Everything you need to know about Hanukkah 2015.

for MyJewishLearning.com

Hanukkah 2015 begins at sunset on Sunday, December 6, and ends on Monday, December 14.

What is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights.

It commemorates the victory of the ancient Israelites over the Syrian Greek army, and the subsequent miracle of restoring the menorah in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

The miracle of Hanukkah is that only one vial of oil was found with just enough oil for one day, and yet it lasted for eight full days.

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For more great Hanukkah ideas, check out our    page.

For even more great ideas, visit our Hanukkah Holiday Spotlight Kit

Every Parent Needs to See This IKEA Christmas Commercial (Yes, Even if You’re Jewish)

By Joanna Valente (Editorial Assistant) for Kveller

With the winter holidays already bombarding stores and advertisements everywhere, it’s hard not to find yourself preoccupied with what to get your kid for Hanukkah (or Christmas, if your family celebrates that, too). But there’s always one thing that gets overlooked, regardless: family time.

In a video by IKEA Spain, 10 families were asked to participate in an experiment where their kids revealed what they really wanted for Christmas. Children ages 4 to 9 were asked to write two letters: In the first, they wrote to The Three Kings (Spain’s version of Santa) stating what they wanted for Christmas. In the second letter, the children wrote what they would ask their parents for Christmas. What they said isn’t what you’d expect.

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For even more great ideas, visit our Hanukkah Holiday Spotlight Kit

G‑dcast: Something to watch as a family

G‑dcast is a media production company whose goal is to give every Jewish child and adult the chance to learn the basics with zero barriers to entry. No matter where you live or what you know, we have meaningful, intelligent and fun Jewish learning for you.

G-dcast provides videos about each weekly Torah portion, all the Jewish holidays, lifecycle events, parenting, Talmud and so much more.

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Looking to put some fun in your family's Jewish Life?

You should check out "The Jewish Family Fun Book, 2nd Ed." 

Holiday Projects, Everyday Activities, and Travel Ideas with Jewish Themes

By Danielle Dardashti and Roni Sarig; Illustrations by Avi Katz

This celebration of Jewish family life is the perfect guide for families wanting to put a new Jewish spin on holidays, holy days, and even the everyday. Full of activities, games, and history, it is sure to inspire parents, children, and extended family to connect with Judaism in fun, creative ways.
With over eighty-five easy-to-do activities to re-invigorate age-old Jewish customs and make them fun for the whole family, this book is more than just kids’ stuff. It’s about taking the Jewish family experience to a new educational and entertaining level.
This new editon—updated and expanded—details activities for fun at home and away from home, including recipes, meaningful everyday and holiday crafts, travel guides, enriching entertainment…and much, much more!

Clearly illustrated and full of easy-to-follow instructions, this lively guide shows us how to take an active approach to exploring Jewish tradition and have fun along the way.

Topics include: The “Shake-Rattle-and-Roll” Grogger • Tooting Your Own Shofar • The Family Fun Seder • “Kid-ish” Kiddush Cup • Lip-Licking Latkes • Sukkah-Building Basics • How to Grow a Family Tree • Visiting Jewish Historical Sites, Family Camps, and Festivals • The Best (and Funnest) in Music, Books, and Websites for Jewish Families • …and much, much more


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‘Sesame Street’ Introduces First Character with Autism

Joanna Valente for Kveller 

Well, this makes us totally happy. “Sesame Street” just made history with the creation of their new muppet, Julia, who is the first character on the show with autism. Launched just this morning, “Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children“ seeks to reduce “the stigma of autism,” which we’re all about.

The initiative was created for families with children ages 2 to 5, which includes a free app that incorporates video, digital story cards designed to make daily life tasks easier for those with autism, and storybook materials for organizations and families. These materials are intended to make children with autism feel included and understood. For instance, in the storybooks, Julia describes to her friends how she likes to play a little differently from them.

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