HANUKKAH
Spiritual care, resources and events
“Together, we rededicate ourselves to the sacred possibility of the world as it could be – the world we want – a world in which we navigate the long nights not by tearing each other down but by moving forward together; in which our people power and our light continues to grow each day.”
– Rabbi Laura Bellows, Director of Spiritual Activism & Education, Dayenu
🕎 An Anti-Authoritarian Hanukkah Gathering
Join us on the third night of Hanukkah for candle lighting and a mini training to prepare us to resist authoritarian power grabs and defend our freedoms.
We’ll come together, eat latkes and other fried treats, light candles, share kvetches and camaraderie, and feel a little lighter and less alone.
We’ll also discuss the current moment and learn about mass movement plans to take action to defend our freedoms. This event is hosted in partnership with the Jews For Freedom Coalition.
About the Jews For Freedom Coalition
Jews for Freedom is a coalition of Jews across the U.S. mounting a full-throated and widespread Jewish resistance to authoritarianism. The coalition formed recently in response to the relentless attacks on democracy and the rule of law in our country. In December, many of the organizations behind Jews for Freedom are holding gatherings that celebrate the joy of Hanukkah – and invite us to recommit to struggles for freedom and against authoritarian leaders.📚 resourceS
Download and share resources to bring climate awareness + action into your Hanukkah celebration.
1. Kislev Resource One-pager: A learning and discussion guide for the month of Hanukkah to bring a spirit of resilience, hopeful possibility, and climate action to your Hanukkah gathering.
2. Songs for a just and livable future: Lyrics and music links to uplift your gatherings.
Kislev 2025 Resource
A short ritual guide for the month of Hanukkah, connecting the miracle of the oil to today’s need for renewables.
Rising Tides, Rising Voices Songbook (2nd Edition)
Music to inspire and mobilize, energize us for the streets and the long-haul, and comfort us in times of grief.
📖 Climate Torah
What does Hanukkah have to do with climate change? Everything.
- Publicizing the miracle: There is a tradition of lighting Hanukkah candles in a window or publicly-visable place to publicize the wonder of the Hanukkah miracle. The climate movement also needs good storytelling and to publicize the hard-won and miraculous global growth of renewables – 2025 has been a pivotal year for solar around the world!
- Hanukkah often coincides with the Winter Solstice. What gifts does this season of dreams and wintering have to offer our movement? How can we best embrace this season of rest and reflection to take stock, check in with our people, grieve our losses, celebrate our wins, and build power to show up even stronger for the work ahead?
- As we recall the ancient Hanukkah story of one night’s worth of oil lasting for eight days, we ask: What actions can we take collectively to shift from scarce energy sources, like fossil fuels, to energy sources that will sustain us for the long-haul?
- A famous Talmudic debate recalls a disagreement between Rabbi Hillel and Rabbi Shammai about how to light the Hanukkah candles. Should we start by lighting eight candles and light one fewer each night (Shammai), or should we light one candle and increase the light with each passing day? Hillel won the argument and today Jewish communities around the world follow the tradition of ma’alin bakodesh v’ayn moredin – increasing the sanctity (and light) and not reducing it. Said another way: keep growing and protecting the light of this sacred world, and don’t back down!
Why It Matters Today
Hanukkah celebrates the triumph of courage, persistence, and hope against overwhelming odds — themes deeply resonant for climate justice. Just as the Maccabees refused to accept defeat, today we refuse to accept that our planet’s story must end in despair. The miracle of Hanukkah reminds us that we have enough — even to fuel a movement.Lighting candles during Hanukkah is an act of spiritual resistance: a declaration that even in the longest nights, we choose light. Participating in Hanukkah rituals and celebration grounds us in joy and resilience.🔥 Take Action with Dayenu
- Download Our Kislev Guide: Include learning, visioning, and lively discussion at your Hanukkah gathering or Dayenu Circle meeting. 15-25 minutes activities – pair it with food, campaign strategy, and Hanukkah fun.
- Attend our virtual Hanukkah gathering, hosted with Jews for Freedom.
- Dedicate one night to collective giving — support Dayenu’s work for bold Jewish climate action.