Hanukkah

Download a new song for Chanukah

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Kids now have a new song for Chanukah, courtesy of The Laurie Berkner Band. It’s a fun song kids can sing along with.

“I wrote this song about Hanukkah (Chanukah) thinking of the warm feelings that come from having a celebration at home with family and friends,” says Laurie Berkner. “Where the focus on remembering the past and enjoying the present creates feelings of love and hope through simple rituals like singing, sharing a meal, playing games, and lighting 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 candles over the eight nights of this holiday.”

The song is soft, soulful, and memorable, and will be enjoyed by all ages not only this year but in years to come.

“I remember what it’s for, and the world lights up a little more,” Berkner remarked about the holiday.

While there are countless Christmas songs for kids, there are not too many great Chanukah songs and this new single is just what is needed in these times. Kids can celebrate the holiday, light the menorah, and sing along and enjoy everything Chanukah means and brings for all eight nights.

The new song is geared for ages 1 – 8, but adults will also enjoy singing along.

For more information about Laurie and to get this new Chanukah song, go to her website.

You can download or stream Laurie Berkner’s “Lighting the Menorah” from major music platforms like Amazon, Apple Music (iTunes), and her official site’s shop at (https://laurieberkner.com) with streaming available on Spotify, YouTube Music and SoundCloud.

Laurie Berkner

Business Insider dubbed Laurie “the gold standard of the children’s music world.” As a leader and innovator in children’s music and entertainment for more than 25 years, Laurie has released 17 bestselling, award-winning albums, was the first recording artist to ever appear in music videos on Noggin and Nick, Jr., appeared regularly on those channels’ Jack’s Big Music Show, and helped develop the short form animated musical preschool series Sing It, Laurie! on Universal Kids (formerly Sprout TV).

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites and is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Celebrate Chanukah 2023 with facts and fun from PJ Library

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

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)