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Hanukkah Activities for Toddlers and Twos
Keep the little ones entertained with a clay dough menorah, discovery bottles, cookie cutter stamps, and a candle matching game.
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.”
Hanukkah Reconsidered: A Split in the Jewish Soul
I grew up loving this holiday – until I learned the dark side and felt like a kid discovering that there’s no Santa Claus. It turns out Hanukkah is, in part, a tale of Jew vs. Jew.
Reclaiming the Public Square with Hanukkah Lights
According to Rashi, we light Hanukkah candles to “publicize the miracle.” What exactly is the miracle we’re publicizing – and what’s the best way for us to do so today?
Inspired 5781: More Art, More Awe
I grew up going to services. A lot of services. I was adept at counting the ceiling tiles, reaching into the thousands as my grasp of numbers grew more sophisticated. The melodies became part of my life soundtrack; I hummed them as my mind wandered during the rabbi’s sermon.
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.
How to Help Young Children Embrace the Spirit of Hanukkah
BimBam’s animated videos spark connections to Judaism with compelling and engaging digital storytelling for kids, parents, and educators. Check out these Hanukkah videos.
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?
This Yom Kippur, Let Your Emotions Serve as "Radical Blessings"
As we no longer serve God through temple sacrifices, many Jews have come to understand the entire world, in essence, to be God’s temple. This year, I believe we have vandalized God’s temple with the blood of the innocent.