I'm not Jewish, but would like to teach my kids about Hanukkah,?

Question

Would it be ok to celebrate this without offending any one, and what would be a good website to learn about it? I am thinking about doing it next year when my kids are old enough to remember it, right now they are 2 and 3.

I was asked why would I celebrate something I don't beleive in, the thing is I do beleive in the miracle of the lights. I guess part of me wants to know why I can't celebrate it, which was also stated to me, that I can teach my kids about it, but what will they learn without the celebration. I want my children to grow up with the knowledge of different cultures, with the understanding of them. I don't want them to feel like I forced my personal religous beliefs on them. I want to let them make their own minds about God.

Answer 1

There is a terrific kids site called www.babaganews.com. It is totally for kids, explains stuff in a kid-friendly way, and has lots of games/links etc... about all of the holidays celebrated in Judaism. Also, any public library will have children's books about Hannukah, and you can always check out a couple of those to read to your kids.

I would not suggest getting your own menorah and performing your own candle lighting. If you are not Jewish, this may be confusing for your very young children and you will not know the appropriate blessings and such for the candle lighting. I would also suggest that you wait until your kids are old enough to absolutely understand that there are different religions and beliefs. Next year yours will be 3 and 4, and that might be a little early for a comparative religion discussion.

If you are seriously wanting to introduce them to various religions and their holidays, I would suggest that you look up Reform Synagogues in your area. Most Reform Synagogues and Temples have an Outreach program that offers education services to people of other faiths, and organizes inter-faith visitations during services. You would be more than welcome to attend Hanukkah services (or any other services for that matter) with your children, and most temples have child-friendly programs on the first or second night that may include storytelling and skits that explain the story of Hanukkah.

I commend you for your open minded approach. Happy Holidays to you and your family.

Answer 2

Do you celebrate Rammadan as well? No seriously, you should think about it a bit. Being Christian and wanting to celebrate Chanukka is very contradictory because you would celebrate something that stands as well for the fight against alien and secular influences. So if Christianity would have been around already at times of the Maccabees, the first Christians would have been among the first the Maccabees had fought against and killed. The Maccabees fought against secular Jews and Greek culture and influence and put up a more observant Judaism after they succeeded. Christianity is closer to greek culture than to Judaism and I think it is pretty strange to celebrate something that would have been against Christianity if it were already around at those times. Besides it is pretty strange to "teach" traditions that are not your's because I would bet that you're going to do it wrong - you are not Jewish and you can't celebrate Jewish holidays as you do not know how to celebrate them and it's not part of your culture. If you want to teach your children respect for other religions just tell them about, but don't try to play it - that's the contrary of respect and I do not think that your children need to know it that well that they are forced to play it. I mean, all three religions, Judaism, Islam and Christianity have a lot in common but it does not mean that one goes into other religions like into a shop and takes what he wants just to make the own thing nicer - that's respectless and it would never come into my mind to celebrate Christmas just because all people around me do. Yes, when I was a child, I always wanted a Christmas tree and cried every year because I wanted one so badly, but my parents did never buy one just to satisfy my wish to grab from other traditions what seems nice. And I think you shouldn't do this either. Stay with your traditions and expalin your children that there are other religions with their own traditions, tell them what they do and why, but don't do it with them.

Answer 3

My husband is Jewish and so are his two children (teen's now) and my son and I are Catholic. We celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah. Don't worry about what anyone thinks...your opening your children's eyes to the rest of the world. Until I met my husband my son thought Catholicism was the only religion out there. We all have a great time.

So that I could learn along with my husbands two children who were 2 and 3 when we met, I went to the library and got books to read together. Each child got a menorah and a manger scene each year so that whey they were grown they'd have varieties.

I also went to one of the synagogues and a Jewish book store and looked at all the different learning instruments they had. It helped a lot.

If you ever want to make matzo ball soup...don't sweat it. Make chicken noodle soup (without the noodles) and just add matzo balls. Be sure to add carrots!

As big a world as we have...we should all try to learn as much as we can about everyone and their interests. It makes us more interesting, adds to our life and who knows who you might meet in your journey.

I'm sure I'll get arguments but many of the prayers said in Hebrew are very similar to the prayers in the Catholics say each Sunday. The two religions are very similar in so many ways.

Answer 4

Kudos!

Your kids are lucky to have such an intelligent role model.

