropolis areas from Dec. 14 by way of 22. The dish comes with 4 golden potato variations, served with Miznon’s wealthy, tangy Runover Cream, for $16.
435 W. fifteenth St. | 30 Rockefeller Plaza | 601 Lexington Ave. | 20 Hudson Yards, Ground 2 | 1410 Broadway
Hank Schwartz’s Delicatessen & Appetizing
This Jewish deli positioned in Jersey Metropolis wished to supply company one thing sudden this Hanukkah, so on the ultimate night time, proprietor Jason Stahl will debut The Feast of the Smoked & Cured Fishes.
Impressed by Stahl’s spouse, who serves up a conventional Italian feast of the seven fishes on Christmas Eve, the fish charcuterie board — a.ok.a. “seacuterie” — will characteristic as much as eight smoked and cured fish, one for every night time of Hanukkah.
Swimmers will embrace citrus gravlax, Nova smoked salmon, buttery sablefish, maple bacon salmon sweet, jazzed-up whitefish unfold, matjes herring, fish roe and smoked trout.
