The Chanukah Blessings: Prayers in Hebrew with their translation, transliteration and the audio.
Virtual Chanukah Lighting: Can’t make it home in time to light the chanukiyah with your family? Stuck in the office and can’t get home to light your “real” chanukiyah? Not sure how to do it? Take a second, follow this link, click on the night, and “light” your very own virtual chanukiyah and sing the prayers along with the Central Synagogue community and with Jews all over the world.
Share a night of Chanukah: Many families have the custom of exchanging gifts on each night of Chanukah. This year, we hope that you will consider “giving” one night of Chanukah to a charitable organization.
Contemporary Articles of Interest (for teenagers and adults):
NYTimes Op-Ed: Hanukah, Rekindled : Everyone knows the bare bones of the story. At Chanukah we celebrate the Maccabees, also known as the Hasmoneans, who defeated the might of the Syrian-Greek army in 165 B.C., recapturing the desecrated Temple and re-consecrating it with oil that ought to have run out in a day but lasted eight. But how many Jews truly feel this narrative as their own?
Taking Back Chanukah: Along with Passover, Chanukah has come to symbolize the current status of American Jews. As these holidays contain a universal message, they contribute to the broader religious spirit and cultural pluralism that defines this society.
Fun Holiday Spoof!: The Maccabeats made a lot of “noise” last year with their hit song that instantly went viral. Read a little bit about them and check out their music video!
Matisyahu on Chanukah: Matisyahu is a Hasidic reggae musician living in Brooklyn. This is a special essay he wrote on Hanukkah music. You can listen to the story and also listen to some of his music!
