Q: Chanukah



I love love love Chanukah. I hate what it's become here in glitzy-ritzy New York, all of the hype, and the misplaced emphasis on "the holiday season." Blech. That's not what Chanukah is all about.

By the way, where's my present?

So if you're mightily into links (and who isn't), you've probably realized that the Internet is just one big Chanukah linkfest. JCN has a really tame Chanukah site this year. I liked last year's better. Don't miss Virtual Jerusalem's tidy little Chanukah 5759, or www.Holidays.net/Chanukah, and let's not forget Chabad's fabulous Chanukah site, with their cool interactive Cyber-Dreidl game, which compulsive gamblers might want to avoid. For Divrei Torah, there's Torah.Org's scholarly site, and don't forget their On-line Menorah. Gee, you just can't make this stuff up. If you're the card-sending, considerate type, you can email your friends and relatives with interactive Chanukah e-cards.

Speaking of interactivity, a common Internet Chanukah theme this year seems to be wacky dreidl programs. Check out the spinning dreidl at JCN, and this one as well. Chabad of Maryland has what appears to be a dreidl on acid, which you can see at their own Chanukah site.

I think that pretty much covers it, yes?

Chanukah resources also do exist outside of your computer. Really. If you'd like to read some great stuff, wrap your mind around Patterns in Time: Chanukah by Rav Matis Weinberg (Feldheim Publishers). It is simply the best book on Chanukah that I have ever read.

My current favorite Chanukah song is the haunting and startling version of "Maoz Tzur" by Marc Cohn, on the "Festival of Light" CD that came out two years ago.

For a more rock 'n roll kinda Chanukah tune, check out the RealAudio version of Michael Ian Elias' duet with Peter Himmelman, called Chanukah History. For a cappella enthusiasts, try Listen Up!'s Al HaNissim.

For some good Chanukah chow, check out my ridiculously easy recipe for Shabbos Chanukah chicken soup. Yummers. Speaking of Chanukah food, if you live in Israel and are accessing this page, please have me in mind while you are scarfing down those delicious sufganiyot this year. First person who figures out how to email me one (pictures don't count) gets my undying gratitude.

Whoa! Don't miss my friend Steve Hausman's classic "The Song of the Latke".

	Finally, what Chanukah Page would be complete without a link to the RealAudio version of Adam Sandler's outrageous Chanukah Song. "Drink your gin and tonica..."


Enjoy a happy and meaningful Chanukah this year, and bring some light into this dark world. May we all continue to merit miracles. -Sq