December 14 – Hanukkah Begins

Hanukkah Begins Today!

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HOW TO CELEBRATE HANUKKAH STEP-BY-STEP

Learn everything you need to know about Hanukkah by “Jewish Unpacked.”
Purchase a menorah and menorah candles.
Purchase dreidels and learn the traditional game.
31 Hanukkah recipes from Bon Appetit.
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The Hanukkah season is a festive and fun time of year, where families gather to celebrate. This Jewish holiday commemorates a miracle that occurred in the 2nd century, when a small group of Jews defeated the powerful Syrian-Greeks. Today, Hanukkah’s central traditions involve lighting a menorah, exchanging gifts and playing games. It’s a great opportunity for kids to learn about their heritage as every night, new candles are added to the menorah and prayers are recited.

Special foods like potato pancakes (latkes) and jelly donuts (sufganiyot) are also eaten during this eight day long festival – a real treat! Even if you don’t celebrate the holiday it’s still a perfect time to get together with friends and family for some cheerful get-togethers.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF HANUKKAH

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The history of Hanukkah dates back to the 2nd century BCE, during the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire.

In 168 BCE, the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes outlawed Jewish religious practices and desecrated the Jewish Temple by dedicating it to the worship of Zeus. This act of defilement sparked a large-scale rebellion led by the Jewish priest Mattathias and his five sons, most notably Judah Maccabee. Known as the Maccabees, they waged a guerrilla war against the Seleucid forces.

After several years of fighting, the Maccabees successfully recaptured Jerusalem and the Temple in 165 BCE. Upon entering the Temple, they found it defiled with idols and unclean sacrifices. They cleansed and purified the Temple, preparing it for rededication.

According to tradition, when the Maccabees sought to light the Temple’s menorah (a candelabrum with seven branches), they discovered only a small jug of oil that had remained uncontaminated. This small amount of oil, expected to last just one day, miraculously burned for eight days, the time required to prepare a fresh supply of consecrated oil. This miracle is commemorated by the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, which has nine branches: one for each night of Hanukkah and a central shamash (helper) candle used to light the others.

Hanukkah is celebrated with various customs and traditions. Each night, one additional candle is lit on the menorah after sundown, accompanied by prayers and blessings. Families exchange gifts, play games such as spinning the dreidel, and enjoy foods fried in oil, like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts), symbolizing the miracle of the oil.

