DMV Hanukkah Guide 2023 / 5784

**Updated Thursday, December 14th at 4:51 p.m.**

Happy Hanukkah from your friends at GatherDC!

Over the past two months, we’ve been proud to see the way that you’ve come together to support one another in a time of pain and grief. We feel so blessed to be in community with you, and hope that we’ve been able to provide you relief, space to process, and pockets of joy; you certainly have given it all to us.

It’s easy to forget that darkness is temporary. At the end of this month, the days will get longer. Soon, we’ll all once again be walking home in full sunlight, complaining about the humidity. But, even as we know the days will, eventually, lengthen, we can also do our own work to spread light and alleviate the darkness. We light candles and gather together with friends and loved ones. We fry latkes and make sufganiyot. We publicize the miracle. This Hanukkah season, let’s hold one another in the light for as long as possible, knowing that longer, brighter days are coming soon. May we all embrace the moment and remind ourselves of how joyful it can be to be Jewish, together.

Love,

The GatherDC Team

PS: Is there something missing from the Hanukkah Guide? Share upcoming experiences here so we can spread the word! Do you want our calendar (plus blog posts and more!) delivered to your inbox every Wednesday evening? Sign up for our newsletter!

Hanukkah Festivities

Sunday, December 24th

• 11:00 a.m. — Brunch Potluck & Cookie Baking Project with EntryPointDC Cooking Interest Tribe
• 9:00 p.m. — Matzoball
• 9:00 p.m. — The Bagel Ball with DC Jewish Community Organizers

Monday, December 25th

• 10:00 a.m. — History of Jewish Washington with Off the Mall Tours
• 10:30 a.m. — D25 Day of Service with EntryPointDC
• 12:45 p.m. — D25 Day of Service with GLOE

Looking for Gifts?

• Challah Back Hanukkah Taster from Challah Back Girls
• Chanukah Gifts from Baked by Yael
• Enveloped in Light: A Hanukkah Tribute to the Israelis of the Gaza Envelope from B’nai Israel Congregation
• Holiday Gift Boxes from Shop Made in DC
• Jewish Heritage Night tickets from the Washington Wizards
• Judaica and more from the Ruth & Simon Albert Sisterhood Gift Shop
• Judaica from Women of WHC’s Judaica Shop
• Kippot, Earrings, and Wall Hangings from Renaissance Woman Kippot
• Kosher Marshmallows from The PoshMallow

Gift Guides + Roundups

• With Love From Israel
  • “A curated guide of gifts from Israeli businesses and designers”
• These Hanukkah Decorations Will Bring Joy to Your Home from Hey Alma
• The 2023 Ultimate Hanukkah Gift Guide from Hey Alma
• The 8 Best Jewish Cookbooks of 2023 from The Nosher

Food for Hanukkah

Noshing Out?

• Baked By Yael
  • Cakepops, challah, and more available to order
  • Located near Woodley Park Metro, DC
• Baker’s Daughter
  • Pickup and delivery with a Hanukkah “CMB at Home” menu
  • Located near Franklin Park, DC
• Bread Furst Bakery
  • Hanukkah menu available December 7th to December 14th
  • Located near Van Ness-UDC Metro
• Buffalo & Bergen
  • Located near Capitol Hill and inside Union Market, DC
• Call Your Mother
  • Menu includes gluten-free potato latkes
  • Located in Bethesda, MD; North Bethesda, MD; Chevy Chase, MD; Capitol Hill, DC; Petworth, DC; Logan Circle, DC; West End, DC; Georgetown, DC; and McLean, VA
• Celebrity Delly
  • Located in Falls Church, VA
• Challah Back Girls
  • Use code GATHER10 now through Sunday, December 10th for 10% off your order!
  • Check out our blog piece featuring one of CBG’s cofounders!
• District Doughnut
  • Located in Eastern Market, DC; the Wharf, DC; Union Market, DC; and Georgetown, DC
• Donut Run
  • Located in Takoma Park, DC
• Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe
  • Located in Arlington, VA
• Prescription Chicken
  • Can be ordered for pickup near Shaw-Howard Metro
  • Can also be ordered for delivery or gifted!
• RSVP Catering
  • Includes a Hanukkah Prix-Fixe menu under “Holiday 2023”
• Sababa
  • Located in Cleveland Park, DC
• Sunflower Bakery
  • Hanukkah menu available beginning December 1st
  • Located in North Bethesda, MD
• Walla Challah
  • Baked goods to order for delivery

Noshing In?

Sweet

• Bumuelos from The Kosher Channel
• Challah Bread Pudding from NYT Cooking
• Hanukkah Gelt from Delish
• Instant Pot Applesauce from Delish
• Olive Oil Chocolate Cake from NYT Cooking
• Strawberry Sufganiyot from Bon Appetit
• Sufganiyot (Orange-Scented Jelly Doughnuts) from NYT Cooking
• These Are the Easiest 2-Ingredient Hanukkah Cookies from The Nosher

Savory

• Crispy Vegan Gluten-Free Latkes from Minimalist Baker
• Pure Potato Latkes from NYT Cooking
• Rösti from Bon Appetit
• Savory Shabakia from Adeena Sussman

Recipe Roundups

• Our Best Chanukah Recipes from Kosher.com
• Recipes for a Festive Hanukkah from ReformJudaism.org
• Recipes for Hanukkah from My Jewish Learning
• 18 Hanukkah Cocktails and Drinks to Keep you Cozy After Candle-Lighting from Rebekah Lowin
• 30 Hanukkah Appetizers To Turn Your Festival Of Lights Into A Party from Delish
• 31 Hanukkah Recipes to Celebrate the Festival of Lights from Bon Appetit
• 39 Latke Recipes to Try this Hanukkah from Hey Alma

Readings and Other Resources

Traditions, Rituals, and How-Tos

• Hanukkah At Home Guide from Washington Hebrew Congregation
• Hanukkah Holiday Glossary from Chabad.org
• Hanukkah 2023 from My Jewish Learning
• Hanukkah: The Basics from 18Doors
• How to Light the Hanukkah Menorah from My Jewish Learning
• Shine A Light Shabbat Dinner Guide from OneTable
• Shine A Light Conversation Guide from OneTable
• The Surprising Origin of the Dreidel from My Jewish Learning
• Why Do We Eat Latkes on Hanukkah? by Aly Miller

Reflections and Other Fun Reads

• Celebrating the Holidays as an Interfaith Couple by Andrea Deck
• Dollar Tree’s Thrilling Hanukkah Items, Ranked from Hey Alma
• My Friends Taught Me How to be Jewish by Gilani Sumida-Moiseff
• Publicizing the Miracle: Jewish Pride, Hope, and Vulnerability This Hanukkah by Rabbi Ilana Zietman
• Sadie and Sunny Sandler Have Feelings About ‘The Chanukah Song’ from Hey Alma
• The Best Hanukkah Gift Won’t Actually Cost You Anything by Leila Sales
• This Might Be the Jewish Interfaith Holiday Movie You’ve Been Waiting For by Lily Rose
• You Can Celebrate Hanukkah Meaningfully As an Adult by Rabbi Ilana Zietman
• You Need to Know About North Africa’s Feminist Hanukkah Tradition by Rishe Groner
• 8 Hanukkah Questions, Asked and Answered by the GatherDC Staff

The views and opinions expressed by the organizations featured on this guide and on this website are solely those of the original organizations. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the organization GatherDC, the GatherDC staff, the GatherDC board, and/or any/all contributors to this site.