How Hanukkah’s Americanization Became a Show of Jewish Pride

This Hanukkah, we hear from Rabbi Yael Buechler, a writer, educator, entrepreneur, and Hanukkah merch maven. She’s also a Hanukkah historian who has tracked how the festival of lights helped reinvent Jewish culture in America and how it became a gift-giving occasion alongside Christmas. Rabbi Beuchler joins us to discuss how American Jews can take advantage of the marketplace to express their Jewish pride authentically during the Hanukkah season, despite increasing antisemitism–with inflatable menorahs, dreidel nail decals, holiday pajamas, and more.

Also, hear from listeners on the Hanukkah traditions they are finding meaning in this year.

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Episode Lineup:

• (0:00) Jessica Bernton
• (1:52) Listener Hanukkah Voicemails
• (3:28) Rabbi Yael Buechler

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Show Notes:

If you’re alarmed by rising antisemitism, you can take action right now by supporting AJC: visit AJC.org/donate, or text AJC DONATE to 52886.

Music credits: Lille by johnny_ripper is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 (Will Not Appear in Vimeo Music Store) License.

Please Stop Rebranding Christmas Items for Hanukkah by Rabbi Yael Bucheler

Listen to: 

• 5 Hanukkah Podcasts to Light Up Your Holiday
• 7 Podcasts to Help You Understand, Respond To, and Prevent Antisemitism
• Our latest podcast episode: What Does NYC's Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes Do?; An Elton John Hanukkah Celebration

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