As you look for ways to share Jewish holidays with your grandchildren, consider these creatively adapted ideas to help your family celebrate safely, meaningfully, and joyfully.
The Jewish High Holy Days begin with Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) on Wednesday, October 2nd at sundown. For the following week, Jewish families around the world will gather to celebrate these occasions with services, symbolic foods, hearing the shofar and gathering with family and friends. These “Days of Awe” culminate with Yom Kippur (the day of atonement), but then celebrations continue with Sukkot (the feast of booths), Shemini Atzeret (featuring prayers for rain in Israel) and Simchat Torah (“rejoicing in the Torah”).
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Sunday, September 22nd
Two locations: Stribling Orchard in Markham, VA | 1:00–3:00 PM
and Waters Orchard in Germantown, MD | 3:30–5:30 PM
Head to the apple orchard to celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Grandparents Day! We’ll pick apples, have professional family photos taken, read stories, and do two mitzvah (good deed) projects (making cards for Jewish military service members and donating apples to a local food bank). This event is being held in two locations; choose the one that’s best for your family.
Tips for Connecting Around the High Holidays |
Tips for Connecting Around Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah |
Being welcoming is about more than just being polite. It’s creating a space in your home and your heart to invite someone in and let each of you be your best selves. Throughout the week of Sukkot (the festival of booths), which begins Sunday night, we can convey the Jewish values of Hachnassat Orchim (welcoming guests) and Shalom Bayit (peace in the home) to children. Here are a few ways to do that:
Following on the heels of Sukkot are Shemini Atzeret (7th day of assembly) and Simchat Torah (rejoicing in the Torah). Shemini Atzeret comes at the start of the rainy season and is about praying for the rain required for things to grow in Israel. A great book about Israel, grandparents, and rain is First Rain by Charlotte Herman.
Simchat Torah is a joyous holiday where we finish the annual reading of the Torah (the five books of the Hebrew Bible) and begin it anew. This happy holiday is a great opportunity to convey a joy in being Jewish. Here are some specific ideas:
Books
Rituals
Crafts and Recipes
Books
Rituals
Crafts and Recipes
Friday, November 8, 2024 | 4:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Sunday, November 10, 2024 | 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Sunday, November 10, 2024 | 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Monday, November 11, 2024 | 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Thursday, November 14, 2024 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Friday, November 15, 2024 | 4:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Saturday, November 16, 2024 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Saturday, November 16, 2024 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm