Table of Contents
Introduction
Chanukah and the Environment
Program Ideas on the Environment
Chanukah and Economic Justice
Program Ideas on Economic Justice
Rekindling the Lamp: Chanukah and Children's Issues
Program Ideas on Children’s Issues
Chanukah and Religious Liberty
Program Ideas on Religious Liberty
Social Action Web Resources
In the middle of winter, we gather together around the Chanukah lights, spin the dreidle, eat latkes and jelly donuts, celebrating the festival of Chanukah. Chanukah takes its name of ‘dedication’ from the Maccabees’ rededication of the Temple after their battle against King Antiochus. By returning to and reclaiming the Temple, the Maccabees recommitted themselves to a Jewish way of life, to all that they held dear. Thus, Chanukah asks us to rededicate ourselves not only to our Judaism, but to the values we place at the center of our faith. In particular, Chanukah can be a time when we rededicate ourselves to the work of tikkun olam, repair of the world.
As the Maccabees had the courage to stand up for their beliefs, Chanukah encourages us to speak out about our values. The rabbis teach us to not only kindle the holiday lights in the privacy of our homes, but also to make known the miracles of Chanukah by placing our chanukiyot in the window. In turn, not only do we rekindle our personal commitments to social justice, but we also teach others, take action and advocate for the repair of the world.
This guide will focus on four issues connected with Chanukah: the environment, economic justice, children’s issues (including child slavery, child poverty and bullying) and religious liberty. These themes are linked by the theme of sustainability. As our ancestors worked to keep the light in the Temple burning from generation to generation, we work towards creating a just society that will endure from generation to generation – a society in which all of its members live in a dignified way, which preserves the environment and our natural resources, which protects and nurtures our children, and which continues to be a beacon of religious freedom.
Each section begins with an explanation about the connection between the social justice theme and Chanukah. After the introduction, you will find programs, projects, rituals and study topics that will connect Chanukah with the work of tikkun olam for families, social action committees, youth groups and other synagogue groups.
As we increase the lights of Chanukah, adding a candle each night, so too might we, by our actions, bring new light to the world: light to those living in poverty, light for our fragile ecosystems, light for all of our children and the light of religious liberty.
For information about celebrating Chanukah, visit the holiday's website of the Union for Reform Judaism (Union’s) Department of Worship, Music and Religious Living.
