Whether you are looking for videos, crafts, explanations, or more, jkidphilly is your one-stop-shop for all things Hanukkah.
Come for the latke recipes;
stay for the endless array of ways to celebrate with your jkids!
About Hanukkah
Children love Hanukkah, and why not? There are eight days of candle lighting, with candles increasing in number each night, there are lots of fried yummy foods, and did someone say presents?
Also known as the Festival of Lights or the Feast of Dedication, the holiday celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabean revolt against the Syrian-Greek army. The holiday takes place for eight nights and days, commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple. Here is a simplified version of the Hanukkah Story for kids.
Hanukkah takes place during the darkest part of the year. It’s at the end of the Hebrew month of Kislev, and the beginning of Tevet, so the moon is waning and then barely visible. It makes sky-watching really fun – especially with flashlights and glow sticks.
Everything you wanted to know about Hanukkah — and more!
- Download our Hanukkah Guide, featuring the story, dreidel instructions, and candle blessings on one easy sheet!
- Read our jkidACCESS Hanukkah Social Story
- Learn some Hanukkah sign language!
- Use these visual blessings to help teach the ritual.
- Try this BimBam blessings postcard.
- Try to do a mitzvah each night using our “8 Nights, 8 Mitzvot” guide.
- Learn the best way to share Hanukkah at your jkid’s school.
- Check out PJ Library’s Hanukkah Hub.
Crafts and games for a super fun Hanukkah
- Dreidel: the quintessential Hanukkah game!
- Try a rousing game of Hanukkah Bingo; download and print.
- Print and color our Hanukkah cards and send them to friends and family.
- Explore all different kinds of Hanukkah activities!
- Fill out some Hanukkah mad libs!
- The jkidphilly Hanukkah Pinterest board is chock-full of fun ideas!
- Check out the jkidphilly calendar to see what we have going on for Hanukkah.
Nothing says Hanukkah like the smell of latkes! Learn how to make them — and more!
- Five easy latke recipes to make with kids.
- Try making your own sufganiyot or bimuelos!
- Create an edible menorah or try your hand at making a s’menorah!
- Everyone’s a winner with a marshmallow dreidel.
- Make and decorate your own stained glass cookies.
Videos for all ages
- Our very own Lisa Litman tells the Hanukkah story on Facebook!
- Light the Hanukkah candles with Lisa and a special guest!
- Baby Bear and Telly talk about Hanukkah in this Shalom Sesame clip.
- Older kids will like this animated Hanukkah story.
- Watch this reading of Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins.
Get into the spirit of Hanukkah with this playlist
- Spice up your Hanukkah with the jkidphilly Spotify playlist.
- Sing through the lyrics of these traditional Hanukkah songs or these Hanukkah song parodies.
There’s nothing like curling up with a good book as the candles glow
PJ Library is full of wonderful Hanukkah stories to share. These are some of our favorites: