Finding Chanukah on the Web

PEARL SALKIN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN

I have a little dreidel and I want to play. But even with my glasses on, I can't tell a shin from a hey. I could go out into the cold to look for a bigger dreidel. But, thanks to a modern day miracle, I don't have to.

From the comfort of my warm, cozy computer station, I'm sure I can find my dream dreidel – real or virtual. I can also learn more about the origins of Chanukah and how it is celebrated around the world. And I can discover delicious recipes, listen to the tunes that I sang in Hebrew school plays, send Chanukah greetings to my cousins in Haifa and locate the perfect present for the person who has everything – a contribution to a worthwhile cause.

Eight days, thousands of wonderful Web sites. But by the time you finish visiting the top 100 or so, your latkes will be cold. Since nobody likes cold latkes, let's limit this to my favorite eight – plus one. Here are some of the best all-around sites:

aish.com/holidays/Chanukah – Aish HaTorah, the Jewish outreach and educational organization, produces holiday Web sites that are simply supreme. This Chanukah's edition is the best yet.

Inclusive, inspirational, comprehensive – just a few of the words that describe the quality content that awaits the visitor. Fascinating stories for children can be found in the family section. Music files and the lyrics to your favorite songs can be accessed there, too, or by clicking on the audio button at the top of the home page. If you want to delve more deeply into the meaning of the miracles, the contributions of the Maccabees or the importance of lighting the menorah, pages are devoted to these and other topics.

torahtots.com/holidays/chanuka/chanuk.htm – Bright and beautiful pages make up this kosher, kid-friendly site. Color and animation are the keys to entertaining and educational activities. Select "What's the story?" and you will see that your cursor has become a magic wand. Move it, and a wave of letters spelling happy Chanukah will flitter about the screen. I'm certainly not a kid, but I had fun playing with this toy. Of course, serious subjects are covered in this section, too. But they are presented in an easy-to-understand style.

For more fun, click on "Games and puzzles." Word finds, sliding and jigsaw puzzles provide interactive challenges. And there are some silly games that I am too old to get. But by choosing "Play spin the dreidel," children of all ages can have a virtual good time. Also, you can send free electronic greetings.
If you want to send someone an electronic greeting, no problem. virtualjerusalem.com/judaism/holidays – Virtual Jerusalem, the megasite renown for its Kotelcam, has enough Chanukah stuff to keep you clicking all eight days. Start by hitting the dreidel button, then choose from among a multitude of holiday headings. Select "Customs," then read about Chanukah celebrations in various countries. Click on "Kids' club," and access a multimedia assortment of interesting material that will add more sparkle to your celebration.

virtualchanukah.com – American Friends of Lubavitch invites everyone to visit their easy-to-navigate, happy holiday headquarters. Links to a variety of helpful Chanukah pages appear on the opening page grid, and the photo of the menorah on the right is a link to listings of public menorah-lighting schedules and archived images of past ceremonies around the globe. By reading some of the site's informative articles and inspirational essays about everything from recipes to rituals, your celebration will be enriched. If you want music and multimedia pizzazz, the site has that, too. And for some Chanukah fun, click on the games button. "Chanukah concentration," a menorah matching challenge, will test your memory. But if you want to test your luck, select "Chanukah spinning," and play dreidel.

Now it's time to shop:

shopfortzedakah.com – Whether you're shopping for Chanukah presents or anything else, making purchases through this Web site is a rewarding experience. In a nutshell, you spend money and the charity of your choice gets a percentage of the sale or a flat fee. Registration is simple, and with more than 200 of the most popular e-merchants enrolled, shopping has become a real mitzvah.

www.judaicashop.net – Are you looking for a magnificent menorah? A designer dreidel? If you are, check out the charming collection at the National Museum of American Jewish History online shop. Profits from sales support this famous Philadelphia institution.

If you select the 2002 Chanukah gifts banner on the opening page, you'll be amazed at the breadth of artistic offerings. Aluminum, glass, pewter, ceramic and silver menorot will brighten your home. Artists have used the same materials to produce unique dreidels – great for gift-giving or adding to your collection. And the shop offers an enchanting, one-of-a-kind combo by Jerusalem native Aviva Haezrachy – a gorgeous, hand-carved, hand-painted, wooden dreidel that magically transforms into a menorah.

fidfstore.org – Friends of the Israel Defence Forces have set up this online shop, with proceeds supporting Israel's military men and women. In a sense, it's the Israeli equivalent of the USO. But its social, recreational and educational services to soldiers, sailors, flyers and surviving spouses and orphans go well beyond providing hot coffee and comic relief. IDF paratrooper insignia pins, posters, silver pendants and T-shirts make great gifts. And you can honor that friend or relative who has everything by making a small financial contribution, which will be acknowledged with a beautiful card.

And here's my Chanukah gift to you – more games: www.zigzagworld.com/games/home.htm – Do you feel artistic? If you do, select "Hanukkah lights" and design a menorah. And if multitasking is your thing, click on "The Hanukkah house," an interactive page that lets you brush up on your Hebrew while you construct an amusing holiday scene of zebras serving doughnuts by the light of a menorah.

geocities.com/EnchantedForest/Dell/7736/chnk/chgame.html – It's a long URL to type, but this free, cute, downloadable game is worth the trouble. The goal of lighting all of the candles in the menorah might seem simple, but watch out for the water!

Win or lose, I wish you a happy Chanukah.

Pearl Salkin is a freelance writer living in New Jersey.

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