This year isn’t exactly a Thanksgivvukah – but it sure is close. The first candle is Sunday night, November 28th. Note – JewishHolidaysInABox.com will be closing in a few months. To get digital copies of any of our e-books or games for Hanukkah, Passover, and Rosh Hashanah or e-books about Hanukkah, Shabbat, and Passover, visit our SHOP page soon. Last year, I wrote about how many of us would be seeking new ways to celebrate, without family in our homes, because of the pandemic. This year, I hope that many of us will be with family and friends. But many of us are still being … [Read more...]
Hanukkah 2020 - A Different Year
21 days till Hanukkah 2020! I just looked back at my post from January 2020 – pre-pandemic. I was waxing nostalgic about having the extended family with us for four whole nights of Hanukkah. This year, we and many of you will be seeking new ways to celebrate the holiday in your homes - without extended families. But it doesn't have to be a sad and lonely year. We just need to bring creativity and a new outlook to celebration. To help fuel your planning, I am sharing ideas on Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/JewishHolidaysInABox) for activities that are possible this Hanukkah. If … [Read more...]
Hanukkah Wrap-Up – Aha Moments
I hope you, too, had an extraordinary Hanukkah! For us, we had FOUR nights of lighting candles with family who had come in from around the country. This can only happen when Hanukkah is as late as it was – and we drank in every moment. Here are four of my aha moments: Edible dreidels – 2 thoughts If you want to snap pix of the finished dreidels, best to do that right away, or they will all be munched down. Our dreidel makers this year were pretty experienced, so didn’t need much help. Change for next year: since the Nutella I used this year didn’t “stick” well between … [Read more...]
Homemade Hanukkah Gifts - Art
Like many of you, we are an interfaith family – with a rare opportunity this year to weave together our traditions. Hanukkah begins on December 22. When we gather this year, we hope to be together for several nights of Hanukkah, including Christmas. But we want to downplay the gifts. SO – we will follow my daughter’s lead and create themed nights, as they do when they are home for Hanukkah. Games night. Books night. Outside exploring night. And while we have all decided to limit gifts to one per child, we want them to understand the pleasure of giving to others, too. My hope … [Read more...]
Save Recyclables Now for Hanukkah Crafting
Countdown - 45 days till Hanukkah! Thanks to this great post from creativejewishmom.com, I can share with you her reminder to start saving your recyclables now to make all kinds of fun Hanukkah crafts. It was definitely a wake up call for me! So here’s what she recommends holding onto: Cereal boxes to make gift packages – I would never have thought of that! What a great idea. Aluminum foil boxes and tubes to make Hanukkah menorahs. Toilet paper tubes – also to make Hanukkah menorahs. Milk cartons - to make gift packages and more. Again, I never would have … [Read more...]
