The Meaning of Chanukah (and why it’s important even if you aren’t Jewish) By Hank Silverberg (Chanukah Menorah lit for first night , downtown Fredericksburg, VA Photo courtesy ,Anna Loftis) The Jewish Festival of Lights—Chanukah (or Hanukkah) is this week. It is an eight-day festival, considered a minor holiday on the Jewish calendar. The celebration has grown over the last century among 6.9 million Jews in America, because most years Chanukah falls about the same time as Christmas. But despite people’s misconception, the two holidays have no connection. Some facts about Chanukah: *Chanukah is NOT the Jewish Christmas. It has nothing to do with Jesus. *When it is celebrated is based on the Hebrew calendar, which is based on the Lunar calendar. It has ten months of varying lengths. So, the eight-day holiday can occur anywhere between Halloween and New Year’s Day, depending on the lunar cycle. *Presents were not traditionally a big p