What Hanukkah’s portrayal in pop culture means to American Jews

By: Ted Merwin, Dickinson College, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: December 13, 2025

Words: 950

Last Updated: 4 weeks, 1 day ago

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By Ted Merwin, Dickinson College

When I was growing up in suburban New York, Hanukkah was not grounded in religious observance. Having no clue that there are traditional Hebrew blessings that accompany the kindling of the Hanukkah candles, we invented our own wishes, awkwardly voiced out loud, for happiness and peace.

Then again, the festival of Hanukkah demands the performance of fewer religious rituals than most other Jewish observances. Even the most pious Jews do not …

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