Nu? This Hanukkah in Jews and Social Justice

Tonight marks the half-way point of Hanukkah, the fourth candle. There are probably a few things we can cut back on: another night of latkes, baked goods, chocolate coins. There are also things we should continue to move towards: ways of being a light in the world, year-end giving, and connecting with family and friends. In that spirit, Chanel Dubofsky, our new Pursue staff member, wrote a post for Where Do You Give about her tzedakah practice. She says, “Giving is also a feminist act…”  Upload your story or video today to tell us where you give.

• When one thinks Hanukkah, images of latkes and donuts are usually come to mind. While latkes may be a Hanukkah staple, they come in many varieties and aren’t the only foods traditionally eaten during the holiday. Amy Spiro of The Jewish Week asks us to Think Beyond the Jelly Doughnut this Hanukkah season. The Jew and the Carrot share Italian Jewish recipes in their piece, Buon Hanukkah! An Italian Holiday Feast!  and The Tastes of Kurdish Hanukkah. The Jewish Women’s Archive shares Indian Jewish treats, Aloo Gobi Latkes, anyone? One of the spiciest latkes we came across was this one from Mexikosher. You can’t go wrong with tequilla-laced latkes.

• For eight nights Jews light the hanukkiah. We place the light not on our kitchen tables, but in windows as a declaration of our Judaism and as a reminder to be light in the world. Turning Hanukkah into a Holiday of Helping is an article written by Kate Shellnut for the Houston Chronicle. It’s the story of seven-year-old twins who decided to make the Festival of Lights a time to give back. It’s Okay to be Neither by Melissa Bollow Tempel is an inspirational story of a kindergarten teacher who is a light to her students, teaching about gender roles in a way that 5 year-olds can understand. “My uncle wears black nail polish!” exclaims one excited student.

• A lot of great pieces about navigating family dinners as a LGBTQ religious person were featured on the Huffington Post this week. Homos Guide for the Holidays: A Religion Survival Guide by Rev. Jay Emerson Johnson, Ph.D., Queer and Immigrant for the Holidays by Erwin de Leon, and Renewal and Rededication: Supporting LGBT Equality During Hanukkah by Miriam Lazewatsky all serve as sometimes humourous, but important ways of thinking about inclusion and acceptance of all during the holiday season.

• It wouldn’t be a holiday without videos. This one by G-d Cast tells the animated story of Hanukkah. Jon Stewart tries to convince Steven Colbert to consider Hanukkah in this one. Elmo confuses harmonica and Hanukkah here. Meanwhile, the LeeVees and Time just want to know, how do you spell Hanukkah?

Tagged as: hanukkah, holidays, LGBT, nu