Displaying 1 - 10 of 15
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.”
Five Ways to Approach Family Conversations around Hanukkah and Christmas
How can you create a meaningful, memorable and joyous holiday season in a household where one partner is Jewish, one is Christian, or both were raised with different traditions? How can you create an honest dialogue that allows you both to share your feelings and work together to create your own family traditions?
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?
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!
Who Should Teach About Hanukkah and What Should They Be Teaching?
Now that my daughter is in preschool, I've come to realize that hearing about cultural and religious practices directly from the practitioners only emphasizes our otherness.
A Hanukkah Tradition From My Christian Mother-in-Law
Sometimes we create our own traditions, sometimes we carry on a tradition we inherit, and sometimes a tradition can come from unexpected places.
8 Ways to Celebrate Hanukkah that Don’t Involve Gifts
Instead of eight days of gifts, here are eight ways to celebrate Hanukkah with your kids that relate the story and celebration for your enjoyment and to help you refocus your approach:
Hanukkah Craft: DIY Conductive Menorah
Circuits, the basics of all electronics and robotics, can be simple to learn and a fun way to connect our Jewish value of tikkun olam, repairing the world and bringing of light, to our love of science.
Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Hanukkah Music?
How much do you know about Hanukkah music? Here are eight questions to kindle your enthusiasm (pun absolutely intended!) about music of the holiday.