Elizabeth Karpen, Author at Unpacked

What to cook for Hanukkah: Best latke, sufganiyot & dessert recipes to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights

Upgrade your Hanukkah menu with inventive latkes and sufganiyot, and festive sweets that bring together Jewish flavors from around the world.

How to play dreidel on Hanukkah?

While the dreidel’s sides may be unfamiliar, the rules are straightforward for the popular Hanukkah game — plus there’s an alcoholic version.

How did sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) become a staple food of Hanukkah?

Sufganiyot are a beloved Hanukkah treats — they’re fried and delicious and the flavors are endless. Learn their centuries-old history.

Why do Jews eat potato latkes for Hanukkah? Unpacking the custom’s history

Let’s peel back all the layers of the latke and take a deep (fried) dive into the history of everyone’s favorite Hanukkah delicacy.

Jewish pro Alan Bersten brought Hanukkah magic to ‘Dancing With the Stars’

On a Christmas-heavy holiday special, Jewish pro Alan Bersten turned the ‘DWTS’ ballroom into a Hanukkah celebration.

The ultimate Hanukkah gift guide 2025: perfect picks from Jewish-owned brands

Skip the big box stores. This Hanukkah gift guide is packed with hilarious, heartfelt finds from Jewish artists, brands, and makers.

When is Hanukkah 2025?

Hanukkah is coming up soon and you don’t want to miss it! See when to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights.

What makes ‘Wicked’ a Jewish story? Understanding Oz, the politics of scapegoating, and Jewish history

“Wicked” isn’t just a fantasy prequel. Its lies, and scapegoats align closely with Jewish memory of antisemitism and the rise of fascism.

Jonah Feingold’s ’31 Candles’ reinvents the bar mitzvah movie for late bloomers

In “31 Candles,” a filmmaker becomes a bar mitzvah to win the heart of his childhood crush, exploring Jewish joy and what it means to grow up at 31.

Anti-Zionist Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City — here’s what he has actually said about Israel

Zohran Mamdani’s win makes him New York’s first anti-Zionist mayor, raising questions about how his views on Israel will shape a city with 1.6 million Jews.

In ‘Playing Shylock’ Saul Rubinek confronts how to interpret Shakespeare’s most misunderstood Jew

In “Playing Shylock,” Saul Rubinek confronts centuries of antisemitism and asks how we should interpret Shakespeare’s most divisive character

YidLife Crisis’ new documentary ‘Swedishkayt’ explores an unlikely home for a Yiddish revival: Sweden

In the land of ABBA and IKEA, Yiddish is thriving again. “Swedishkayt” follows YidLife Crisis as they explore Sweden’s small but vibrant Jewish community.

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Elizabeth Karpen

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