I have a Little Dreidel is one of our favorite Chanukah songs and we can't get the diddy out of our head for all eight days. To keep it fresh, we make out little dreidel not just out of clay.... I have a little drediel, I made it out of glass. My mom said when I spin it, to spin it on the grass.
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of brass. I bought it in to Hebrew School and showed it to my class.
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of sand, but when I tried to spin it...I found it was a dud.
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of mud, and when I tried to spin it, it fell down with a thud.
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of bread. It looked so very yummy, I ate it up instead.
I have a little dreidel, I made it from a broom. I think I'll try to talk it into cleaning up my room.
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of a road. And whn I tried to spin it, it smashed a little toad.
I have a little dreidel, I made it from a rock, but when I tried to spin it, it turned into a block.
Have a dreidel of your own you want to add to our list? Please do! Leave it in our comment section :)
Picture taken at member's Chanukah party last year.
We have seen lots of latke recipes floating around, including one of our favorites here, but if you are hosting a party this year don't forget dessert! Try making this Chanukah treat, which is sure to win everyone over.
Step 1: For the top, or handle, of your dreidel use thin pretzel sticks. Step 2: Make a hole in the center of the marshmallow and poke the pretzel through, making sure that a little bit sticks through the other side. Step 3: Unwrap a Hershey's Kiss and bore a small hole in the center of the flat side so it will fit the pretzel. Hershey's Hugs or other varieties can also be used. Step 4: Fit the top of the dreidel to the kiss. If the pretzel doesn't stick in there by itself, add a thin layer of peanut butter or icing in between the two layers to help them adhere. Step 5 (optional): Decorate the marshmallow dreidel. Coating it in frosting and sprinkles or peanut butter and chocolate shavings are tasty ways to make the dreidel look festive.
Send in pictures from your Chanukah party and candle lighting and we will post them on the blog and New Shul facebook page!
For fun dreidel games, including our favorite, Prophetic Dreidel, click here.
One candle is added to the menorah each night. The first night, you light only the shammus (the one at a different height) and one Chanukkah candle. By the eighth night, you light all of the candles.
Candles should be added to the menorah from right to left (like Hebrew writing). The shammus candle is lit first. While holding the shammus candle, recite the blessings.
Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe who has sanctified us with Gods commandments and commanded us to light the lights of Chanukkah.
Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.
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After reciting the blessings, use the shammus to light the Chanukkah candles from left to right (newest to oldest). Candles should be left burning until they go out on their own. They must burn for more than half an hour.
Please note: Since the first night of Chanukah falls on Friday night, we light the Chanukah candles and then the Shabbat Candles.
Dr. Ruth posed for a picture with our fabulous Larissa Shulman, Administrative Associate and Education Assistant, at the Museum of Jewish Heritage last night. Dr. Ruth was filled with advice, most of it too sexy for us to even blog about - though we love how Dr. Ruth refers to herself as "old fashioned and a square." We beg to differ.
Join us as we mark the first night of the Festival of Lights. Help construct a light sculpture, our creative menorah: a monument to creation itself. This interactive outdoor ritual will kindle the tribal, elemental sparks of the holiday through prayer, dance, poetry, and song led by Rabbi Dan Ain and music by The Shuk.
Come to sing, create, pray, listen, learn and celebrate our past and our future!
Where: Near the Washington Square Park Fountain Rain Location:272 W 10th St (b/w Greenwich and Washington Sts) When: Friday, December 11 @ 6pm
This amazing band will be playing at our Chaunkah event this Friday, December 11th - the first night of Chanukah starting at 6:45pm. Join us as we dance in Washington Square Park, sing, celebrate, and kindle our very own light sculpture with flashlights.
Rain location: 272 W. 10th St (b/w Greenwich and Washington Sts).