100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE HANUKKAH

Light the menorah: Each night of Hanukkah, light the menorah candles, adding one more candle each night until all eight are lit.
Play dreidel: Spin the dreidel and play the traditional game using chocolate gelt or small coins as tokens.
Cook latkes: Prepare and enjoy potato pancakes, often served with sour cream or applesauce.
Make sufganiyot: These jelly-filled doughnuts are a Hanukkah staple, fried in oil to commemorate the miracle of the oil.
Read the Hanukkah story: Share the history and significance of the Hanukkah story with family and friends.
Give gelt: Traditionally, chocolate coins or small amounts of money are given to children during Hanukkah.
Sing Hanukkah songs: Enjoy traditional songs such as “Maoz Tzur” and “I Have a Little Dreidel.”
Decorate the house: Use blue and white decorations, Hanukkah-themed banners, and menorah displays to create a festive atmosphere.
Attend a Hanukkah party: Gather with family and friends to celebrate with food, games, and music.
Create Hanukkah crafts: Make menorahs, dreidels, or Star of David ornaments from various craft materials.
Host a gift exchange: Exchange presents each night, or have one big gift exchange party with loved ones.
Watch Hanukkah movies: Enjoy films and TV specials that highlight Hanukkah themes and stories.
Read Hanukkah books: Explore children’s books and novels centered around Hanukkah traditions and stories.
Volunteer: Spend time helping those in need by volunteering at a local charity or soup kitchen.
Visit a Hanukkah market: Explore markets or fairs that feature Hanukkah-themed goods, crafts, and foods.
Prepare a Hanukkah feast: Cook a special meal featuring traditional Hanukkah foods like brisket, kugel, and challah.
Organize a Hanukkah play: Perform a play or skit that tells the story of Hanukkah or shares its traditions.
Light outdoor menorah: Participate in a community event that lights a large outdoor menorah.
Attend a synagogue service: Join a Hanukkah service at a synagogue to celebrate with the community.
Give to charity: Make donations to causes or organizations in the spirit of tzedakah (charity).
Learn Hanukkah prayers: Study and recite the traditional blessings said over the menorah each night.
Make handmade gifts: Create personal gifts for loved ones, such as knitted items, paintings, or homemade treats.
Enjoy a Hanukkah-themed scavenger hunt: Set up a scavenger hunt with Hanukkah-related items and clues.
Decorate Hanukkah cookies: Bake and decorate cookies in the shapes of menorahs, dreidels, and Stars of David.
Reflect on miracles: Spend time each night reflecting on the miracles in your life, inspired by the miracle of Hanukkah.
Hanukkah Bingo: Create bingo cards with Hanukkah symbols and call out corresponding images for players to mark.
Dreidel Spin-Off: Hold a competition to see who can spin a dreidel the longest.
Hanukkah Trivia: Test your knowledge with a trivia game focused on Hanukkah history, traditions, and customs.
Hanukkah Scavenger Hunt: Organize a hunt for Hanukkah-themed items hidden around the house or yard.
Menorah Relay Race: Have teams race to light candles (using LED candles for safety) in a menorah setup.
Latke Toss: Use bean bags or small pillows to play a tossing game aiming for targets themed around latkes.
Pin the Candle on the Menorah: A Hanukkah twist on the classic party game, blindfolded players try to pin a candle on a drawn menorah.
Hanukkah Charades: Act out Hanukkah-related words and phrases without speaking while others guess.
Hanukkah Pictionary: Draw Hanukkah symbols and have others guess what they are.
Musical Menorahs: Similar to musical chairs, but with pictures of menorahs placed on chairs to sit on when the music stops.
Hanukkah Word Search: Create or find a Hanukkah-themed word search puzzle for everyone to solve.
Hanukkah Jeopardy: Play a Jeopardy-style game with categories based on Hanukkah knowledge.
Gelt Hunt: Hide chocolate gelt around the house and let players search for it, similar to an Easter egg hunt.
Hanukkah Simon Says: Play Simon Says with commands themed around Hanukkah activities.
Hanukkah Matching Game: Create a card game where players match pairs of Hanukkah symbols.
Hanukkah Tic-Tac-Toe: Use Hanukkah symbols (like dreidels and menorahs) as Xs and Os in a tic-tac-toe game.
Hanukkah Memory Game: Create a memory card game with pairs of Hanukkah-related images.
Hanukkah Puzzle Race: Have a contest to see who can complete a Hanukkah-themed jigsaw puzzle the fastest.
Build a Menorah Challenge: Using craft supplies or building blocks, see who can create the most creative menorah.
Hanukkah Spelling Bee: Hold a spelling competition with words related to Hanukkah.
Hanukkah Hot Potato: Play hot potato with a small, soft object like a stuffed dreidel, passing it around while music plays.
Hanukkah Freeze Dance: Dance to Hanukkah music and freeze when the music stops, with the last one to stop moving out.
Hanukkah Story Chain: Go around the room, with each person adding a sentence to create a collaborative Hanukkah story.
Hanukkah Sock Toss: Toss rolled-up socks or small bean bags into a basket labeled with different point values.
