Chanukah is almost upon us. And now, in time for the holiday, here is my Top Eight List of reasons to travel the Jewish Internet this Festival of Lights.
1. The sites. The single best holiday site belongs to Virtual Jerusalem at www.vjholidays.com/chanukah/index.htm. In one mega-site, you can browse about everything from the history of the holiday, to its insights into its traditions, a menorah gallery and even a special place for kids.
Chabad-Lubavitch runs Virtual Chanukah, one of the slickest sites around at http://virtualchanukah.com. There is a guide to the holiday, a look at the mitzvot, tales of tzadikim, recipes and quite a few multimedia pages.
Other Chanukah sites well worth a visit include Kolel: The Adult Centre for Liberal Jewish Learning at www.kolel.org/pages/holidays/holidays.html, Aish HaTorah at http://aish.net/a/chanukah60, Maven at www.maven.co.il/subjects.asp?S=128, Project Genesis at www.torah.org/learning/yomtov/chanukah and and Ohr Somayach at www.ohr.org.il/special/chanukah.
2. The sights. One of the central aspects of Chanukah is pirsuma d’nisa, publicizing the miracle. We fulfill the mitzvah by lighting the Chanukah candles in a window that opens to the outside street and by placing menorahs in public places. It’s not the typical travelogue, but you can travel to Paris, Buenos Aires, Cairo, California, Madrid, and Moscow to see how menorahs light up their public squares. Check it out at www.chabad-lubavitch.com/lights/video_content.asp. When you’re done with your travels, come home to Israel during the holiday and view the candlelighting ceremony at the Kotel at www.vjholidays.com/chanukah/mengallery.htm.
3. The sounds. Where would Chanukah be without music? The largest Chanukah audio site must belong to 613.org at www.613.org/chanuka.html. Listen to some more songs, get a refresher in the blessings over the candles and take part in some of the lessons about this wonderful holiday. Over at the ORT site, www.ort.org/ort/hanukkah/song.html, there is even sheet music for “Maoz Tzur,” “Mi Yemalel” and “Chanukah.”
4. The crafts and decorations. There are many great places where you can find all sorts of free holiday clip art like dreidels, at www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/chanukah/icons.html, or Star of David Window Ornaments, at www.billybear4kids.com/holidays/hanukkah/craft/star.htm. And there are coloring books at www.torahtots.com/holidays/chanuka/chanclr.htm, and Holidays on the Net, at www.holidays.net/chanukah/pix.htm.
5. The food. There are plenty of recipes out there — with and without oil. You’ll find many dishes to keep your belt tight at the Jewish Cuisine newsgroup, www.cyber-kitchen.com/rfcj/category.cgi?category=HANUKKAH. For something different, try Moroccan Sfenji (Orange Doughnut Rings), Dutch Joodse Boterkoeke or Chanukah Swedish Tea Cookies. And if you need help putting an entire holiday meal together, take a look at Epicurious, at www.epicurious.com/e_eating/e04_hanukkah/hanmenus.html.
6. The greeting cards. Leave it to the Internet to let you send greeting cards to friends around the world, instantly. There are several sites where you can e-mail colorful postcards with a personalized message accompanied by music, including www.marlo.com/heb/chanukah.htm, or a card with an attached recipe, at www.freewebcard.com/cards/chanukah.
7. The gelt. The Celebrate with JOI site suggests another link between gelt and Chanukah as it points out that the Maccabees were permitted to mint their own coins as an expression of the newly won independence. Check it out at www.joi.org/celebrate/hanuk/gelt.htm. Most gelt exchanged today is made of chocolate. Of course, you could drop by the store to stock up. But if you want to make your own decadent coins, try Gil Marks’ luscious gelt using butter, heavy cream and liqueur. You’ll find directions at www.njo.com/savor/ledger/a13334.html.
8. The games and puzzles. Spinning a dreidel is one of the simple joys of Chanukah. Sure, you can buy a commercial dreidel, but why not just make one yourself? The BillyBear4kids has instructions for printing and cutting out your own. Check it out atwww.billybear4kids.com/holidays/hanukkah/pattern.htm. If you want to take on the computer in a dreidel competition, spin your luck at www.billybear4kids.com/holidays/hanukkah/dreidel2.htm. And at the TorahTots site, at www.torahtots.com/holidays/chanuka/chanfng.htm, you can play Plopples. Here are three samples: Read each phrase aloud a few times to see if you can sound out their Chanukah messages.
POT ATE TALL HOT CAR. NAY SCUD OLE HIGHER SHAM. AGE HUG OH FOIL HAS TID FOR RAID HAZE.
Chag Sameach!
Solutions: Potato latke. Nes gadol hayah sham. A jug of oil lasted for eight days.