30+ Memorable and Thoughtful Hanukkah Quotes

Hanukkah Quotes – If you are unfamiliar with the holiday of Hanukkah, it is a Jewish wintertime “festival of lights” that lasts eight days and celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods. Like any other holiday, the Jewish festival has a fair share of quotes about it.

From thoughtful lines on the meaning of Hanukkah to memorable quotes to things related to the holiday like the candles, there is a lot you can say about Hanukkah. Generally, there are a variety of perspectives on the holiday and many can be thought-provoking. Some notable Hanukkah quote that leaves you thinking are as follows:

• “Hanukkah is about the spark of the divine in all of us made in God’s image.” – Suzanne Fields
• “Hanukkah is about the freedom to be true to what we believe without denying the freedom of those who believe otherwise.” – Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
• “Hanukkah is a time to come together with loved ones, to celebrate our heritage and to spread hope and joy to all.” – Chelsea Handler
• “Hanukkah is a holiday that reminds us of the power of perseverance and determination, even in the face of great odds.” – Joel Osteen
• “Hanukkah is a time for joy and togetherness, a time to celebrate our heritage and our faith.” – Bernie Sanders
• “The lights of Hanukkah remind us that even when things seem dark, there is always hope for a brighter future.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• “The true meaning of Hanukkah is about the triumph of the human spirit, and the power of hope to sustain us even in the darkest of times.” – Ari Emanuel
• “The story of Hanukkah is one of resilience and perseverance, of a people who refused to give up their beliefs and traditions in the face of great adversity.” – Michael Bloomberg
• “Is not Hanukkah a symbol of Israel, and its light a symbol of his immortality?” – Leo Jung
• “May the miracle of Hanukkah bring light to your life, and may its spirit of hope and renewal inspire you always.” – Ruth Westheimer
• “May the lights of Hanukkah bring warmth and joy to your home, and may its message of hope and renewal be with you always.” – Barbara Streisand
• “A little more fun, a little more love, a little more light every night. That’s the joy of Hanukkah.”

Additional Hanukkah Quotes

• “The proper response, as Hanukkah teaches, is not to curse the darkness but to light a candle.” – Irving Greenberg
• “The spirit of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is shared by all people who love freedom.” – Norma Simon
• “The true gift of Hanukkah is the gift of family, of love, and of tradition.” – Paul Simon
• “The miracle of Hanukkah is not only in the oil that burned for eight days, but in the courage and faith that inspired the Maccabees to fight for what they believed in.” – Howard Schultz
• “Just as Hanukkah candles are lighted one by one from a single flame, so the tale of the miracle is passed from one man to another, from one house to another, and to the whole House of Israel throughout the generations.” – Judah Leon Magnes
• “The lights of the Hanukkah menorah that we kindle in our homes are a reminder both of the Menorah in the Temple in Jerusalem and the light that shines brightly within each one of us. For as it says in Proverbs 20:27: The candle of God is the soul of man.” – Libi Astaire
• “Like the Maccabees, most people want the right to pray to God in their own way. This right is called freedom of religion. The spirit of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is shared by all people who love freedom.” – Norma Simon
• “On Hanukkah, some people ask: Why couldn’t we light all eight candles in one night instead of having to light a new one for each of eight nights? It is because Hanukkah is not merely a cause for celebrations; it is a trial of perseverance.” – Simon Nguyen
• “Eight days the light continued on its own: A miracle, they say, but not more so Than ordinary lives of flesh and bone, Consuming wicks burned ashen long ago” – Nicholas Gordon
• “I like the size of the Hanukkah miracle; no parting of red seas, just a story about finding extra oil when you didn’t think had any and you really needed it and all the stores were closed. That’s the kind of miracle with which I am familiar, along with the miracle of good food and feeding people I love.” – Anita Diamant
• “The commandment to light the Hanukkah lamp is an exceedingly precious one, and one should be particularly careful to fulfill it. In order to make known the miracle, and to offer additional praise … to God for the Wonders which He has wrought for us.” – Maimonides
• “This Chanukah, the menorah will once again see light. And as I and my family light it, we will say a special prayer in honor of those whose memories it represents. We will not let its lights go out again.” – Dr. Blair P. Grubb

Other Related Lines

• “At this time of year, when the sun is most hidden, the holiday of Hanukkah celebrates the rays of hope and light. Often, it is through simple and unrecognized miracles that we are able to feel the warmth of hope and light.” – Rafael Goldstein
• “What I find fascinating about Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights we celebrate at this time of the year, is the way its story was transformed by time.” – Jonathan Sacks
• “Eight days the light continued on its own: A miracle, they say, but not more so Than ordinary lives of flesh and bone, Consuming wicks burned ashen long ago” – Nicholas Gordon
• “This is the season when people of all faiths and cultures are pushing back against the planetary darkness. We string bulbs, ignite bonfires, and light candles. And we sing.”- Anita Diamant
• “I can remember the menorah, reflected against the wintry darkness of the bay window in my parents’ living room…” – Dani Shapiro
• “This is the season when people of all faiths and cultures are pushing back against the planetary darkness. We string bulbs, ignite bonfires, and light candles. And we sing.” – Anita Diamant
• “Religion is a candle inside a multicolored lantern. Everyone looks through a particular color, but the candle is always there.” – Mohammed Naguib
• “Blessed is the match consumed in kindling flame. Blessed is the flame that burns in the secret fastness of the heart.” – Hannah Senesh
• “There always were two ways to live in a world that is often dark and full of tears. We can curse the darkness or we can light a light, and as the Chassidim say, a little light drives out much darkness. May we all help light up the world.” – Rabbi Jonathan Sacks Z
• “When we share something material, we are left with less of what we started. But currencies of spirit, elements such as light, love and knowledge, defy these physical conditions—they increase as they are shared and become eternal. On Chanukah when we use one flame to light another, the glow is not halved – the light is multiplied.” – Micaela Ezra

If you enjoyed these quotes, check out our Sweet and Romantic Christmas Messages and Thanksgiving Quotes.