Chanukah Resources in English

A. Jewish Agency & Affiliated Websites

Education Department – Chanukah home page

• http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Jewish+Education/
  Jewish+Time/Festivals+and+Memorial+Days/Chanukah/Chanukah.htm
• Formal / informal education ages 7-18; students, adults  
• Diverse audiences, at different levels  
• 3 resource series: text files, activities, visual exhibit. 
• Background, activities, curricula; themes include history,  Jewish sources, ethics, independence; 5 languages; annotated links collections/Trivia

Education Department/Early Childhood

• http://www.jafi-ed.org.il/child/israel/chagim/hanukkah/page_index.asp  
• Family, parents, teachers 
• Introduction and feature files; links  
• 4 files  
• Excerpts from "A Different Night"; article by Dr Daniel Gordis; virtual walkabout of related places in Israel

WZO Hagshama & Students Department

• http://www.wzo.org.il/en/resources/expand_subject.asp?id=133 
• Students, teachers, family 
• Articles and features 
• 11 files 
• Insights and background material, recipes, stories…

World Union of Jewish Students [WUJS] 

• http://www.wujs.org.il/activist/learning/festivals/chanukah/index.shtml 
• Students, teachers, adults 
• Introductory and focal topics, source texts 
• 10 files in 4 sections  
• Introductory background, 6 challenging activities, classic & modern source texts, 3 recipes

B. Major Chanukah Resources – External Websites

Teachers, Families & Children

Aish Hatorah

• http://www.aish.com/holidays/Chanukah/
• Teachers, students family
• Overview and study
• Files for reading online or download
• Comprehensive background, guides, laws and customs, stories, family activities and recipes. Audio & video downloads.

Akhlah – Jewish Children’s Learning Network

• http://www.akhlah.com/holidays/hanukkah/hanukkah.php
• Children, families
• Introductory and overview
• Files for viewing or download
• Well organized and graphically appealing. 6 units: background, traditions, brachot, vocabulary, activities, recipes, arts & crafts

Academy BJE, Sydney, Australia

• http://www.bje.org.au/templateBase_general.php?id=2232&keyword=Chanukah 
• http://www.quia.com/pages/t4l82004k2.html
• http://www.quia.com/pages/t4l9200456.html
• Children, tweenagers, teachers & families
• Intro thru intermediate levels; study & fun
• Files for viewing or download; interactive study.
• 3 series: 4 background files including brachot; 13 online lessons for K2-K6; 25 online games at different levels – hangman, matching, word search, quiz, general games.

Ben Ish Chai

• http://www.midrash.org/recipes/#hanukkah
• Families
• Home
• 1 text file
• Chanukah recipes from Persian, Baghdadi, Moroccan & Georgian cuisines.

Classbrain

• http://www.classbrain.com/artholiday/publish/hanukkah.shtml
• Children, families
• Intro & creative
• Graphic files in pdf
• 6 files: background, colouring pages & activities, puzzle, music sheets, cards, links. [2004]

Chabad Virtual Chanukah

• http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/default.asp
• Children & families; adults
• Intro; edutainment; study.
• Text, games video/audio
• Background, how-to guide, brachot, stories, interactive games cards, songs, recipes, video audio classes and insight articles for adults.

English Teachers Network in Israel [ETNI]

• http://www.etni.org.il/holidays/happening.html#play
• 8-10; 11-13 [non-English speakers]
• 1 file, visual/ text
• Puppet models and play; recipe; spoof interviews; 3 real short stories for discussion [designed for Hebrew speakers].

Hanukat

• http://www.hanukat.com/Activities.htm
• Children, families
• Crafts
• Files with visual models
• 10 activity ideas: colouring pages, crafts, decorations, games, origami: models for Menorah, dreidl…

The Holiday Spot

• http://www.theholidayspot.com/hanukkah/
• Children, Families
• Introductory, leisure/fun
• Files; visuals; interactives,  downloads
• Introductory web environment: overview,  entertaining games & crafts, graphics. Full translation/explanation of Maoz Tzur. General website: page links to Xmas features.

Jewish Outreach Initiative

• http://www.joi.org/celebrate/hanuk/index.shtml
• Families, adults with little background
• Introductory
• 5 main categories, explanatory links
• “Do It Yourself” guideline, with stories, background information, recipes and customs presented in a fairly lighthearted manner

Jewish Theological Seminary of America [JTSA]

• http://learn.jtsa.edu/topics/kids/together/hanukkah/
• Families, children, teachers.
• Introductory; leisure, fun
• 14 files, 3 categories
• Guidelines to use; introductory story & ideas with related games, eg on the Chanukiah, potato, svivon; recipes.
• Files are labelled Parent/Child/Together.

Macam [Levinksy Teachers' College]

• http://web.macam.ac.il/~bev/Book/2%20hanukkah.htm
• 9-12 [non-native English speakers]; 8-10 [native lang.]
• Intro.  & leisure/fun/ study
• 1 long text file; line drawings, charts
• History, word puzzles, word games with dedicated lexicon, English songs, coded message, bingo, jumbled story etc; answers provided.

Mehalev

• http://www.mehalev.org.il/zipori/english/hnuka/strt.htm
• Children, families
• Study game
• Interactive
• Questions and answers light the Chanukiah.

