Hanukkah is a moving holiday that typically falls in December, but sometimes falls at the end of November (interestingly enough, it could actually gradually march throughout the year due to the differences between the Jewish calendar and the Gregorian calendar we currently use). This year, it starts November 28th, coinciding with the end of Thanksgiving weekend.
I recently had a chance to check out some resources from PJ Library's Hanukkah Hub, which offers a wide variety of resources for celebrating Hanukkah with kids - recipes, special podcast episodes, even book suggestions for interfaith families.
My family is Christian, not Jewish, but we do find it valuable to learn more about Jewish holidays for a variety of reasons - we feel it's valuable to learn about other families, we know Jewish families, and we also see the Jewish holidays as being forerunners of our own celebration. So I enjoyed reading the titles that PJ Library sent, both of which were great for talking about Hanukkah traditions with kids.
You can learn more in this interview with Lori Hoch Stiefel, Engagement Officer, PJ Library, Harold Grinspoon Foundation
Hanukkah is full of tradition - what are some ways that families can celebrate those traditions while incorporating new elements as times and tastes change?
There are so many ways to incorporate traditional ways of celebrating Hanukkah while creating new traditions and memories. Many families make latkes, or potato pancakes, to commemorate the miracle of the oil, that it lasted 8 days when there was only enough for 1. But what about making other yummy treats from around the world that also align with this idea? We have a great blog post that incorporates food from around the world: https://pjlibrary.org/beyond-books/pjblog/october-2018/international-hanukkah-foods.
Why can it be beneficial for families who aren't Jewish to learn about Hanukkah?
Hanukkah has some beautiful Jewish and human values that are associate with it. The idea of light, bringing light into our lives and those around us plays a big role in the celebration of the holiday. Other values include community, conservation, courage, rededication and more. These are values that we can all relate to, and knowing that there is a Jewish holiday and story that incorporates it all, makes it important for families who aren’t Jewish to learn as well. Another great way to share about Hanukkah is at school. By popular demand, we created a helpful resource for families to be able to share the idea and story of Hankukkah at school during the holiday season. The resources include the story of Hanukkah, books to read, activities to explore, recipes and more! You can learn more at https://pjlibrary.org/beyond-books/pjblog/december-2016/sharing-hanukkah-at-school
How can PJ Library support Jewish families during Hanukkah and year-round?
PJ Library is THE resource for families who want to celebrate Hanukkah this year. We also have more than just books. We have holiday hubs for different Jewish holidays, including Hanukkah, that have videos, activities, recipes, and more for the whole family. You can learn more about Hanukkah here: https://pjlibrary.org/hanukkah. We also strive to tell holiday stories in kid friendly ways using multimedia. You can check out our podcasts to hear family friendly versions of the Hanukkah story at pjlibrary.org/podcasts
How does PJ Library choose the books and activities it features?
The PJ Library Book Selection Committee is hard at work year-round, finding the best books, beautiful illustrations, compelling stories, and values to share with children. They exemplify the best of Jewish children's literature.
We are devoted to making book choices that represent the broad spectrum of today's Jewish families. Working with authors, agents, publishers, and editors, the committee strives to ensure that the finest Jewish books for children find their way each month into the mailboxes of all PJ Library families.
The team that creates the accompanying activities, recipes, and crafts are parents and educators who draw from experience. In many cases the activities we select are ones that the team has tried out at home or in classrooms.
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