21 days till Hanukkah 2020! I just looked back at my post from January 2020 – pre-pandemic. I was waxing nostalgic about having the extended family with us for four whole nights of Hanukkah. This year, we and many of you will be seeking new ways to celebrate the holiday in your homes - without extended families. But it doesn't have to be a sad and lonely year. We just need to bring creativity and a new outlook to celebration. To help fuel your planning, I am sharing ideas on Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/JewishHolidaysInABox) for activities that are possible this Hanukkah. If … [Read more...]
Rosh Hashanah 2020 - New Year Greeting Cards
Jewish New Year cards are more important than ever this year. In past years, I’ve talked about the joy of having kids create Jewish New Year cards to send to family. This year, when so many of us are missing being able to hug our grands and nieces and nephews and aunts and uncles, let’s flip the idea on its head. Let the adults initiate the project – and ask the kids to add the finishing touches. (Or we can finish them ourselves!) This year, we moms and dads and grand’rents can send to family of all ages whom we are missing. Rosh Hashanah 2020 Starts Friday, September 18th We’re all … [Read more...]
What Hope Looks Like - Al Kol Eleh
During these unprecedented times, music helps us heal and hope and express. If you are home with little ones, music of all kinds can both soothe and celebrate life. With “Al Kol Eleh,” a song by Naomi Shemer, we can simply listen. Or we can use the song as a springboard for discussion. And we can even embrace it more deeply by learning how to play it on an instrument or memorize the lyrics to sing it. In our family, we used to sing this song as a special Rosh Hashanah treat, because of the concept. The first verse reads: Al hadevash v’al ha-oketz – over the honey and the (bee) sting … [Read more...]
Five Creative Ways to Celebrate Tu B’Shevat
With the holiday of Tu B’Shevat coming up (sunset February 9 to nightfall on the 10th), we have another fun way to celebrate Jewishly. Called the New Year for the Trees, Tu B’Shevat marks the time when the sap begins to rise in trees in Israel. While Tu B’Shevat Seders are popular, I wanted to share easier, more active ways for you to celebrate. Here are some ideas I culled from articles in Tablet, the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore website, and OurJewishCommunity.org. #1 Try a new fruit Love this one! Take the kiddoes to the market with you to choose something they’ve … [Read more...]
Homemade Hanukkah Gifts - Art
Like many of you, we are an interfaith family – with a rare opportunity this year to weave together our traditions. Hanukkah begins on December 22. When we gather this year, we hope to be together for several nights of Hanukkah, including Christmas. But we want to downplay the gifts. SO – we will follow my daughter’s lead and create themed nights, as they do when they are home for Hanukkah. Games night. Books night. Outside exploring night. And while we have all decided to limit gifts to one per child, we want them to understand the pleasure of giving to others, too. My hope … [Read more...]
