Celebrate Chanukah 2023 with facts and fun from PJ Library

Category: Activities, Performances, & Events

PJ Library helps families celebrate and learn about Chanukah (Hanukkah) with plenty of fun activities and recipes. 

This year Chanukah runs from December 7 – 15. It is especially important to learn about the Festival of Lights, given the state of the world at the moment and the rise of antisemitism.  

For 2023, the ever-popular, resource-packed Hanukkah Hub has been updated with fun new crafts and activities, assuring there’s never a dull moment! Families will be able to embrace the Jewish values of curiosity, learning – and good food! — with new downloadable activities including building a Clay and Craft Stick Menorah, Color your own Dreidel Letters and Hanukkah Story Puppets and How to Play Dreidel, as well as 10 Easy (and Kid-Approved) Hanukkah Recipes with Hanukkah Stained Glass Cookies, kid favorite Sufganiyot Mini Donut Holes or Hidden Veggie Latkes. For those seeking a break with screentime, PJ Library also has specially curated a list of Hanukkah videos and movies to watch together, featuring the “Hanukkah Shaboom! Special”, “A Rugrats Chanukah” and more. And, as one of the largest free storybook programs in the world, we’d be remiss in not mentioning The Ultimate List of Books about Hanukkah offering up the very best in holiday page turners.

 During a time when educating people of other walks and religions is of paramount importance, PJ Library also offers families tips on how to give an elementary or preschool classroom a crash course in Hanukkah with quick guides for teachers, parents and kids, as well as age-appropriate suggestions for activities and crafts, and a discussion guide. For parents seeking a deeper dive into the holiday, PJ Library offers a video from Dasee Berkowitz, author of “Becoming a Soulful Parent: A Path to Wisdom Within” offering practical and uplifting suggestions on how to make this Hanukkah celebration special. (Photos courtesy PJ Library)