So much of what is done in school each December focuses around Christmas - even if it's only peripherally (candy canes, gingerbread people, trees and ornaments). So every year at Hanukkah time, I offer to help explain our holiday to my childrens' classrooms.
The Jewish calendar is lunisolar, which means that its dates are indicated both on the moon phase and the time of the solar year. This year Hanukkah begins on November 28th, which is REALLY more like Thanksgivukkah!
Rather than talk to the kids about the miracles of Hanukkah, because I do like to respect others' religious (or non-religious) beliefs, I try to find books that talk about some of the more secular messages of our holiday. Our three favorites right now are Dear Santa, Love Rachel Rosenstein, by Amanda Peet and Andrea Troyer; The Parakeet Named Dreidel, by Isaac Bashevis Singer and The Ninth Night of Hanukkah, by Erica S. Perl.
Dear Santa, Love Rachel Rosenstein is a heartwarming tale of a little girl - much like my boys - who desperately want to celebrate Christmas like their friends. But not everyone celebrates Christmas - and that is what makes the world amazing! The story helps explain to all children that there are so many wonderful holidays to celebrate and that Christmas is only one of them. This has helped my own kids in so many ways to understand not only their own holidays and what make them special but also others'.
The Parakeet Named Dreidel is an unusual tale of miracles - but not the kind you'd expect in a Hanukkah tale. There is a concept of b'sheret in Judaism; it means "meant to be." And one snowy night, a Parakeet - native to warmer temps - lands on Jewish family's windowsill. After unsuccessfully looking for its rightful owners, the family keeps him and names him Dreidel. After many years, the family's son happens to retell the story and...well, you'll have to read it to learn! The point is that miracles do happen, and such is the miracle of Hanukkah!
But my favorite story is truly The Ninth Night of Hanukkah. You probably know that Hanukkah is eight nights - maybe you've even seen Adam Sandler's comic 8 Crazy Nights! But in this story, Erica Perl uncovers one of the most beautiful lessons of Hanukkah - the value of the "helper." On a Hanukkiah (or menorah), the middle canle is called the Shamash - or helper candle. And, through the book, you learn about the various "helpers" we have in our everyday life. Celebrating the helping is one of my favorite lessons of Hanukkah and one that we drill down in our children often.
If you are looking for books to read to your elementary-aged children to help them understand Hanukkah or to get the conversation started, I would highly recommend these. I found them on Amazon, but you could also check your local book stores, the library or Barne & Noble.
Happy reading and, more importantly, Happy Hanukkah!
