Chanukkah is an expression of education [chinukh] in the way one educates a child to walk on their own, just as it said: "Educate a youth according to their own way" (Proverbs 22:6).
Sefat Emet, Genesis, For Chanukkah 20:3
The festival of Chanukkah typically conjures up images of candles, dreidels, donuts, and latkes. But you may also think of a less widely publicized association between Chanukkah and, you guessed it, education.
In the classic chasidic text Kedushat Levi, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev points out that the name Chanukkah (meaning dedication or preparation) comes from the same linguistic root as the Hebrew word for education: chinukh. Thus, he frames Chanukkah as a celebration of preparation and education — two important parts of every mitzvah.
So this Chanukkah we are celebrating the power of education by highlighting ways to increase learning among ourselves and our students.
Resources for Chanukkah Learning
Get started with our learning team's curated collection of Chanukkah resources, including introductory materials, a lesson plan, a scavenger hunt, and more. Or explore these insightful sheets from the Sefaria community:
- How do we, as educators, help our students form habits without making them feel meaningless and routine? See what Jewish texts have to say.
- Why is it important to publicize Chanukkah? Explore sources and discussion questions on the miracles of Chanukkah and the reasoning behind letting our candles burn in public view.
- Take a deep dive into the ideas and liturgical development of Al Hanisim, a prayer said on Chanukkah as part of the Amidah and Birkat HaMazon.
Recent Updates to the Library
We're always adding new texts and features to enrich learning through Sefaria. Here are a few updates we don't want you to miss:
- The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (BDB) is the latest reference tool available on Sefaria. Widely used among Jewish scholars and learners, the BDB dictionary is a comprehensive resource for studying definitions and uses of every Hebrew and Aramaic word in the Bible.
- You can now experience Rambam's Mishneh Torah in full English translation and interconnected with Talmud, Shulchan Arukh, and more. In time for the upcoming holiday, explore the volume on the Scroll of Esther and Chanukkah.
- Have you tried our new in-text search feature yet? In addition to searching the full library or by topic, you can also search within a specific book by clicking on a passage to open the resource panel and selecting 'Search in Text.' (Please note this feature is not yet available on the Sefaria app.)
Looking for a new way to make learning fun this Chanukkah? Sign up to receive Chanukkah-themed riddles each day of the holiday, which can be solved using the Sefaria library and search capabilities. Use them with your students, at home after candle lighting, or share with your community!
May this Chanukkah shine a light on the joys of learning for you, your students, and your loved ones.