Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, falls at the time of year when the days are shortest in the northern hemisphere. It celebrates resilience and strength, and reminds us that even in the darkest time of year, there is light and an opportunity to celebrate.
This Hanukkah, choose from an abundance of classes and special community events, and bring more light to your holiday! Check out the wide array of unique events from My Jewish Learning.
Upcoming My Jewish Learning Events
Hanukkah Hallel Service: Creating Light in Darkness
Wednesday, Dec. 25 at 6 pm ET
Join My Jewish Learning and Rabbi Julia Andelman for a musical learners service, where we will sing, read and reflect on the Hallel service and aim to bring light and hope into the new year.
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My Jewish Learning Events On Demand
The Hanukkah Story You Never Heard
Many people know that Hanukkah is a minor holiday. The books of the Maccabees, which detail the Jewish victories over the Syrian Greeks that allowed Jews to preserve their autonomy and culture, were never included in the Hebrew Bible. Ironically, we only have them in Greek. But did you know that the rabbis weren’t even sure that Hanukkah was about the Maccabees at all? And if Hanukkah isn’t about the Maccabees, what is it about? Watch this video to find out.
Hanukkah Fashion Then and Now
Kveller and Rabbi Yael Buechler, a Hanukkah merchandise expert and fashion designer take a look into the history of Hanukkah apparel. Explore how Hanukkah fashions have transformed over the years, from niche designers to mainstream retailers.
How to Light Hanukkah Candles: An Ancient Debate
Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz explains how to light the Hanukkah candles and the history of how this ritual came to be. Dive into the Talmudic debate between Rabbi Hillel and Rabbi Shammai and discover a new appreciation for lighting the Hanukkah candles.
Hanukkah Piyutim Workshop
Learn traditional Moroccan Piyutim (liturgical poems) for Hanukkah. In this workshop, Laura Elkeslassy teaches ‘Am Neemanai, a Moroccan piyut written by Rabbi David Buzaglo, as well as a traditional piyut retelling the story of Mattathias.
Hanukkah: A Key to Understanding Rabbinic Judaism with Aryeh Bernstein
In this My Jewish Learning class with Rabbi Aryeh Bernstein, explore laws and traditions of Hanukkah to better understand not only the holiday, but also what Rabbinic Judaism is all about. The Hanukkah celebration, one of American Jewry’s most widely observed Jewish practices, is not derived from the Bible, which was completed long before the time of the Maccabees, but instead from the Rabbis, who wrote down and codified the Oral Torah. The Rabbis even give some clues that Hanukkah is the ultimate Rabbinic mitzvah. Learn why the Rabbis considered Hanukkah so important, and understand how the holiday exemplifies the goals of Rabbinic Judaism overall.
