Welcome to the Forward’s coverage of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.
Hanukkah
The Latest
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Opinion Growing Up Poor, Hanukkah Was A Fraught Time
I was six when I first felt guilty for receiving a gift. I didn’t know what money was, but I was pretty sure we didn’t have it. Although I didn’t grow up feeling inadequate, I somehow knew we had less. Nevertheless, Hanukkah was a festive occasion in my house. My parents made an abundance of…
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Life 8 Ugly Hanukkah Sweaters That Will Light Up The Holiday
Unless you’ve been living in a cave, everyone wears (or knows the joy of wearing) Ugly Sweaters in honor of the holidays. After all, what better way to show off your love of holiday season (and to hide the extra poundage you’re bound to gain) than to proudly proclaim it in vaguely inappropriate epigrams like,…
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The Schmooze Why Is Spotify’s Hanukkah Playlist So Unbearably Awful?
I will be the last person to argue that Hanukkah’s musical heritage is one of particular depth; we sing the same few songs every year, they’re heartwarming if not exciting, and that’s great. Yet even I must wonder: How did Spotify get its Hanukkah playlist so egregiously wrong? Only six of its 46 songs were…
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Food Give The Gourmet Gift Of Chocolate Connoisseurship This Hanukkah
Chocolate lovers on your gift list will be delighted to take a deep dive into the delicious topic of Jews and chocolate, with the newly released 2nd edition of “On the Chocolate Trail: A Delicious Adventure Connecting Jews, Religions, History, Travel, Rituals and Recipes to the Magic of Cacao” (Jewish Lights Publishing, 2017). Written by…
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Food Gift Baskets Offer Multiple Mitzvahs
Get a triple mitzvah out of your Hanukkah gifting with treat baskets that delight the recipient, support the work of a non-profit and employ special needs individuals. When you purchase through Yachad Gifts, a project of the Orthodox Union, you enhance vocational opportunities for Yachad members. More Gourmet Gift Ideas Yachad works with special needs…
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Food Light Up A Latke Party With The Gift Of Hanukkah-Themed Beer
If you really want to light up someone’s latke party, bring along some Hanukkah cheer in the form of Shmaltz Brewing Company’s Hanukkah releases: Chanukah, Hanukkah…Pass the Beer (Golden Strong Ale with Cocoa Nibs), Jewbelation 21 (Dark American Strong Ale), and Shtick in a Box, a holiday variety 12-pack. More Gourmet Gift Ideas As we…
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Community The Laws Of Hanukkah 101: All Of Your Burning Questions, Answered
Q: Can electric candles be used for Hanukkah? A: According to Rabbi Yosef Messas[i], one is allowed to light an electric Hanukkiah, reciting the blessings before flipping the switch or tightening the light bulb. The most common situation where this would be required is when staying at a hotel where it is forbidden to light…
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Fast Forward Finally: Mathematical Proof That Dreidel Is A Terrible Game
Every winter, parents around the world are forced to tell a well-meaning lie to their children: Christian parents say that Santa Claus is real, and Jewish parents say that dreidel is a fun game to play. The rules seem relatively simple: Everyone antes one piece of gelt, a chocolate coin. Then the first player spins…
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