Hanukkah’s had it pretty rough lately, what with all this talk about the Maccabees being a bunch of terrorists. For most of us, it's all about the fried food, the chocolate, the presents and pretty lights -- a Christmas manque, maybe, but also just a good time. In this spirit, we’ve compiled a over 50 links of Hanukkah fun and advice as our gift to you. Enjoy!
Presents for puppies: Or animal cruelty?GIFTS
Core 77 offers 77 gorgeous yet functional design gifts for under $77.
Te New York Times has suggestions for the best digital camera you can get for under $300.
The youthful minds at Wired include both a Slinky and Legos in their “Top 10 Gifts We’d Love to Get.”
If you’re still stumped for what to get the tech geek in your life, check Kevin Kelly’s ongoing “cool tools” list.
GAMES
At the University of Michigan, students recently broke the dreidel spinning record.
The online game Defend Your Temple lets players "buy new guns and purchase upgrades while collecting shekels."
The true miracle of Hanukkah: a menorah can be used as a Wii sensor bar.
FOOD
Possibly the best thing we can give you this Hanukkah is license not to fret over the calorie count in latkes, courtesy of Salon.
The New York Times picks Israeli wines that go well with latkes.
This lion knows what's up: His menorah has only seven branches because it's not a chanukia
CHANUKIOT
Last year, Tamar Fox constructed a Beernukiah out of 8 empty Rolling Rock bottles and one Stella empty.
One year older and that much classier, she substituted bottles of hard cider and wine.
Fashionistas might prefer the Louis Vuitton chanukiah.
MUSIC
The Semitic bluegrass hybrid Jewgrass should save you from having to sing another chorus of “I Have a Little Dreidel.”
VIDEOS
So many parodies of Orthodox Jews rapping, so little time.
Watch the Al Qaeda dancers shakin’ it to the sweet sounds of klezmer.
The combination of monkeys and dreidels is truly a classic.
Dig the kippah on the cookie to the left: If these two can get along, why can't we?
THAT OTHER HOLIDAY
Salon offers advice on how to deal when your Jewish kids covet Christmas spirit.
The Morning News offers a list of similar, if not exactly child-friendly, suggestions for those of us over 18.
On Faithhacker, Amy Guth wonders
if Christmas would actually be less annoying with a little more Christ
involved.
As the New York Times points out,
plenty of Jewish families now contain members who grew up with a Christmas
tree.
Mixed Blessing sells interfaith holiday cards.
Matthue Roth notes that the Chrismukkah CD sampler only contains one Hanukkah song.
EVENTS
New York Magazine's Hanukkah guide.
The Boston Globe offers eight events for the eight nights -- if you hurry, you can still catch some of them.
Search The Washington Post for events in the DC area.
GOOD DEEDS
Hanukkah is all about conserving resources, says Jewcy contributer Liz Galst.
Rabbi Arthur Waskow offers eight suggestions for a green holiday.