1. Hidden Miracles walk

Chanukah is all about appreciating hidden miracles. One tiny jug of oil miraculously lasted for eight days. In the Northern Hemisphere, so much of our greenery is dormant. The winter time affords us the opportunity to look for the “tiny jugs of oil”, the hidden miracles, the beacons of growth in the dormancy. Our senses are something that are so easy to take for granted unless we pause and pokeach ivrim- open our eyes, to discover the hidden miracles that they are. Try this exploration to discover the hidden miracles of your senses and of your neighborhood!

The blessing of “Pokeach Ivrim” invites us to appreciate our sense of sight, which we do not use while sleeping. It is a re-awakening of the eyes. We invite you on this journey of re-awakening and strengthening your sense perception. Specifically, this activity encourages you to toggle your senses, by elevating some, and muting others.

Instructions:

Find a nature patch near your home, and take a walk with these prompts. You can do this in suburbia, a local park, a nearby nature preserve, or even on the streets of the city (you may have to “hop” between natural elements and concrete, but it still works)! Give yourself a few minutes while you explore these prompts, engaging one or several of your senses:

Sight: Where do I perceive dormancy or a lacking? Look closer- examine the details, try to find the life hidden there
Touch - Feel the bark of a tree. What do these textures remind you of? If you close your eyes, can you feel other textures
Sounds - Listen to the sounds of your walk - what do you hear? Is their life in winter? What does life in winter sound like? Do the trees still rustle? Does the creek still run? Is there wildlife?
Smell - Where do I perceive dried up branches - pick one up and smell it. Compare that smell to dried leaves, the air. Are there smells that are pleasant? Smell them again - are they different once they become familiar?

*A note on sensory exploration:

For each sense you choose to explore: Start with all of your senses engaged. Then try limiting/blocking one of your other senses, to strengthen your experience of that sense. (examples: when smelling - close your eyes. When looking - try not to touch anything else, or hold anything in your hands. When touching - block out other noises).

2. Gift Exchange

Many families have a custom of buying Chanukah gifts for one another! In our consumerist lives, we are encouraged to buy, sometimes with reckless abandon. This year, let us think about gifts differently. In the spirit of appreciating the hidden beauty, celebrate what you have and share some of it with others: Arrange with family or friends to do a Purchase-less Gift Swap!

Instructions

Find something in your home that you no longer need or want
Disinfect the item
Prepare as a gift (try using old newspapers as gift wrapping paper)
Gather all the gifts and let everyone choose something from the pile of gifts
Your “old” item now becomes new for someone else!

3. DIY Upcycled Chanukiah

Our Chanukia brings light and warmth into our homes. Instead of buying a new one, trying creating your own! This is a fun way to live the value of bal tashchit (the mitzvah of not wasting).

Take a scavenger hunt around your home to find items that can be used to make your own Chanukia. Items should be stable enough to hold a candle or oil dish.
Assemble your 8 candles in a straight line, with the shamash candle on a separate row, or a different height.
Save this to use for many years to come!

4. Light Switch Crafts

On Chanukah we celebrate light and how much good and joy it brings to our lives. Let us celebrate light by conserving the energy it takes to power our lights.

Decorate your light switches and outlets with reminders to turn them off when not in use.

Get creative using scrap paper or old mail to make the signs
Write things like: “turn me off!” for light swithes, or “unplug me!” for outlets.
You can even add your favorite bal tashchit quotes onto your sign.