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How to Light the Hanukkah Menorah
The traditional blessings and procedures for lighting the Hanukkah candles.
8 Hanukkah Traditions From Around the World
From bonfires to hanging menorahs to an extra candle, here are some lesser-known Jewish Hanukkah traditions from all over the globe.
Recipes for Hanukkah
The ever-popular potato latke heads the list of traditional, oily Hanukkah treats.
What You Need to Know About the Hanukkah Story
The Maccabean revolt and the miracle of the oil.
Why Do Jews Play Dreidel on Hanukkah?
7 questions and answers about these spinning tops.
Get ready for hanukkah!
Hannukkah begins at sundown on December 25th.
Why Is Hanukkah Called the Festival of Lights?
The origins of this common name for the December holiday go back to the first century.
How to Play Dreidel
Learn how to play this Hanukkah game with our video and written instructions.
Next Torah Portion
Summary
In this Torah portion, Joseph’s brothers refuse to return to Canaan without Benjamin, whom Joseph has falsely accused of theft. Joseph reveals his true identity and invites his brothers to return for their father, Jacob, and bring him and their families to Egypt to live. When they return, Joseph introduces his father to Pharaoh, and, at Pharaoh’s suggestion, the family settles in Goshen, a particularly fertile region of Egypt.
Featured Commentary
Parshat Vayigash: A Tale of Two Brothers
This Torah portion opens with a passionate exchange between Joseph and Judah, two brothers with distinct personalities.
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Daf Yomi
Sanhedrin 11
Reasons to intercalcate.
Sanhedrin 10
How many judges determine the calendar?
Sanhedrin 9
Rabbi Meir and the Rabbis, part two.
STUDY RESOURCES
Recharge Now
Our weekly Shabbat newsletter, Recharge, features a thoughtful, timely essay to enrich your Shabbat. Here are a few of our recent pieces:
Why Hanukkah Became Such a Big Deal
Though it is ostensibly about the purification of the Temple, Hanukkah really marks the political achievement of the Hasmoneans.
The Light of Connection
Differences need not diminish us.
A Time for Rabbis
In a time of deep social division, it’s vital that we choose our messengers wisely.
MORE from MY JEWISH LEARNING
Sefer Yetzirah: The Book of Creation
This ancient mystical text introduced many concepts that would be more fully developed by the tradition of Kabbalah.
The Jews of Greece
The oldest Jewish community in Europe traces its history back more than 2,300 years.
Shehechiyanu: A Meditation on this Moment
This blessing, traditionally recited for firsts, can be said anytime — since every moment is new and unprecedented.
How to Talk to God
The Hasidic prayer practice of hitbodedut — talking to God freely in one’s native tongue — helps to build intimacy over time.
Tikkun Olam: Repairing the World
This phrase with kabbalistic roots has come to connote social justice.