Hanukkah

“We’ve come to chase away the darkness, carrying light and fire in our hands…” goes the modern Israeli song. Hanukkah is a time to celebrate the tiny miracle of oil and light, and the spirit of the Jewish people fighting to preserve our identity throughout the course of history. In addition to lighting Hanukkah candles, the rituals of this holiday can be enriched by innovative Hanukkah practices that celebrate women’s connections to the Hanukkah story, that focus on healing, and that offer an inspired role for gift giving.

Latest Rituals

How to Create a New Holiday Tradition

“letters spinning out to form new words, new rites, inviting new voices to weave old songs into new traditions?”

candles, children, christmas, divorce, family, hanukkah, interfaith, parenting

A person lights Hanukkah menorahs on a mantel, facing the candles with raised hands.

A Blessing for Opening Presents

An original blessing of gratitude for when we receive gifts.

birthdays, family, gratitude, hanukkah, presents, tzedakah

Gift boxes wrapped in festive paper surrounded by ornaments, pinecones, and silver holiday decorations.

Mindful Intentions for Lighting the Candles

Intentions for each day of lighting the Hanukkiyah, connected to the sefirot

candle lighting, hanukkah, kabbalah, mindfulness, sefirot

A menorah with two lit candles stands on a table, with a blurred background and mirror reflection.

Hanukkah in the Forest: A Forest Bathing Hanukkah Ritual

This Hanukkah ritual is set in nature and includes eight interactive stations.

Forest bathing, hanukkah, kabbalah, kislev, nature

Tree branches with dense, green, sunlit leaves hanging down, creating a shaded, tranquil atmosphere.

Tonight We Light

This kavanah was written in the wake of multiple acts of mass violence that have made our Hanukkah celebration feel dissonant and fragile.

antisemitism, Bondi, candle lighting, grief, gun violence, hanukkah

Five candle holders: one holds a lit candle, the others have melted wax and are unlit, background blurred.

In the Shadow of Bondi, Let there be Light

“Infinite Source of All, / As darkness threatens, / Enable me to join/ The Light of Redemption…”

antisemitism, Bondi, gun violence, hanukkah, light

Starry night sky above grassy hill and bushes, with clear blue tones and faint clouds near the horizon.

The Ancestors Upstairs

“I ignite a match and think of our ancestors / as though they were just upstairs…”

ancestors, candles, hanukkah

Five candle holders: one holds a lit candle, the others have melted wax and are unlit, background blurred.

On the First Night of Hanukkah

“Reclaim the holy. Prove it again, one bright flame at a time, one more memory of why we do this.”

candle lighting, courage, hanukkah

Menorahs and lit candles on a table, celebrating Hanukkah with festive decorations in the background.

Lights Out

“We created this mayhem in the night time / because our hearts were full of fear,” and now we must live in its shadow.

climate crisis, darkness, democracy, Gaza, Israel, justice, light, planet, sadness, Ukraine

Close-up of seven lit candles with melting wax in a dark setting.

Kislev – the Coming of the Light

“Hers is the only festival empowered to span two moons.”

candles, hanukkah, kislev, latkes, light, moon, Tevet, winter

A branch with small leaves is silhouetted against a bright full moon in a blue night sky.