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A womans white hand and a mans black hand hold a Hanukkah candle together as they light a Hanukkah menorah

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.”

How Legos Turned Into a New Jewish Tradition for My Family

Deborah Goldberg

I consider myself a dedicated yet anxious Jewish mom. I’m dedicated because I would like my children to have a Jewish upbringing that connects them to our collective stories, history, and values – and I’m anxious because I’m never quite sure whether I’m accomplishing that goal.

Child preparing a gift tree a family activity for parents and children during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah

Hanukkah Gift Tree: A Family Craft Project

Hanukkah recounts the story of a great miracle and a great triumph, offering parents a wonderful opportunity to teach children to celebrate the miracles in their own lives as well as to be the light in someone else’s darkness.

Hanukkah Reconsidered: A Split in the Jewish Soul

Abigail Pogrebin

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.

Hanukkah menorah with all the candles lit, and other lights in the background

Reclaiming the Public Square with Hanukkah Lights

Rabbi David Jaffe

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?

Father and two sons playing dreidel on a wooden table

What happens on each night of Hanukkah?

Two blessings are chanted or recited every night of Hanukkah. The first is a blessing over the candles themselves. The second blessing expresses thanks for the miracle of deliverance. A third blessing—the Shehecheyanu prayer, marking all joyous occasions in Jewish life—is chanted or recited only on the first night.