What activity is commonly associated with the celebration of Hanukkah?

The celebration of Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is primarily associated with the lighting of a menorah. This ritual commemorates the miracle that occurred during the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem when a small amount of oil, enough to last for one day, lasted for eight days. Each night of Hanukkah, an additional candle is lit on the menorah until all eight candles, plus the shamash (the helper candle), are lit on the final night. This tradition symbolizes hope, perseverance, and the enduring faith of the Jewish people.

Other choices, such as running a torch to the temple, building a sukkah, or reading the Torah, are related to different Jewish traditions and holidays. For instance, building a sukkah is specifically associated with the harvest festival of Sukkot, not Hanukkah, while reading the Torah is a practice that occurs throughout the Jewish calendar and isn’t specific to Hanukkah celebrations.