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Let's Keep the Flame of Religious Freedom Burning Bright
The holiday of Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the Maccabee resistance over the Syrians led by Antiochus Epiphanes. The Syrians had taken over Jerusalem, desecrated the holy Temple, abolished Judaism, prohibited observance of Shabbat and the Festivals, in addition to outlawing critical Jewish rites like circumcision. The Jews were given two options by Antiochus, conversion or death.
The first night of Hanukkah -- 25 Kislev -- commemorates the day the Temple was renamed for the Greek god Zeus, and the resistance movement led by the Maccabees developed. The Maccabees, led by Mattathias and Judah, ousted the Syrians and restored Jerusalem to the Jewish people.
How Many Jews Does it Take to Screw in a Light Bulb?
Green Kislev and Hanukkah Challenge to Use CFL Light Bulbs
Welcome to December and the Jewish month of Kislev! Hanukkah, the Festival of Light, is just around the corner and as the days shorten towards the winter equinox later this month, it seems fitting to focus on how we light our houses for this month’s Green Challenge.Can I use artificial lights in my Hanukkah menorah?
There are certain places that do not permit open flames, including hospitals, nursing homes, and dorm rooms. What should Jews in these spaces do for Hanukkah?
How Do We Light the Hanukkah Menorah?
A menorah refers to a candelabrum, usually one with seven branches.
Why do we eat latkes on Hanukkah?
A common explanation is that we eat latkes (potato pancakes) because they are cooked in oil and this remind us of the miracle that a single cruse of oil found in the Temple lasted for eight nights.
The Latest Bzzzzz: Our Work to Fight Malaria Continues
As we approach the joyful holiday season, it is important to remember the challenges that so many across the world continue to face. Malaria, which is transmitted from the bite of a single mosquito, causes 200 million illnesses per year and kills more than 600,000 people, most of whom are children under the age of five. Jewish tradition teaches us that human life is sacred because all of humanity is created b’tselem Elohim, in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). Thus, we must make sure to treat each life with equal value, and fight this disease that is both treatable and preventable.
8 Experiential Hanukkah Gifts to Teach Kids About Jewish Values
They're everywhere these days: ads for toys show up on TV, in shop windows, and throughout your Facebook newsfeed. When you're a parent to kids who have been mentally compiling their Hanukkah wish lists since autumn began, it can be difficult not to get swept up in the consumerism that often accompanies the holiday season.
Jeremy's Dreidel
At a dreidel-making workshop, Jeremy’s friends think that he is molding a secret code on his clay dreidel. However, they soon find out that he is really making a special gift: a dreidel with Braille letters on it for his father, who is blind.
5 Kinds of Incredible, Edible Hanukkah Menorahs
The best part? Your family can gobble up your homemade hanukkiyot while the Hanukkah candles are burning!
History: The Hanukkah Story
Although according to Jewish custom Hanukkah is considered a “minor” Jewish festival, today it ranks—along with Passover and Purim—as one of the most beloved Jewish holidays, full of light and joy and family celebration.