Archive for November 2018
Humanistic Judaism’s Approach to Hannukah
This introductory article from the Society for Humanistic Judaism explains the themes and customs of Hannukah according to the Humanistic community. The community focuses on the values of human action, courage, dignity, freedom, justice, Jewish identity, choice, strength, and
Chag HaBanot: The Festival of the Daughters – Introduction & Rituals
Written by Rabbi Jill Hammer, this post presents an introduction to Chag HaBanot, a women’s festival traditionally celebrated during Hannukah by some Sephardic and North African communities, as well as a summary of some ancient and
Hannukah 101
This introductory article briefly explains the history, customs and significance of Hannukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. A helpful resource for anyone interested in the basic background and practice of the festival, this article is from My
Hannukah in 60 Seconds
This minute long introductory video presents a brief overview of the origins, significance and customs of Hannukah. This video is provided by Parsha in 60 Seconds, a YouTube Channel which creates and distributes short, accessible videos about Jewish holidays
Why do Jews Play Dreidel on Hannukah?
This short video (0:40) from My Jewish Learning, briefly explains the historical reasons behind the custom of playing dreidel – a gambling game with spinning tops – on the holiday of Hannukah.
Miracles: Now, Then & Every Day
Produced by Jewish Educational Media, the multimedia archive of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, this inspiring video (07:43) encourages viewers to appreciate the everyday miracles of nature, technology and history. The video emphasizes God’s
The History & Meaning of the Menorah
This informative video (02:24) explores the significance of the menorah as the eternal symbol of the Jewish nation throughout history, from the Biblical commandment to create a menorah after the Exodus from Egypt and the
8 Videos for 8 Days of Happiness
This post contains a series of eight thoughtful, one-minute-long, animated videos exploring various Hannukah themes from a psychological, relationship-focused perspective. The first video, featured above, discusses the centrality of family cohesion and home life in Jewish tradition and
Judith & The Hannukah Story
Produced by the Jewish Women’s Archive, this informative video (02:24) emphasizes the feminist Jewish history angle of the Hannukah story, briefly telling the story of the Book of Judith, where a brave young widow
The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Letter Initiating Public Hannukah Candle Lightings
In this moving video (04:09), people take turns reading a letter from Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson in which he explains the importance of lighting Hannukah candles in public spaces as a symbol of the triumph