Celebrate Hanukkah with the Hendel Family Library
Our esteemed librarian, Arlene Ratzabi, created several lists below for WJC families to explore Hanukkah through reading. All of the books included in the lists below are available from the Hendel Library.
In order for our synagogue community to take advantage of this rich collection of Hanukkah literature in the Hendel Library without visiting in person at this time, please take advantage of our curbside delivery program. Questions should be sent to librarian@wjcenter.org.
Hendel Library Curbside Delivery Program
- Go to the WJC website and click on the Menu: Learn, and then scroll down to the Hendel Library.
- To search for an item or items in the catalog: Scroll down to “click on access to the library database” and enter the library name WestchesterJC. No password is needed. You may now search by author, subject, keyword, etc.
- Alternatively, you may call or email the librarian at the synagogue phone number or email librarian@wjcenter.org.
- The item(s) you selected will be placed in a box on the table inside the outer storm door of our synagogue for pick up. Returns are accomplished the same way.
- Returned items will be in quarantine for 24 hours, wiped off, then shelved.
- If you want an item and are unable to make the trip, the librarian can deliver it to your home.
Adult
- Berman, Nancy. The Art of Hanukkah.
A rich celebration of Hanukkah, featuring centuries of extraordinary art and artifacts.
- Fendel, Zechariah. Chanukah: A Season of Valor: A Hashkafah-Mussar Perspective.
A thought-provoking presentation of hashkafah concepts, ethical values, and related mussar insights, derived from the words of Chazal, Rishonim, and Acharonim. Includes charts and tables.
- Goodman, Philip. The Hanukkah Anthology.
This classic delves into the stories and messages of Hanukkah as they have unfolded in Jewish literature over the past two thousand years: biblical intimations of the festival, postbiblical writings, selections from the Talmud and midrashim, excerpts from medieval books, home liturgies, laws and customs, observances in different nations, stories and poems, art, and recipes.
- Olitzky, Kerry. Eight Nights, Eight Lights: Family Values for Each Night of Hanukkah.
Olitzky provides families with a way of letting their Hanukkah celebrations affirm not only their Jewish identity, but the very Jewish values they wish to transmit to their children.
- Steinberg, Paul. Celebrating the Jewish Year: The Winter Holidays.
We explore the joys, spirit, and meaning of the seasons. Blending the old and the new, we learn about the origins and traditions of each holiday and open up ways we can add our own expression to these special days
- Wolk, Daniel. Chanukah: A Joyous Celebration.
A square becomes a box of Chanukah gelt and a dreidel in this delightful, die-cut board book with simple text and full-color illustrations by the author.
- Zion, Noam. A Different Light: The Big Book of Hanukkah.
Hanukkah thoughts and opinions by such contemporary Jewish thinkers as David Harman, Irving Greenberg, Chaim Potok, Daniel Gordis, and the Lubavitcher Rabbi.
Youth
- ben Izzy, Joel. Dreidels on the Brain.
As he tries to survive Hannukah, 1971 in the suburbs of the suburbs of Los Angeles, middle-school magician Joel learns to appreciate life’s small miracles with the help of an unusual stranger he meets on a bus.
- Berneger, Marcia. A Dreidel in Time: A New Spin on an Old Tale.
A brother and sister receive a strange Hanukkah gift and family heirloom–a magic dreidel that take them back in time to learn about the true meaning of Hanukkah.
- Chaikin, Miriam. Alexandra’s Scroll: The Story of the First Hanukkah.
Alexandra, a young Jewish girl from Jerusalem, describes her life and the creation of Hanukkah, more than 2000 years ago.
- Cohn, Janice. The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate.
Describes how people in Billings, Montana joined together to fight a series of hate crimes against a Jewish family.
- Drucker, Malka. Hanukkah: Eight Nights, Eight Lights.
Introduces the history, customs, rituals, foods, games, and gifts associated with the Festival of Lights and includes recipes, crafts, and puzzles for celebrating the Jewish holiday.
- Greene, Jacqueline Dembar. Candlelight for Rebecca.
While Rebecca Rubin helps her building’s ailing superintendent take care of his homing pigeons, she puzzles over what to do with the Christmas centerpiece her teacher insisted she make but which has no place in her Jewish home.
- Hantman, Shoshana. Hanukkah Parodies: Short Plays for the Festival of Lights.
Rabbi Hantman’s reinventions help parents and teachers pass on the festival’s history, importance and message in a new way.
- Koss, Amy Goldman. How I Saved Hanukkah.
Marla, the only Jewish student in her fourth-grade class, wishes she celebrated Christmas like her best friend Lucy, until one year when she decides to learn all about Hanukkah and to teach her family about it too.
- Kushner, Ellen. The Golden Dreydl.
After receiving a magic dreydl at Aunt Leah’s Chanukah party, Sara is catapulted into an alternate world of demons, fools, sorcerers, and sages.
- Schram, Peninah. Eight Tales for Eight Nights: Stories for Chanukah.
Eight traditional tales from around the world introduce the customs and meanings of Chanukah.
Children
- Brodmann, Aliana. The Gift.
In post-World War II Germany, a young girl visits various shops before deciding how to spend the money her father has given her for Hanukkah.
- Cleary, Brian. Eight Wild Nights: A Family Hanukkah.
A large family celebrates Hanukkah by cleaning the house, entertaining guests, and preparing delicious food.
- Codell, Esme Raji. Hanukkah Schmanukkah!
In early 1900s New York City, miserly Scroogemacher, a waistcoat factory owner, is visited by the Rabbis of Hanukkah Past, Present, and Future and learns the value of carrying on Jewish tradition. Includes glossary of Yiddish terms and historical notes.
- Cohen, Deborah. Engineer Ari and the Hanukkah Mishap.
Near Palestine in the 1890s, a train derails and its engineer, who was rushing to spend Hanukkah with friends, is surprised when a Bedouin who helps him says they are in the very place where the miracle of Hanukkah began.
- da Costa, Deborah. Hanukkah Moon.
When Isobel visits her Aunt Luisa at Hanukkah, she not only has a wonderful time, she learns some new things about this special holiday. Aunt Luisa has recently arrived from Mexico.
- Glaser, Linda. The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes.
A young girl finds a way to include her elderly neighbor in her family’s Hanukkah celebration.
- Groner, Judye. All About Hanukkah.
Discusses the historical background for Hanukkah and examines its blessings, music, games, and modern observance.
- Jenkins, Emily. All-of-a-Kind-Family Hanukkah.
In 1912 New York, Gertie feels left out while Mama and her four older sisters cook Hanukkah dinner, but Papa comes home and asks her help with an important task.
- Kimmel, Eric. The Chanukkah Guest.
On the first night of Chanukkah, Old Bear wanders into Bubba Brayna’s house and receives a delicious helping of potato latkes when she mistakes him for the rabbi.
- Kimmel, Eric. The Golem’s Latkes.
Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel visits the Emperor, leaving a new housemaid to prepare for his Hanukkah party, but returns to find that she has misused the clay man he created. Includes historical and cultural notes.
- Kimmel, Eric. Herschel and the Hanukkah Goblins.
Relates how Hershel outwits the goblins that haunt the old synagogue and prevent the village people from celebrating Hanukkah.
- Krensky, Stephen. Hanukkah at Valley Forge.
During the Revolutionary War, a Jewish soldier from Poland lights the menorah on the first night of Hanukkah and tells General George Washington the story of the Maccabees and the miracle that Hanukkah celebrates. Based on factual events.
- Levine, Arthur A. All the Lights in the Night.
Moses and his little brother Benjamin find a way to celebrate Hanukkah during their dangerous emigration to Palestine. A blend of religion and history that juxtaposes the tribulations of Benjamin and Moses with a retelling of the Hanukkah story.
- Oberman, Sheldon. By the Hanukkah Light.
When the family gathers to celebrate Hanukkah, Grandfather tells his own story of the holiday from World War II.
- Pinkwater, Daniel. Beautiful Yetta’s Hanukkah kitten.
Yetta, the Yiddish-speaking, Brooklyn-dwelling chicken, is back in her second, multi-language picture book, this time playing figurative mother hen and adoption agency for a stray kitten that she finds lost in a snowdrift.
- Rauchwerger, Diane. Dinosaur on Hanukkah.
A dinosaur comes to a young boy’s house to join him in celebrating Hanukkah.
- Rosen, Michael. Chanukah Lights.
Counts the candles of a menorah on each night of Hanukkah while recalling images of Jewish life in different places and times, such Herod’s temple in Jerusalem, a shtetl in Russia, and a refugee ship bound for the New World. A beautifully designed pop-up book.
- Rostoker-Gruber, Karen. Farmer Kobi’s Hanukkah Match.
On the second night of Hanukkah, Farmer Kobi invites Polly to his home for dinner but her reaction to his animals proves she is not his perfect match, while a stranger who appears at the door just might be. Includes a note about Jewish values and how the story can be used to teach them to one’s children.
- Schram, Peninah. Chanukah Blessing.
A mysterious visitor rewards a poor family for showing him hospitality on the fifth night of Chanukah.
- Schuman, Burt. Chanukah on the Prairie.
After the Zalcman family immigrates to Grand Forks, North Dakota, they are welcomed by the local Jewish community and celebrate their first Chanukah on the prairi
- Yorinks, Arthur. Arthur Yorinks’ The Flying Latke.
A family argument on the first night of Chanukah results in a food fight and a flying latke that is mistaken for a flying saucer.
