Hanukkah at the Kotel: One-sided candle lighting sparks further call for gender equality at the Western Wall

Lighting the Hanukkiah candles on the eigth night of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem Old City, January 01, 2025. Photo by Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90

The lighting of the Hanukkiah on the eighth and final night of Hanukkah is always a deeply moving experience at the Kotel (Western Wall) in Jerusalem. This year, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation marked the occasion of the eight-night Festival of Lights, also known as the Feast of Dedication, with a special schedule of honorees and speakers each night at the week-long event.