Community Corner

How to Make Hanukkah Festive

Tips for making the most of your Festival of Lights.

The following is a letter that was sent out by the (JCK) School Principal Beth (a.k.a. Batyah) Hancock to parents.

Many of your children and some of you have reached out to me concerning the "December Dilemma." While so many of us have the benefit of creating our own traditions because we have family members in our homes of different faiths, many Jewish families are not sure how to make Hanukkah "festive." Here are just a few ideas to "shed light" on the great opportunity Hanukkah gives us to teach our children about pride and religious freedom:

  • Host a celebrity night (invite grandparents or other relatives over).
  • Have a movie night (watch a movie together and give a small gift from the movie).
  • Invite your family and friends (especially the non-Jewish ones) to a low-key dinner that includes lighting the menorah.
  • Menorah patrolling in a Jewish neighborhood at night.
  • (heard amazing things!)
  • Give chocolate gelt to everyone in your child's class at school
  • Have a family dreidel game (we use M&M's)
  • "Help" someone you love celebrate Christmas
  • Volunteer in a soup kitchen or at the Kinnelon Food Pantry on Christmas.
  • Borrow a Hanukkah movie from the Weisselberg Media Collection at the JCK.
  • Watch/Record Shalom Sesame on Channel 13.
  • Go out to dinner one night: The gift of "kitchen freedom"
  • Phone a far away Jewish relative one night and have your fabulous child chant the Hanukkah Blessings to them over the phone or Skype.
  • Watch the YouTube of the Maccabeats.

Hanukkah Sameach!

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Batyah


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