How to make Chanukah a unique and joyous time

By Barbara Rudnick

December is just around the corner and with its arrival comes an annual reminder of the challenges and numerous awkward situations that Jewish families and interfaith families raising Jewish children have to deal with around the winter holidays.

The solution is not to compete with the glitz, glamour and consumerism of Christmas, but to celebrate Chanukah in ways that make it a unique and special time in its own right.

Below are eight suggestions for a happy and memorable Chanukah that will light up your family and remind us of the miraculous memories that are created when we take time to be with each other.

1) Make every Chanukah evening special by planning eight interesting and fun nights ahead of time. Remember, with children, it’s always important to stay flexible.

2) Try doing fun activities together like song night, game night, story night, latke night, movie night, gift night, photo night, cookie decorating night, etc.

3) Eat dinner together. Turn off the TV, pagers, computers and phones. If you’re tired – get takeout. (You don’t have to be “Miriam” Stewart.) Save your energy for more important things.  

4) Have a nightly Chanukiah lighting ritual by saying/singing blessings, then taking turns on different nights sharing hopes and wishes for yourself, your family, the environment, the world; saying who and what you are grateful for, etc.

5) Spend time with loved ones. Always be welcoming and inclusive to non-Jewish family members.

6) Do a family mitzvah activity and help others less fortunate.

7) Worship together.

8) List eight changes you can make as a family to simplify your lives and post it on the refrigerator to remind everyone throughout the year.

Creating traditions and rituals that you can build on every year are important qualities of healthy families. Giving the gift of time together will be remembered long after the toys are forgotten.

Hag Sameach!

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Barbara Rudnick, MA, is the Family Life Education Program Manager at Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis. She works with families and our community on interfaith issues and offers a free e-mail parenting advice service called AskBarbara (AskBarbara@jfcsmpls.org).