Marking Transitions and Celebrating a New Year

The start of the school year may feel like a continuation of the current season rather than the start of something new. However, each transition deserves to be recognized.

Judaism provides several ways to mark transitions. From a shehecheyanu prayer for “firsts” (first time that year or first time ever) to Havdalah, which literally means “separation” to mark the transition from Shabbat to the rest of the week, there are Jewish rituals that provide meaning and a time to pause and appreciate the moment.

For your own family, you can say a blessing for the start of school or create your own ritual. The traditional “Back to School” deluge of photos on social media doesn’t have to stop for a pandemic. You can do what you typically do for the start of school: Celebrate with a special treat, wear a new outfit, take pictures, or come up with something new as a family. Regardless of the format your child’s school is taking, it’s still a new beginning and deserves to be celebrated. We hope you will do so and will share your ideas and pictures with us!

The new school year comes in the same month as the Jewish New Year this year (Rosh Hashanah, which begins Friday, September 18 at sundown). It, too, will not be the same as in years past, but the start of the year 5781 deserves to be celebrated. PJ Library has created a High Holidays at Home Guide just for this purpose. We hope that you will use it with your family to help bring joy and meaning to the holiday.

Here’s to fresh starts and to sweet new years,
Sarah

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Resources

• • High Holidays at Home Guide | PJ Library
  • Shehecheyanu: The Jewish Blessing for Firsts | BimBam
  • Mark Your Steps into the New Year | PJ Library
  • The Back to School Preparedness Guide | PJ Library
  • Back-to-School with Shehecheyanu | PJ Library