Hanukkah Family Fun: Ideas To Celebrate The Festival Of Lights This Shabbat

Blessing Over The Wine:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei pri hagafen.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Blessing Over The Spices:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei minei besamim.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates various kinds of spices.

Havdalah Blessing:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, hamavdil bein kodesh lechol, bein or lechoshchekh, bein Yisrael la’amim, bein yom hashevi’i lesheshet yemei hama’aseh. Baruch atah Adonai, hamavdil bein kodesh lechol.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who makes a distinction between the sacred and the ordinary, between light and darkness, between Israel and the nations, between the seventh day and the six working days. Blessed are You, Lord, who makes a distinction between the sacred and the ordinary.

Blessing for Lighting the Hanukkah Candles:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, she’asa nissim la’avoteinu, bayamim hahem bazman hazeh.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors, in those days at this season.

Materials Needed:

• Small glass jars or clear votive holders
• Tissue paper in Hanukkah colors (blue, white, silver, and gold)
• Mod Podge or diluted white glue
• Small paintbrushes
• Hanukkah-themed stickers or embellishments
• Tea light candles

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Prepare the Work Area:

• Cover the work surface with newspaper or a plastic tablecloth to protect it from glue and paint.

2. Cut Tissue Paper:

• Cut the tissue paper into small squares or rectangles. These pieces will be used to create a colorful mosaic on the glass jar.

3. Apply Glue:

• Using a small paintbrush, apply a thin layer of Mod Podge or diluted white glue to a small section of the glass jar.

4. Create Mosaic Design:

• Place the tissue paper pieces onto the glued section, slightly overlapping them. Encourage kids to create Hanukkah-themed patterns or designs.

5. Continue Layering:

• Repeat the process, working in small sections. Apply glue, add tissue paper, and continue until the entire jar is covered.

6. Decorate with Stickers:

• Add Hanukkah-themed stickers or embellishments to enhance the design. This could include dreidels, menorahs, Stars of David, or other festive symbols.

7. Seal the Design:

• Once the jar is completely covered and decorated, apply a final layer of Mod Podge or glue over the entire surface. This will seal the tissue paper and give the candle holder a glossy finish.

8. Let it Dry:

• Allow the candle holder to dry completely. This may take a few hours, depending on the thickness of the glue.

9. Place a Tea Light:

• Once the candle holder is dry, place a tea light candle inside. Make sure the candle is secured and won’t tip over.

10. Enjoy the Glow:

• As the sun sets and you gather for Havdalah, the candle holders will cast a warm and colorful glow, adding a special touch to your celebration.

Materials Needed:

• Dreidel

Game Time:

1. Gather Around:

• Bring the family together for some Havdalah-dreidel excitement!

2. The Havdalah Twist:

• Use a Havdalah-themed dreidel to add a unique spin to the traditional game.

3. Spice It Up:

• Assign Havdalah-related actions to the dreidel’s usual symbols. For example:
  • Nun (נ): Everyone sings a Havdalah song.
  • Gimel (ג): Perform a Havdalah dance.
  • Hey (ה): Smell the Havdalah spices.
  • Shin (ש): Share a Havdalah blessing.

4. Winning Rules:

• Play as usual with each player starting with the same number of tokens or gelt.
• Add or lose tokens based on the Havdalah-themed actions.

5. Variations for Fun:

• Feel free to create your own Havdalah twists or switch up the actions for more laughs.

6. Celebrate the Winner:

• The winner gets a special treat or leads the family in a final Havdalah blessing.

Hanukkah Songs:

• “Havdalah Song” from Shaboom!
• “Shavua Tov” from Theodore Bikel
• “Al Hanisim” from The Maccabeats
• “Rock of Ages” from Margie Rosenthal and Ilene Safyan

Book Recommendations:

• “The Runaway Latkes” by Leslie Kimmelman
• “Latke, the Lucky Dog” by Ellen Fischer
• “Sammy Spider’s First Hanukkah” by Sylvia A. Rouss

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• Spices (cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg) to taste
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup molasses

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Dry Ingredients:

• In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and your preferred spice blend.

3. Cream Butter and Sugar:

• In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

4. Add Wet Ingredients:

• Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and molasses until well combined.

5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:

• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.

6. Chill the Dough:

• Wrap the cookie dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

7. Shape the Cookies:

• Roll the chilled dough into small balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets.

8. Bake:

• Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are set.

9. Cool:

• Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack.