By Sara Traster

There's something special about walking into your child's classroom with a menorah in hand. Each Hanukkah, Shaina Moore, Brenda Gordon, Mara Lucas and I are doing just that—sharing the story, traditions and fun of the Festival of Lights with our kids' classmates. We come with menorahs and candles, gelt and dreidels, and of course, great Hanukkah books and games. For many kids, it's their first time learning about Hanukkah—and the excitement is absolutely contagious.

These classroom visits are more than just teaching about a holiday. When children learn about different cultures and traditions from real people in their community, it builds understanding, curiosity and connection that lasts well beyond a single lesson.

In a time when antisemitic incidents are rising across the country and around the world, these moments of education and connection feel more important than ever. Sharing our traditions with the next generation—and with our neighbors—is one way to push back against hate and misunderstanding. Hanukkah, at its core, is a story of resilience and hope in the face of adversity. What better way to honor that message than by bringing light into our children's classrooms?

We explain the story of the Maccabees, show how to light the candles, and let the kids get hands-on with dreidels and gelt. The games and chocolate definitely help keep their attention!

"There's nothing like seeing a classroom full of kids light up—pun intended—when you explain why we celebrate for eight nights," said Mara Lucas. "They ask the best questions, and you can tell they're genuinely excited to learn something new."

We love watching our kids' classmates spin dreidels for the first time. And for our kids, sharing their traditions with friends makes them proud of who they are. These visits mean just as much to our own children as they do to their classmates—Jewish kids get to see their holidays celebrated and valued in school, and that sense of pride and belonging is powerful.

"When I walk into the classroom, I see my son sit up a little taller," said Shaina Moore. "He's so excited to show his friends what Hanukkah is all about. It's a special moment for both of us."

"Our visits spark real conversations," added Brenda Gordon. "Kids want to know more—they want to know about the food, the games, and what Hanukkah looks like in our homes. Those are the moments that stick with them."

At the end of the day, these classroom visits are about building bridges. When children learn about each other's traditions, they grow into people who appreciate and respect differences. And as the dreidels spin and the gelt disappears, something special happens—Hanukkah's message of light and hope spreads a little further into our community.