Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)

It can sometimes be hard to get the kids involved in the more solemn activities surrounding the Rosh Hashanah holiday. Even though this is the Jewish New Year, it focuses more on introspection and what we did and how we behaved in the past year. This is a little bit like the introspection with the Secular New Year’s Eve on December 31st in making New Year’s Resolutions but is more involved. Rosh Hashanah is held on different days each year but is typically held in the month of September.

There are plenty of ways to get the kids involved with Rosh Hashanah. Try setting up a table of special snacks and treats on Rosh Hashanah themed party supplies and make the reviewing of the past year a family event. Have everyone in the family use crayons and paper to write down the things they feel they did that were wrong in the past year on strips of paper. Maybe you and the kids can use this as a time to discuss these things too and attempt to come up with solutions or ‘resolutions’ for the coming year. Once everyone has their strips of paper made up you can travel to a nearby pond or source of water and practice the traditional ‘tashlikh’ or the casting off of sins by saying a small prayer and tossing the strips into the water. The kids will enjoy being able to take part in a family oriented activity this Rosh Hashanah and they may feel better about getting a past wrong off their chest.

The best part about the Jewish New Year is making it a sweet one by feasting on lots of sweets, a popular staple being honey and apples. You can certainly get the kids involved by making a simple variation on this with an easy apple dumpling wraps. This can be made with leavened or unleavened dough (Matzo). Just make up a simple dough recipe, roll out flat and make cutouts. Fill these cutouts with a mix of apples, spices and honey and close up around the mix. Then pop in the oven till they’re cooked. When done drizzle honey on top for a sticky sweet treat.