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Moving forward, all of our source sheets, and program ideas will live here!

Jewish Holidays and Commemorations

Hanukkah: Dec 14^th – Dec 22^nd (Sundown-Sundown)

Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights. While many around the world consider Hanukkah to be a major Jewish celebration, it is one of our more minor festivals, not even mentioned in Torah. It has its origin story in the Talmud when the Rabbis asked, ‘What is Hanukkah’. We read the story of the Maccabean Revolt and hear how the spirit, not the might of the Jewish people allowed them to reconquer the Holy Temple that was taken over by the Greek Hellenists. The miracle of the oil was that it lasted 8 nights instead of one, which was enough time for the Jews to cleanse the Temple of pagan influences and rededicate it. We light candles for 8 nights, eat foods fried in oil, and remember the might of the Jewish people. We also place our Hanukkah menorahs (Hanukkiyot) in the window to share the light with those around us. 

• 🧿 Have a Las Vegas Dreidel upside down dreidel spinning tournament. (Hint, the cheap plastic ones work the best. Here’s the history of the dreidel. 
• This Hanukkah resource will help you figure out how YOUR ritual of lighting the Hanukkah menorah can be unique and special. Light your candles with the community members, creating symbolism, adding meaning and highlighting the values that bring light to your Moishe House.  
• 🧿 Craft night. Get clear contact paper, tissue paper and make stained glass window clings. Or make a DIY menorah with this ready to go program DIY Hanukkah menorah
• 🧿 Host a candle making program, draw inspo from this ready to go program.  
• 🧿 Host a Deep Fry Frenzy party 
• 🧿 Hallmark Hanukkah Bingo for “Oy to the World”
• 🧿 Register for the Jewish Studio Projects virtual Hanukkah art-making event on Thursday, December 11th
• 🧿 Hanukkah falls at the end of the year this year: Celebrate the holiday and host a 2025 Siyum PowerPoint Party to give the gift of learning!
• 🌱 Interfaith program: Use the lights of Hanukkah and the opportunity to teach about sharing the light and invite another neighborhood organization to come and light the menorah with you
• 🌱 Guilt Free Gelt: Host a gelt making class or enjoy some guilt free gelt while learning about the chocolate industry and how to live our Jewish values through chocolate consumption 

Chag HaBanot – The Daughter’s Holiday: Sat Dec 20^th

Middle Eastern and North African Jewish communities (MENA) celebrate the role of women in Judaism on this festival that generally takes place on the 7^th night of Hanukkah. While many of our stories in Jewish life center around men, this one acknowledges the contributions of women. The story of Judith who tricked Holofernes is often read and women light the candles in honor of other women.  

• 🧿 Host a female identifying candle lighting. Look at the role of women in Judaism – Here are some ideas
• 📖 Study the text that talks about how Judith fed salty cheese to Holofernes (the enemy) to make him thirsty and drunk
• 🧿📖 Host a wine and cheese or dairy program using this resource sheet or this resource sheet
• 📖🫂 Explore resources from the National Council of Jewish Women to inspire a program about Judaism and gender.
• 📖🫂 Reflect on Jewish women’s prayer practices or explore historical examples of women’s prayer leadership

Rosh Chodesh Tevet: Sat Dec 20^th and Sun 21^st

The Hebrew month of Tevet is the 10^th month of the calendar and is always 29 days. It contains a minor fast day on the 10^th of the month which mourns the destruction of Jerusalem from the Babylonians (586 BCE). The zodiac symbol for this month is the goat. Here are a few more facts about the month of Tevet, and here is a Rosh Chodesh Source Sheet.

• 📖 Goat Yoga for Rosh Chodesh Tevet! 
• 🧿 Consider hosting an At the Well Rosh Chodesh Circle for Tevet and Chag HaBanot
• 🧿🫂 Learn about Jewish feminist Gloria Steinem, by watching a documentary on her life such as “Gloria: In Her Own Words” (2011) on HBO

Torah Portions

Saturday, December 6^th: Vayishlach – “And He Sent”

This Torah portion begins with Jacob encountering the thought of a reunion with his brother Esau. Jacob wrestles with the divine, has his name changed to Israel, and then reunites with Esau. There is a touching moment of reunion and then they agree to separate in peace. This portion also teaches of the Rape of Dinah (one of Jacob’s daughters). Towards the end of the portion Isaac dies at 180 years old and Jacob and Esau unite to bury him.

• 📖 Use “Sweet Dreams Are Made of These” one of our ready-to-go programs to explore what to do when you have a bad dream!  
• 🧿 Host a Jewish storytelling evening inspired by The Moth with the prompt being “Stories about our Names.” Consider starting the evening by telling the story from this week’s parashah about Jacob being renamed Israel. 
• 🌱 Partner with a Domestic abuse shelter, or advocate for rape awareness or safety programs. In the USA, partner with Survived and Punished to write letters to survivors.

Saturday, December 13^th: Vayeshev – “And He Settled”

Joseph and the Coat – this Torah portion begins with the description of Joseph’s dream that he shared with his siblings, shares that Jacob gave Joseph the special coat and then documents how Josephs brothers grew jealous of Joseph and left him in a pit for dead. The story of Judah and Tamar is also in this portion. There there’s more about dreams as Joseph is called up to interpret dreams for Pharaoh as well. 

• 🧿 Watch/sing along with Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Have everyone wear a brightly colored or striped sweater or shirt
• 🌱 Partner with a restorative justice/prison reform org in your area and discuss Jewish ideas on justice systems
• 📖 Explore the wild story of Judah and Tamar

Saturday, December 20^th: Miketz – “At the End”

Joseph is still wrongly imprisoned in Egypt while his family has no idea that he’s alive. As Joseph rises to vice-regal office of Egypt because of his ability to interpret dreams, he shares his knowledge of years of famine and years of plenty. Jacob realized that there was opportunity in Egypt and sent his sons there to see if they could purchase some grain. Ultimately, they end up face to face with their long-lost brother Joseph, only, they don’t know it.  

• 📖 Invite a financial planner to come in and do a resource session – this portion has a lot about saving resources, and your 20’s and 30’s are the best time to start thinking about saving, even a little bit.
• 📖 Use “Sweet Dreams Are Made of These” one of our ready-to-go programs to explore Jewish dream interpretation!  
• 📖 Explore the history of court Jews

Saturday, December 27^th: Vayigash – “And He Approached”

 Joseph can’t keep his identity a secret for long. In the beginning of this portion he reveals his identity in a dramatic moment and asks his brothers to load up their possessions and bring them and their father to Egypt – thus getting the Israelite clan into Egypt and setting the stage for the Book of Exodus. Joseph takes care of his father and his brothers in Egypt.

• 🌱 Jacob and his sons came down to Egypt to escape the famine. Famine, hunger, and lack of resources are serious problems for many in our society. Do some learning about food insecurity and see how you can help. Mazon is a great partner for this advocacy effort 

Secular Celebrations and Remembrances

December 1st (Mo): World AIDS Day