Stories to Tell Beside the Hanukkiah

"Stories to Tell Beside the Hanukkiah" by Naomi Ben-Ami offers a collection of tales designed for various audiences and occasions during Hanukkah. The book emphasizes fitting stories to listeners, the moment, and their sources. It compiles historical accounts, rabbinic traditions, folktales from specific communities, contemporary family narratives, and newly composed fiction. Each entry is clearly marked with an age range, estimated telling time, contextual notes, and questions designed to encourage discussion without imposing a specific moral. The author provides a source guide to clarify the origins of each story, differentiating between Maccabean events reconstructed from ancient texts, the oil miracle as presented in the Babylonian Talmud, and liturgical prayers like Al HaNissim.

The anthology maintains the distinct settings of Sephardic, Ashkenazi, Mizrahi, North African, and Hasidic narratives. Teachings from Chabad and Breslov are attributed to their respective movements. The book includes practical advice for retelling stories, addressing topics such as sensitive portrayals of violence, translation considerations, respectful adaptation, and the distinction between shortening a story and altering its core claim. This resource facilitates storytelling as an act of hospitality and accuracy, enabling listeners to engage with imagination, humor, and wonder while remaining aware of each story's origin.