Hanukkah Relay Obstacle Course: Set up an obstacle course with Hanukkah-themed challenges for teams to complete in a relay race.
Paper Plate Menorahs: Use paper plates, paint, and construction paper to create a colorful menorah.
Felt Dreidels: Cut out dreidel shapes from felt and decorate them with fabric paint and sequins.
Handprint Menorahs: Paint children’s hands and press them onto paper to form a menorah with their fingers as candles.
Popsicle Stick Stars of David: Glue popsicle sticks together to form Stars of David and decorate with glitter.
Hanukkah Garland: String together paper cutouts of menorahs, dreidels, and Stars of David to create festive garlands.
Mason Jar Lanterns: Paint mason jars and insert candles or LED lights to make Hanukkah lanterns.
Dreidel Mobiles: Create a mobile by hanging paper dreidels from a circular frame using strings.
Star of David Sun Catchers: Use tissue paper and contact paper to make sun catchers in the shape of the Star of David.
Hanukkah Cards: Design and create homemade Hanukkah greeting cards using stamps, stickers, and markers.
Pipe Cleaner Menorahs: Twist and shape colorful pipe cleaners to form a menorah.
Hanukkah Wreaths: Craft a wreath from blue and white ribbons, faux flowers, and Hanukkah-themed ornaments.
Button Dreidels: Glue buttons onto cardstock to form the shape of a dreidel and add additional decorations.
Painted Rocks: Collect smooth stones and paint them with Hanukkah symbols and messages.
Wooden Menorahs: Assemble and paint wooden pieces to create a sturdy, reusable menorah.
Hanukkah Themed Candle Holders: Decorate plain glass candle holders with paint, beads, and glitter.
Star of David Bracelets: Use beads and string to make bracelets featuring the Star of David.
Hanukkah Table Centerpieces: Arrange candles, blue and white flowers, and other decorations to create a festive centerpiece.
Dreidel Ornaments: Create ornaments by shaping clay into dreidels and painting them.
Menorah Bookmarks: Craft bookmarks using cardstock, markers, and ribbons, decorated with menorah designs.
Hanukkah Window Clings: Make window clings using puffy paint and plastic sheets with Hanukkah motifs.
Felt Menorah Pillows: Sew small pillows and decorate them with felt cutouts of menorahs.
Hanukkah Coasters: Decorate plain coasters with paint or decoupage techniques using Hanukkah-themed images.
Dreidel Magnets: Shape small dreidels from clay, paint them, and attach magnets to the back.
Menorah Place Mats: Design and laminate place mats with Hanukkah symbols and use them during meals.
Hanukkah Story Stones: Paint stones with different elements of the Hanukkah story to use as storytelling aids.
Latkes: Crispy potato pancakes fried in oil, often served with sour cream or applesauce.
Sufganiyot: Jelly-filled doughnuts, traditionally deep-fried and dusted with powdered sugar.
Brisket: Slow-cooked beef brisket, tender and flavorful, often served as a main dish during Hanukkah meals.
Challah Bread: A braided egg bread, often baked with special decorations for Hanukkah.
Matzo Ball Soup: A comforting soup made with matzo balls, typically served in chicken broth.
Kugel: A baked casserole, usually made with noodles or potatoes, and can be sweet or savory.
Rugelach: Crescent-shaped pastries filled with nuts, chocolate, or fruit preserves.
Tzimmes: A sweet stew made from carrots, sweet potatoes, and dried fruits, often cooked with honey.
Honey Cake: A moist, spiced cake sweetened with honey, perfect for festive occasions.
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls: Cabbage leaves filled with a mixture of ground meat, rice, and spices, simmered in tomato sauce.
Mandelbrot: A twice-baked almond cookie, similar to biscotti, often enjoyed with coffee or tea.
Cheese Blintzes: Thin pancakes filled with sweetened cheese and lightly fried, often served with fruit compote.
Apple Fritters: Fried dough filled with apple pieces, dusted with cinnamon sugar.
Gelt Cookies: Cookies made in the shape of coins or decorated with chocolate coins to symbolize Hanukkah gelt.
Spinach Knishes: Pastry pockets filled with spinach and onion, baked until golden and flaky.
Lox and Bagels: A classic combination of smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers, and bagels.
Eggplant Parmesan: Breaded and fried eggplant slices, layered with marinara sauce and cheese, then baked.
Honey-Glazed Carrots: Roasted or sautéed carrots coated in a sweet honey glaze.
Garlic Roasted Potatoes: Potatoes roasted with garlic and herbs, crispy on the outside and tender inside.
Chocolate Babka: A rich, sweet bread swirled with layers of chocolate filling.
Homemade Applesauce: Fresh apples cooked down into a smooth or chunky sauce, often served with latkes.
Falafel: Deep-fried balls or patties made from ground chickpeas and spices, served with tahini sauce.
Shakshuka: A dish of poached eggs in a spicy tomato and bell pepper sauce, often enjoyed for breakfast or brunch.
Pomegranate Salad: A fresh salad featuring pomegranate seeds, greens, nuts, and a light vinaigrette.
Churros: Fried dough pastries, coated in cinnamon sugar, and sometimes served with a chocolate dipping sauce.