Kindness Poem, by Julian Gerson, delivered at his Bar Mitzvah 11/14/09
Today’s Torah portion, Chayei Sarah, is when Eliezar is at the well preparing to find Isaac a new wife. In the events that followed, Rebecca, a local woman, stopped and offered not only Eliezar water, but his camels as well. That, I felt, was a perfect example of kindness if there ever was one.
Imagine this: Your mother tells you to go to the grocery store to buy some milk. At the entrance to the store, you see an old man in the freezing cold wearing nothing but rags. Next to him, lies a shivering dog. Your heart melts with sadness and pity, despite the near frigid temperature.You feel your spare change, pennies and nickels rattling in your pocket, not even enough to buy a soda.
What is the logical thing to do? You give the man and his pet the little change you have, and go on your way. This brief interaction is similar to what happened to Rebecca, except hers had a greater reward than self-satisfaction.
When Rebecca saw Eliezar and his camels lying parched next to the well, she acted righteously by giving them water. Once Eliezar noticed this kind woman had done what his experiment asked for, he immediately bestowed upon her fine jewels, and asked her to become Isaac’s wife. Everyone knows the story from there. They got married, and lived happily ever after.
However, the question is: Did Rebecca do something truly amazing by giving water to Eliezar and the camels? Did you do something truly amazing by giving your change to the homeless man and his dogs? The answer is both yes and no. Yes, because you and Rebecca decided to be charitable, you decided to give something that belonged to you, to someone else. But no, it is not amazing because isn’t that what a human being is supposed to do? Give to someone who is in need? The golden rule: Do unto others as you would want done to you. They were simply doing the right thing.
The old saying is: What goes around comes around. If everyone lives his or her life according to those five words, then there would be an abundance of goodwill and love. Even though I’m not always as kind as I’d like to be, I try to help others as much as I can - be it a hug, a talk, or even just a smile. It might make someone feel better. While I do not go out of my way for everyone, I sometimes leave them alone; but when I help someone else feel better, then I have done something to improve someone’s day.
Join Lucky magazine's Patty Nasey and Rabbi Dan Ain for a discussion about why Jews feel compelled to turn Chanukah into Christmas, and how to handle the season with communal joy and religious integrity.
"The December Dilemma is a fact of life for many modern Jews," said Rabbi Ain. "Together with consumer expert Patty Nasey, we'll explore what it means for Jews to celebrate Christmas as cultural holiday, whether you can do both, or whether Chinese food and a movie is good enough.
Patty Nasey is consumer insights director for Lucky, the magazine about shopping and style. She is a convert to Judaism and a recovering Christmas addict.
Where: Cowgirl's Bar K, 255 W. 10th St, off of Hudson St (new location for this one only!) When: Friday, December 18 at 7 pm at Cost: FREE! Beer on us!
and support New Shul artists! You are invited to a Unique Holiday Experience and PrivateAROMAWEAR Sale by member/artist Cathy Gins on Tuesday, December 8th and Wednesday, December 9 from 5-9pm at the Aromawear Studio (call the office for address or check member directory under Cathy Gins).
Then on Saturday, December 12th, Noon-6pm and Sunday, December 13th, Noon-4pm check out the BANGLES, EARRING FRAMES, MOBILES AND BLOWN GLASS at the home of member/artist Andrea Osnow (call office for address or check member directory under Andrea Osnow).
Is it just us or does Dr. Ruth keep getting younger and younger looking? Come see her in person on 12/9 and find out!
This Wednesday, December 9th, The New Shul scored free tickets to hear the legendary Dr. Ruth in person. For more details on the event, click here. To receive the free discount code, call or email our office.
Whether you can attend or not, you can submit your questions to Dr. Ruth in advance directly from The Museum, of Jewish Heritage's home page here. Go on, don't be shy...ask away.
No wedding planned, but we do have a little list of gifts we're hoping for -- and it will keep growing and changing all year. Whatever you give is needed, appreciated and tax-deductible. Give now -- it's easy.
Check out The New Shul's Battle of the Briskets Featured on:
