Hanukkah Boxes 2025

Hanukkah box supplies ready to go!

In one of our favorite annual traditions, MJP is preparing our free Hanukkah Curriculum boxes to send to teachers all across the state. The boxes contain a complete lesson plan (or two) and supplies to empower teachers to discuss Judaism, bullying, and Montana history (among other things) with their students. Each box contains a copy of The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate written by Janice Cohn and illustrated by Bill Farnsworth. The Christmas Menorahs tells the story of interfaith solidarity and support in the face of intolerance and violence. The boxes also include a guiding lesson plan, menorahs, gelt, dreidels, Hanukkah candles, and instructions for playing dreidel. 

For some students, this might be their first encounter with both Montana's Jewish history and Judaism. For other students, it'll be a welcome affirmation of their existence. For far too many, the topics of bullying and antisemitism will feel familiar. At the same time we share a story about Jewish life within Montana, we also support discussion, in and beyond the classroom, about how to welcome and stand up for one another. We have been lucky to receive news coverage (including national coverage from the Forward) about our Hanukkah box project. One newspaper included, as part of their article, basic information about Hanukkah that readers might not otherwise have encountered. These boxes are small but mighty, having a reach beyond their size.

If you would like to financially support our Hanukkah box project, you can donate here. Montana Jewish Project provides these boxes to teachers free of charge. Each box will cost around fifty dollars and we are committed to sending them to as many teachers as request them.