Nosh Menorah by Modern Mensch via ModernTribe
(10% discount for Smashing Life members)

PSA: Hanukkah’s less than a week away! (It starts the evening of Thursday, December 10.)

Are you ready?

Here at Team STG, we definitely are! We’re putting up our Hanukkah decor, mailing out some carefully selected gifts and cards, planning our Hanukkah menus, listening to the new Daveed Diggs Hanukkah song on repeat – and, most importantly, dusting off our menorahs!

Lighting the menorah (aka chanukiah aka hanukkiah), a nine-branched candelabra lit, is the key ritual performed each night during Hanukkah. Each night, one additional candle is lit – so there’s one candle on the first night, two on the second night, three on the third night, and so on, until the final night when all eight candles are lit. That extra ninth candle? It’s the shamash (which means “helper” or “servant”), set aflame first on each night and used to light all the other candles.

Lighting the menorah, reciting the customary blessings, and watching the candles do their thing is such a special experience – and it’s even more special when you have a menorah you love using, whether that’s because it’s a family heirloom, you crafted it yourself, it was gifted to you by someone special, or its style is a perfect fit with yours.

These days there’s such a diversity of menorah styles, and we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight some of our favorites – so if you’re currently using one that doesn’t spark joy, have a look through our roundup and see if you find something that speaks to you.

Another thing that can make your Hanukkah extra bright this year? Smashing The Glass’s FREE online 8 Days of Hanukkah Festival, starting this Tuesday, December 8. Come together with our wonderful community of Jewish and Jew-ish women from around the world to share recipes, crafts, decor, music, and more – and to make some new friends, of course! Sign up to reserve your spot today.

RBG “I Dissent” Menorah by the Glamorous Elephant via ModernTribe
(10% discount for Smashing Life members)

You went crazy for this menorah honoring Ruth Bader Ginsburg when we shared it on Instagram @yourjewishlife!

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Leah Menorah  by Joy Stember via ModernTribe
(10% discount for Smashing Life members)

How fun is this modular menorah? You can arrange it however you like (even a different setup each night if you want!), while the sleek design of pewter blocks keeps things firmly grounded in contemporary style.

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Brass Bird Chanukiah by Jonathan Adler via Contemporary Judaica
(10% discount for Smashing Life members)

This elegant brass bird menorah is just the right of amount of unexpected to bring some fun to your Hanukkah setup while still keeping things chic.

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Jewish Museum Boxed Hanukkah Cards: Zoomukkah? Hanuzoom? by Jenny Rozbruch

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Hanukkah 2020 is going to be a holiday unlike any other. A lot of us are going to be missing family and friends we’d ordinarily celebrate with, and all kinds of eagerly anticipated festivities – from Hanukkah parties to public menorah lightings – are a no go due to the pandemic.

But we’d like to propose one small custom to add to your Hanukkah toolbox that can help you stay connected even while social distancing: the Hanukkah greeting card. Sending a cute card with a heartfelt message is such an underrated – and easy – way to reach out across the miles and make your loved ones feel cared for. Plus, these days there are so many fun designs to choose from – and today we’re sharing some of our very favorites. 

While sending (and hopefully also receiving!) some gorgeous greeting cards to those loved ones you won’t be able to see in person this year is a great way to alleviate some of that pandemic gloom, we realize it may not be quite enough to get you through all eight days – and for that reason, we’re running a FREE online 8 Days of Hanukkah Festival, starting December 8. Come together with our wonderful community of Jewish and Jew-ish women from around the world to share recipes, crafts, decor, music, and more – and to make some new friends, of course! Sign up to reserve your spot today.

Mighty Maccabees Hanukkah Card by ThePaperPonyCo via Etsy

We love the way this fun card illustrates key elements of the Hanukkah story, from the Maccabees to the menorah to that miraculous jug of olive oil!

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Blue Hanukkah Scene Card by Paula & Waffle via ModernTribe
(10% discount for Smashing Life members)

We’re loving the folkloric vibes of this blue and white design.

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Saguaro Cactus Menorah Card by SketchyNotions via Etsy

Attention all Southwesterners: rep your regional pride with this fun saguaro menorah card! Also appropriate for those of us just dreaming about a warmer climate this time of year…

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