Torahtots

• http://www.torahtots.com/holidays/chanuka/chanuk.htm
• Children
• Introductory and activity site
• “Fun” site with many activity files
• Traditional approach, very busy look aimed specifically at kids. Lots of background material, with pictures, audio files, greeting cards, games and activities. Requires Java plug-in for multimedia files

URJ Jewish Holidays

• http://urj.org/holidays/chanuka/
• Family, teachers, synagogue, early childhood, community leaders
• Intro. educationalwebsite for all family ages
• 7 internal sections with multiple content; 5 affiliated websites; some pdf files; sales resources
  Parent newsletters with ideas; Nefesh celebration and worship ideas; all-in Chanukah guide with timeline and activity plans; Chanukah glossary; UJ press; music sales database

Webquest on the Macabees:

• http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/activity/maccabees/
• History/Journalism
• Assignment with map, historical and support resources.

Students & Adults  

JEWFAQ

• http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday7.htm
• Teachers, adults, parents, students
• Overview of basics
• 1 file - main features explained
• Terms covered (mostly transliterations); sound files to download; laws, customs; latke recipe

Jewish Outreach Initiative

• http://www.joi.org/celebrate/hanuk/index.shtml
• Students, adults
• Basic site for people with little background
• Five main categories & explanatory links
• “DIY" guideline with stories; background information; recipes and customs presented in a fairly lighthearted manner

Torah Org [Project Genesis]

• http://www.torah.org/learning/yomtov/chanukah/
• Students and teachers, basic to advanced
• Learning and activity site
• 9 basic files, Online menorah, greeting card
• Introduction and background information, divrei Torah and insights. Orthodox/Traditional. DIY Chanukah cards.

Virtual Beit Midrash (Yeshivat Har Etzion)

• http://www.vbm-torah.org/chanuka.htm
• Advanced students and teachers
• Learning site
• Shiurim & Lectures on Chanukah topics from Yeshivat Har Etzion Faculty, Rashei Yeshiva

613 Org

• http://www.613.org/chanuka.html
• High-school to adult
• Audio files to listen to online or download
• Extensive selection of audio & video files for Hebrew & English speakers. Orthodox/ trad.

Hamakor – Web Shas: Aish Das Resource Library

• http://www.webshas.org/yomtov/chanukah.htm
• Family, teachers, adults
• Also links to an extensive list of Chanukah-related sites
• Orthodox; Jewish source references (Tanach, Talmud, Shulchan Arukh, etc.)  for Halachic questions, wide range of material on Chanukah         

Ohr Samayach

• http://www.ohr.org.il/special/chanukah/index.htm
• Students family
• Wide range of files
• Traditional Orthodox approach to Hanukah. Large file selection include, laws and traditions, background, stories, activities, some audio.

Orthodox Union

• http://www.ou.org/chagim/chanukah/default.htm
• Families, parents, advanced students
• Overview and learning site
• Dozens of background & source files, shiurim, blessings in translation, audio files, some fun and lecture links
• Orthodox perspective on holidays from basics to advanced. Q & A, Extensive files and links to Shiurim and lectures from other web sites, plus brachot in Russian and International Sign Language. Fire & Safety guidelines 

Sephardic

Midrash Ben Ish Hai

• http://www.midrash.org/halakha/hanukkah.html
• Family, adults
• Sephardic customs, traditions
• Traditional Sephardic customs and traditions, insights.

Specialty Sites

Haggadahs R Us

• http://www.haggadahsrus.com/HanukkahCelebration.htm
• Family
• Photos, excerpts: “A Different Light”
• Commercial site designed to sell the book.

C. Powerpoint Presentations & Films

Aish HaTorah

• http://www.aish.com/a/Chanukah_Miracles.asp
• http://www.aish.com/a/chanukah.asp 

Chabad

• http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/mediaplayer/left.asp?AID=219022&fileid=151256&position=&player=wm
• http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article.asp?AID=218973

D. Link Hubs

DataJEM

• http://www.datajem.com/Visitor/SearchResults.asp?stype=typesearch&subAll=yes&subn=hanukka&tn=
• Teachers, youth leaders, families
• Database of educational resources, producers, distributors
• Reviews & Synopsis: “How-To” guidelines for teaching resources
• Reviews: 63 activity books, 24 Audio visual materials, “Who Stole Chanukah” software, 6 curricular programs, 48 games & kits, 23 plays & presentations, >100 teaching resources for all age groups.

Education Department, The Jewish Agency for Israel
Chanukah Fun & Trivia Guide

• Teachers, families, youth leaders
• Chanukah Links to quizzes, plays, songs, crafts

The J-Site

• http://www.jr.co.il/hotsites/j-hdaych.htm
• General
• Links
• Links by category & language.
• Comprehensive collection: content, graphics, music

Holiday Home Pages

• http://holidays.bfn.org/xmas/chanuka.html
• Family
• Commercial site; Chanukah overview & activity; links
• Eighteen links &  files - not all updated
• Eclectic links to many other sites; some internal files: background, customs, explanations, recipes. Humorous approach.

E. eCards

Chabad Lubavitch

• http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/greetingcards/default.asp

Mile Chai

• http://www.judaicacards.com/chanukah-main.htm

Salem Global

• http://www.chanuka.com/postcard/postcard.shtml

Torah Org

• http://www.torah.org/services/cards/cardcat.php3?cat=Chanukah

123 Greetings

• http://www.123greetings.com/events/hanukkah/

Awesome Cards

• http://www.judaicacards.com/chanukah-main.htm

Blue Mountain

• http://www.bluemountain.com/category.pd?path=35530