A New Hanukkah Ritual for Teens

As we enter Hanukkah — a time of light, resilience, and small miracles — Moving Traditions offers you this new resource to use with the teens in your life, a closing ritual excerpted from our latest Special Edition curricular session.

If you are a partnering educator, you can view the full session, Hanukkah: Bringing Light into the Darkness in the Curriculum Portal.

Not yet a partner? Request free access to this and all special edition sessions.

Materials

• Hanukkah candle (one per participant)
• Match or lighter
• A Menorah
• Resource: Hanukkah Blessings and Songs

SAY:

There are times when there’s something going on in the world that we don’t like, but there’s not much we can do about it besides waiting for it to pass. Think of one thing going on in your life, family, friendships, school, generation, or the world that is like that. It can be big or small . . . something that is not ideal, but you can’t change and you know it will pass. 

You don’t have to share this aloud, this can be a private thought to yourself.

ALLOW participants time to think.

SAY:

Now, think of something you don’t want to accept or simply wait for it to pass. Think of something you could change in your life, friendships, community, or the world. This can be something small. It could also be something big. The Maccabees did not just sit back and accept fate, even though the Greek military was far more powerful than they were. They fought against the odds and miraculously won. Just because something seems huge and daunting, doesn’t mean it’s impossible.  

When you have something identified, give me a thumbs up.

While participants are thinking, DISTRIBUTE a candle to each participant, keeping one for yourself as well. 

SHARE or DISTRIBUTE Hanukkah Blessings and Songs:

When all thumbs are up and everyone has a candle, INVITE everyone to stand in a circle and proceed below.

SAY:

As we think about the way we want to confront metaphorical darkness, we’re going to bring literal light into the room.

Every menorah has a shamash – a helper candle that lights all the others. In our ritual, we will all be the shamash to symbolize how we can all act to bring light into the world. I will start off the circle by lighting someone’s candle. They’ll light the next person’s candle, and so on, until the flame goes all the way around the circle. When the flame comes to you, say out loud the thing you identified that you want to help change, then pass the flame to the next person.

Because Hanukkah candles burn quickly, we need to keep the flame moving pretty quickly! So, everyone take a second now to get your idea “queued up” in your head and ready to go! If your candle drips, use the black construction paper to catch the wax. (Pause to allow participants to remember what they want to say.)

We’ll start by reciting the blessings:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר חֲנֻכָּה

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melekh haolam asher kidshanu bmitzvotav vitzivanu l’hadlik ner shel chanukah

Blessed are you God ruler of the universe who has made us holy with your commandments, commanding us to kindle the Hannukah lights

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בִּזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melekh haolam she’asah nisim la’avoteinu bayamim ha’heim bazman ha’zeh

Blessed are you God ruler of the universe who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days, at this time

LIGHT the candle of a participant to go first. When the flame comes back to you, either INSTRUCT participants to blow out their own candle to prevent dripping or PLACE them in your menorah.

If you’d like, conclude by singing one or more Hanukkah songs!

Happy Hanukkah from Moving Traditions!

If you are feeling so moved, please consider making a gift to help Moving Traditions keep navigating challenges together to help Jewish youth thrive.