Displaying 1 - 10 of 17
Habari Gani? How My Family is Melding Kwanzaa and Hanukkah Customs
As we each shared some favorite holiday memories, my partner asked, “So what does each candle of Hanukkah symbolize?” Puzzled, I asked him to explain what he meant. “You know, like for Kwanzaa.”
Eight Ways to Make Every Night of Hanukkah Shine
Here are eight wonderful things about Hanukkah, one for each night, that can enhance our celebrations of this beloved holiday.
Can Jews Get Married on Shabbat?
For centuries, Jewish custom has prohibited marriages at specific dates and times during the Jewish year.
Finding Shabbat When the Holiday’s Magic Seems to Have Disappeared
When my son Sammy was in preschool, Shabbat was magical.
Hanukkah Stories: The Miracle of the Expanding Oil
One of the most delightful aspects of Hanukkah is observing its central mitzvah: lighting Hanukkah candles and saying the accompanying blessings. The commandment was sparked by an event that took in the 2nd century BCE.
Teach (and Practice) a New Jewish Value Each Night of Hanukkah
Assign a different Jewish value each one day of Hanukkah and plan appropriate activities for your family. The idea of activities is not simply doing for doing’s sake, but doing for the sake of learning. Be sure to reflect and talk afterward!
A Brief History of Latkes: Why We Really Eat Them on Hanukkah
So you think you know why we eat latkes for Hanukkah? The miracle of the oil lasting for eight days instead of one, right? Maybe. Did that really happen or did we need it to happen?
How a Day of Rest Can Save Your Life
Not in her wildest dreams, could Marilyn Paul have imagined that she would ever take a day off every week to calm her soul, and write a book about it. Learn her story.
Shabbat: A Break from Busyness as Usual
There is so much left at the end of the day for which I have no time or energy that I often wonder if I'll be able to get to some of the projects on my to-do list before Pesach.
Fun-to-Make Hanukkah Lanterns
Celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, with hanging and tabletop lanterns. Here are two fun and easy activities to do by yourself or with your family. Perhaps you'll create a new Hanukkah tradition!