A Hanukkah out of office message tells the people emailing you three things: that you are away, when you will reply, and who to contact if something cannot wait. Below are 10 ready-to-copy messages for Hanukkah 2026, which begins at sundown on Friday, December 4 and ends after nightfall on Saturday, December 12. Hanukkah is not a federal holiday, so most offices stay open: use these if you take time off, or if your team closes on the days you choose. Fill in the brackets with your own dates.
What a good Hanukkah out of office message says
- The dates you are away, as a weekday and a date, such as "Monday, December 7", so nobody checks a calendar.
- When you will reply, as a day, not "soon".
- A person to contact for anything urgent, with an email address.
- One warm line, if it suits you. It is optional.
Professional Hanukkah out of office messages
Thank you for your email. I am out of the office from [start date] to [end date] for Hanukkah and will reply when I am back on [return date]. For anything urgent, please contact [colleague name] at [colleague email].
Thank you for your message. I am away for Hanukkah and checking email only occasionally. I will respond by [return date]. If your request cannot wait, [colleague name] can help at [colleague email].
Our team is out on [dates] for Hanukkah. Your message has reached us, and we will reply on [return date].
Short Hanukkah out of office messages
Thanks for your email. I am out for Hanukkah and back on [return date].
Away for Hanukkah until [return date]. For urgent matters, please email [colleague email].
Happy Hanukkah. I will reply when I am back on [return date].
Warm Hanukkah out of office messages
Happy Hanukkah. I am away with family until [return date] and will answer your email then. For anything urgent, please contact [colleague name] at [colleague email].
Wishing you a bright Hanukkah. I am out of the office until [return date] and will reply when I am back.
Office closed for Hanukkah (for customers)
Our office is closed on [dates] in observance of Hanukkah and reopens on [return date]. We will answer your message then. For urgent matters, please email [support email].
Happy Hanukkah from all of us at [company]. We are closed on [dates] and back on [return date].
How to set an automatic reply in Gmail
Google calls it the vacation responder. Per Gmail Help:
- On your computer, open Gmail.
- At the top right, click Settings, then See all settings.
- Under the General tab, go to the Vacation responder section.
- Select Vacation responder on.
- Fill in the date range, subject and message.
- At the bottom of the page, click Save Changes.
How to set an automatic reply in Outlook
Microsoft's steps for the new Outlook for Windows:
- On the View tab, select View settings.
- Select Accounts, then Automatic Replies.
- Turn on automatic replies.
- Select Send replies only during a time period, and enter the start and end times.
- Write your message, then select Save.
Automatic replies in Outlook work for Exchange and Microsoft 365 accounts, not for Gmail, Yahoo or other POP and IMAP accounts added to Outlook.
Put the dates in your signature too
An automatic reply only answers mail that comes in. A line under your signature carries the dates on every email you send before the break: "Out for Hanukkah December 7 to 11, back December 14." The holiday email signature page shows a company-wide version: one seasonal line under everyone's signature, set once and taken off afterward. For more holiday messages, see the holiday out of office guide and the Thanksgiving out of office messages.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Hanukkah out of office message?
A good Hanukkah out of office message says you are away, gives the return date, and names who to contact if something cannot wait. For example: "I am out for Hanukkah and back on [return date]. For urgent matters, please email [colleague email]."
When is Hanukkah in 2026?
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4 and ends after nightfall on Saturday, December 12.
Should I mention Hanukkah in my out of office message?
You can, and you do not have to. Saying "away" with the dates is enough; add "for Hanukkah" if you want people to know why.