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March 20, 2010 | 5th Nisan 5770
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Chanukah
Chanukah, Menorah
When does Chanukah occur?  View the Calendar of Jewish Holidays

Chanukah, meaning "dedication" in Hebrew, refers to the joyous eight-day celebration during which Jews commemorate the victory of the Macabees over the armies of Syria in 165 B.C.E. and the subsequent liberation and "re-dedication" of the Temple in Jerusalem. The modern home celebration of Chanukah centers around the lighting of the chanukiah, a special menorah for Chanukah; unique foods, latkes and jelly doughnuts; and special songs and games.

New! Light our virtual menorah

Chanukah in Your Home

Chanukah at home

Give the gift of tikkun olam! Visit the RAC's gift guide for 9 ways to heal the world and have a happy holiday.

Blessings for each night - print them out or sing along with the recordings.

The Jewish Parent Page and Holiday Happenings - Creative ways to observe the holiday for families with young children.

Give the most important gift of all: the gift of life. Donate a $10 bed net to Nothing But NetsFind ideas for a more meaningful holiday. to help stop the spread of malaria. 

8 Days of NFTY Values - Articles exploring each NFTY value and its connection to Chanukah.For teens: the gift of a NFTY regional event! Give your high school teen the gift of Jewish belonging, of Jewish involvement, of music and friendship and of memories that will last a lifetime.

See a Chanukah greeting from Israeli President Peres, and share your own candle lightings and blessings.

Temple Emanu-El of New York City shares creative ideas, a booklist, virtual game of dreidel and much more.

Before cooking latkes, be sure to watch this quick video about fire safety when frying foods .


Chanukah at Your Synagogue

latkes Baz'man Hazeh: Chanukah Programs for the Adult Mind and Spirit (PDF) - A collection of synagogue- and home-based programs on the themes and values of Chanukah for study, governance, social action and ritual observance.

Ner Shel Tzedakah: A Chanukah Project - Devote the 6th night of Chanukah to learning about poverty, donate the value of the night's gifts to organizations that assist the poor.

Communicate! - Extensive program bank.

Family Education in Small Congregations (PDF) - A program for families to learn about the history of the holiday by collaborating on an illustrated time line and studying texts from the Books of the Maccabees and the Talmud.

A Light Among the Nations - Commemorate Chanukah by taking action to address the climate change crisis

Support Our Troops - Support Jewish military personnel serving in Iraq and elsewhere by sending cards and care packages for Chanukah.

Sustaining the Light: A Social Justice Program Guide for Chanukah - Social action program ideas for families, social action committees, youth groups and other synagogue groups.

Sacred Seasons celebration kits are a means of bringing joy to Jewish elders in residential settings.


New from URJ Books & Music

A Faithful SpiritA Faithful Spirit
A Study Text Based on M’gillat Antiochus
By Benjamin Levy
A Faithful Spirit is based on a midrashic text, M’gillat Antiochus, which is traditionally read during Chanukah in Italian and Yemenite synagogues. This medieval midrash emphasizes an active, flexible faith that can be adapted to meet the needs of the times and circumstances, and deals with maintaining a Jewish identity while living in a non-Jewish world.

See other Chanukah selections from URJ Books & Music

The December Dilemma

Show items 4 to 6

Congregational & Organizational Sites
Recipes
Articles

Show items 6 to 7

Kids

Show items 6 to 8

Music and Multimedia

Show items 6 to 10


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