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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.”
Learn About Israel with Shalom Sesame
Learn about Israel's history and culture with Grover and friends in these Shalom Sesame videos, and engage with your children using the discussion ideas and activities.
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!
5 Ways to Celebrate Israel’s Independence Day with Young Children
Here are five activities to help young children connect with Israel -- on Yom HaAtzmaut and all year long.
Op-Ed: Strength and Humility are Key in Defending the Jewish State
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, published an op-ed today in Haaretz titled “Strength and humility: the key to defending the Jewish State.” He writes,
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Personal Journey: On Vacation and On Duty
Was this really me, committing to two weeks in Israel as a volunteer working on an Israel Defense Forces base? Completely out of character, but I was leaving my husband, children, and grandchildren for an experience beyond anything I could have imagined.
Galilee Diary: In the Memory Bunker
Monday was Memorial Day for the fallen – in the Israeli army, in the pre-state undergrounds, and in terrorist attacks. It is the day before Yom Ha’atzma’ut (to emphasize the connection), and is observed through ceremonies in schools and other public institutions, cemetery visits, and speeches by politicians. The sense of loss is immediate and inescapable as there is no one who does not have a connection of family, friendship, work, or neighborhood with at least one of the 23,000 fallen.
"It's Personal": Scenes from Israel on Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut
In Israel, it's personal. The losses are personal losses. The joys are about individual freedom. Perhaps that is why it is so intense as well. The intensity of both the sadness and the happiness are powerful and moving, and so telling of the reality of life in Israel.
How Fair Trade Gelt Embodies Hanukkah's Message
The complex flavor profiles of sumptuous chocolate have finally made it to Hanukkah gelt (traditionally coins given as Hanukkah gifts, but used here to describe foil-wrapped chocolate coins associated with the holiday).