So. Much. Hanukkah.

With the festival of lights starting this evening (are you ready to light the menorah? Check out [url=http://tinyurl.com/IFFHanukkah]our new video for candle lighting instructions[/url], below, if you’re unsure or just want a refresher), this week I’m bringing you a Hanukkah hodgepodge.

Let’s start with the folks at BBYO/Panim, who have a great new resource. [url=http://www.bbyo.org/happyhanukkah/ ]In Those Days, At This Time[/url] links the history of Hanukkah to the virtues of service and advocacy today – and tomorrow! Be sure to watch their video guide and start a conversation as you light the candles in your homes.

Hanukkah always bring out new music, and this year there’s plenty to choose from:

• https://youtube.com/watch?v=Gv-7WdpB72o

  Matisyahu turns pop singer with “Miracle,” his new Hanukkah song;

• the a cappella group from Yeshiva University, the Maccabeats, has reworked “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz to bring us
  https://youtube.com/watch?v=qSJCSR4MuhU
  Candlelight;
• from [url=http://www.chanarothman.com/:s9ln24lm]Chana Rothman[/url], Naomi Less, and Sara Aroeste comes “A New Light,” recorded in Hebrew, English, and Ladino ([url=http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/3061545]available streaming or as free download[/url]);
• https://youtube.com/watch?v=K4EJfUtYknU

  Fa La Freezing by My First Earthquake is a cute holiday song – with a bonus interfaith angle;

• and Bible Raps brings us

  Light Is in the Air.

And if you want to sing your own songs, [url=http://originaljewish.com/holidays-resource-page/hanukkah-songs/ ]Original Jewish has compiled a whole bunch of them[/url], and offers up the songs for download in English, Hebrew, and transliteration.

Looking for a new spin on the Hanukkah story?  [url=http://www.g-dcast.com/chanukah:s9ln24lm]G-dcast Spins Hanukkah[/url] in this retelling of the history of the holiday. Meanwhile, [url=http://punktorah.org/indieyeshiva/holidays/hanukkah-in-62-seconds.htm:s9ln24lm]PunkTorah gives you the whole story in 62 seconds[/url], below. (You can also check them out doing a live candle lighting tonight, Dec. 1st at 7pm EST, on [url=http://oneshul.org/online-services-classes/online-prayer-service/ ]OneShul.org[/url].) Meanwhile, Storahtelling has Judy the Maccabee for the [url=http://storahtelling.blogspot.com/2010/11/storahsteps-chanukah-video-2010-from.html]preschooler in all of us[/url].

Jennie at ModernTribe has some [url=http://blog.moderntribe.com/2010/11/hanukkah-gifts-for-kids-2010-hanukkah.html:s9ln24lm]fun[/url] [url=http://blog.moderntribe.com/2010/11/my-favorite-new-menorahs-2010-hanukkah.html:s9ln24lm]Hanukkah[/url] [url=http://blog.moderntribe.com/2010/11/hanukkah-gifts-for-dad-2010-hanukkah.html]swag[/url] (and you might recognize [url=/holidays/shabbat_and_other_holidays/Baxter_the_Pig_Who_Wanted_to_Be_Kosher/]our favorite kosher pig[/url] amongst the gift ideas!).

For those of you who are creative DIYers, check out the [url=http://lifehacker.com/software/contest/diy-holiday-contest–submit-your-best-project-217178.php]Lifehacker DIY Holiday Contest[/url]. (My favorite entry thus far? The [url=http://lifehacker.com/219100/diy-holiday-contest-the-peznorah]Peznorah[/url]!)

And, lastly, I leave you with [url=http://jewishcommunitypledge.org/teen-video-kavanah-for-hanukkah]this video[/url], below, made by teens of the Gay-Straight Alliance at the A. J. Heschel School in New York, shared by [url=http://keshetonline.org/ ]Keshet[/url], encouraging us all to make our communities more welcoming as we light the menorah tonight.

Happy Hanukkah!