Fun Hanukkah Tune

I love when a cappella groups take on current songs and make them interesting. I especially love when they rewrite the lyrics, especially when it's a Jewish group! Check out YU's (Yeshiva University) group, the Maccabeats, with their song "Candlelight," a take off of Taio Cruz's "Dynamite."

G-dcast Spins Hanukkah!

If you are a regular reader of this blog, or even just pop in once in a while, you know that we love g-dcast - a website that posts weekly cartoon interpretations of the weekly Torah portion. They're smart, funny, and relevant!

I posted this last year in time for Hanukkah, and thought I would post it again. Time to revisit the story of Hanukkah - is it the one you remember from your childhood? Any differences?

Consider these questions once you view the clip:

• What are the four letters on the sides of a dreidel? What do they stand for?
• What sorts of things did the Greeks outlaw?
• What did the Greeks do to the Temple?
• How did people react to the new Greek laws? What were the different reactions?
• What were the different ways in which people rebelled?
• What was the one miraculous thing, according to the narrator?
• What happened when the Maccabees finally won?
• How long did the oil last?

Hanukkah Prep

While its date in the Jewish calendar is always the same (the 25th day of the month of Kislev), Hanukkah falls early in our secular calendar, landing only a few weeks from now on December 1st. While the sales frenzy of this time of year is only starting to get revved up (Black Friday, anyone?), now is the time to take a measured look at what gifts your family will give and receive this holiday.

Books

What a wonderful time to give Jewish books to your family. Last year I wrote about PJ Library, a free program in some communities that will send your child a free Jewish book every month. If you do not happen to live in one of these sponsored communities, you can purchase a subscription. This will extend the giving year-round.

Want to pick some books out for your children? There are a number of good sources for Jewish books - here is Kar-Ben's Hanukkah collection, and you can find a large number of Jewish books on a number of topics.

Behrman House, another Jewish publisher, has a Hanukkah catalog, which you can find here. Use discount code HAN2010 for 20% off.

Shalom Sesame

Brand new for 2010 - Shalom Sesame, a hybrid version of Sesame Street and Rechov Sumsum (Sesame Street in Hebrew, literally), is a fun show that introduces children to Israel and Jewish holidays. Check out the web page for the new show - you can purchase the first two episodes here - #1: Welcome to Israel, and #2: Chanukah - the Missing Menorah (which I will review on the blog next week).

Give Back

Many of us are quite fortunate to have the resources to provide gifts for our children during this fun holiday. Take one evening, and instead of giving gifts (if it is your practice to give gifts each night, or even if it is not your tradition at all), give to others who need the extra boost. Perhaps you can pick an organization together as a family, and take the money you would have spent on gifts and donate it instead. Another option is to go shopping and pick up items that a local food bank, soup kitchen, or other worthy place could distribute. Helping to pick out the items to be donated could be a very meaningful activity for your family.

Check back for more holiday resources coming soon!

Parshat Vayeitzei

Parshat Vayeitzei, the seventh portion in the book of Genesis (Bereisheet), tells of Jacob leaving (va'yeitzei - and he left) Beer Sheva and headed for Haran. Along the way, he stops for the evening, and goes to sleep, using a stone for a pillow. That night he had dreamt of a ladder than stretched up to the heavens with angels ascending and descending the structure. God stands beside Jacob and tells him that the land on which he stands will one day belong to Jacob and his descendants and they will be blessed. Additionally, God promises that Jacob will return safely to his home.

In Haran, Jacob comes to his Uncle Laban's house, and falls in love with Laban's daughter, Rachel. In exchange for Rachel's hand, Jacob agrees to work for seven years. At the end of the seven years, the wedding feast Jacob prepares to marry Rachel, but finds Leah as his bride instead. Understandably upset by this outcome, Jacob confronts Laban, only to be told that it is not Laban's practice to marry off the younger daughter before the older. The agree that Jacob will be allowed to marry Rachel as well, but must work another seven years.

After his many years of servitude and the births of many children, Jacob decides it is time to leave his uncle's home and return to the land of his birth. Jacob and Laban work out an agreement over the payment of Jacob's wages, but Laban's sons are unhappy with the arrangement. With Laban suddenly expressing some doubts as well and the situation becoming increasingly tense, Jacob, Rachel, and Leah decide to leave quickly, not even stopping to say goodbye. On the way, Rachel steals her father's set of idols. When Laban discovers that these important items are missing, he persues his daughters and son-in-law. Laban catches up with the groups, and he and Jacob discuss the matter, eventually resolving a number of issues that had built up between the two of them over Jacob's twenty years with Laban's household. The two reconcile, and Jacob and his family resume their journey.

Questions for your Shabbat table:

• When Jacob awoke from his dream, he sensed God's presence and was changed. Have you ever had a dream experience that had such an effect on you?
• During his time in Haran, Jacob is the victim of tricks and lies. What do you do when you think someone is not being honest with you?
• Have you ever lied to anyone? How does it make you feel? How do you think the other person feels if they discover the truth?
• Is it ever acceptable to lie? Why or why not?
• At the end of the portion, Jacob and Laban discuss their disagreements and are able to resolve some of their differences. Can you think of someone with whom you disagree with whom you could make peace?

Enjoy this week's g-dcast: