How to Make Hanukkah More Meaningful This Year 

Some of my sweetest childhood memories are evoked by the sensory experiences of Hanukkah—the crackling sound of latkes frying in the pan, the lingering smell of their deliciousness filling the kitchen, the familiar tunes of the holiday, and the taste of sweet jelly doughnuts that are almost too sweet, but oh so delicious.

I remember the spinning of the dreidels and that rush of excitement and pure joy when the wrapping paper was torn away, revealing the gift I’d been waiting for. 

Now, 30 years later, as I prepare to make Hanukkah both fun and delicious for my own kids, I find myself wondering: how much is too much? The consumerism of it all is hard to ignore. Isn’t it excessive to give 8 nights of presents? How can we capture the joy and beauty of the holiday, while also honoring the traditions our ancestors have observed for centuries?

After much thought and reflection, I've come up with a few guidelines that I hope will help create a fun and meaningful holiday, while staying true to the Jewish values that matter most. I hope that one or more of these ideas resonate with you, and that they bring more intention to your own celebration.

Tzedakah: Bring your children to Target and have them select a toy to buy and gift to a family in need. There are many nonprofits including Chai Lifeline and LoveNGroceries that can help make this happen. 

Chesed: Bake Hanukkah cookies with your children, and deliver to a homebound senior, or even to the security guard at your synagogue. 

Masoret: Consider gifting your child a Star of David or Chai that you’ve had since you were a kid. We all have Judaica tucked away in our closet–items we haven’t worn since our bat mitzvah. These items symbolize l’dor v’dor (from generation to generation), connecting us to our heritage. It’s also eco-friendly gift giving :) 

And then create a new masoret buy buying yourself a new piece of Judaica that suits your adult taste, perhaps that diamond pendant you were eyeing! Or that petite star to layer with your daily stack.

Hachnasat Orchim: Host a festive meal, involve your children in the guest list, menu planning and execution of the event. Have them decorate the house, bake some cookies or pick out the flavor of donuts. 

Go the extra mile. Make it a point to have Hannukah music playing, sing songs after you light the menorah, get it on that game of dreidel. Make the holiday about more than just the presents and gelt. Create the memories for your children that they will want to recreate as adults.

May your Hanukkah be filled with joy, light, meaning and moderation! Happy Hanukkah!