There is nothing wrong with embracing the old Judeo-Christian traditions. In fact, some Catholic churches have started doing Passover Seders in April to reclaim some of their roots (the Seder was Jesus' "Last Supper").

Some things to include in your Hannukah celebrations that are more tradition based:

Foods:
"Soofganiot": traditional hannukah jelly donuts.
Potato Latkes: potato pancakes. (mixes can be bought in the grocery store to avoid all the work)
Chocolate Hanukkah gelt: chocolates shaped like coins in gold wrappers.

There is a lot of music too that is sung at Hanukkah. It's worth researching some of the songs.

Answer 5

I don`t see why there would be anything wrong with telling the story of the Maccabees, lighting candles on a Hannukiah, playing driedel, eating latkes and giving gifts for 8 successive days in a row! My school (in Japan) is having a winter program and we are doing all of these things (except the gift exchange) to teach Japanese children about Hannukah and the Jewish people. None of us are Jewish, but we thought it would be a fun event and promote understanding among ourselves and the students. We have also been invited to a synogogue in Tokyo for a special Hannukah dinner put on especially for non-jews. It is put on by the Israel/Japan association.

I say go for it! I am half tempted to do celebrate hannukah in my own home, eventhough I am a Christian. Not everyone who celebrates Christmas is exctly Christian either (especially here in Japan)! But it is a wonderful way to understand others and share in their special occasions.

Answer 6

I think it's great that you want to open your children to other cultures and ideas. I am Jewish and grew up in New Jersey. The community was both Jewish and Christian. At school we made latkes, played dreidel, and explained the story of Channukah. We also met Santa, made paper Christmas trees, and learned the story of Christmas. We sang songs for both durring our holiday concert I enjoyed all of that but at the same time, kept my religious identity. There are Jewish kids who had "Channukah Bushes", it was disturbing because they forgot who they were and adapted to another culture.

You may have more interest in Judaism than just Channukah, explore it. Many times someone who takes an interest in Judaism doesn't realize it at first but they may have a Jewish background. I don't recommend you participate in Channukah because it is cerimonial. We light the menorah and say a prayer. We eat things made with oil to celebrate our survival. The gift giving is more of an American thing. Israeli's give children money and chocolate gelt.

On a last note, I do not recommend you pay attention to Messianic Judasim. They do not follow our beliefs and it is not an example of what we are.

Answer 7

There are two aspects...the historical and the religious.

The historical facts are easily found and make for a good story.

The religious aspects, aside from trying to explain the miracle of the oil, are that hanukkah is universal in that it is about religious freedom. Additionally, the customs surrounding the holiday can be fun for all.

The one thing that should absolutely NOT be said is that hanukkah is the 'Jewish christmas' or vice-versa.

Answer 8

Go to the Library with your kids. Get a book out about Chanukah and then read it to them and maybe you and your kids know all about Chanukah. Chanukah is 8 days. We celebrate Chanukah 8 days. Hi I am a floor Clerk at the library in Lincolnwood we have great books all about Chanukah.. Stop by at any library and ask the Youth department about Chanukah Books. This is a good question and I think I give it 4 stars for you....

Answer 9

There is a beautiful song called the Hanukkah Wish. It can be sung in a chorus, lyrics are:

May you have happiness throughout your life
May you be prosperous and wise
May your nights be warm and days be filled with laughter
This is my Hanukkah wish.
Eight candles with shimmering nights-on the manorah so bright
Eight candles are burning bright reflecting my wi-----sh
reflecting my wi--sh tonigh---t
and may you know the joy of gi--ving
Finding your love is filled with hope
May you know the love of cherished friends and family
This is my Hanukkah wish
May you know the love of cherished friends and family
This is my Hanukkah wish for you
This is my Ha--nu-kkah wi---------sh.

This is the soprano portion of the song and also the melody.

Answer 10

I don't think any holidays are that important, really, but it basically involves lighting candles every night on the menorrah.

Kindling the Hanukkah Lights

The primary ritual, according to Jewish law and custom, is to light a single light each night for eight nights. As a universally-practiced "beautification" of the mitzvah, the number of lights lit is increased by one each night.[7] An extra light called a shamash, meaning guard or servant is also lit each night, and is given a distinct location, usually higher or lower than the others. The purpose of the extra light is to adhere to the prohibition, specified in the Talmud...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannukah