Is Chanukah a major Jewish holiday?
That depends on your definition of “major.” Many define major Jewish holidays as those that feature traditional holiday meals, kiddush, holiday candle lighting, etc., and when work is forbidden. Only biblical holidays fit this criteria, and Chanukah was instituted some two centuries after the Bible was completed and canonized. Nevertheless, though Chanukah is of rabbinic origin, it is traditionally celebrated in a “major” and very public fashion. The requirement to position the Chanukah Menorah at the door or window symbolizes our desire to give the Chanukah miracle a “high profile.
