Displaying 1 - 10 of 27
Habari Gani? How My Family is Melding Kwanzaa and Hanukkah Customs
As we each shared some favorite holiday memories, my partner asked, “So what does each candle of Hanukkah symbolize?” Puzzled, I asked him to explain what he meant. “You know, like for Kwanzaa.”
Four More Passover Questions for the Whole Family
Our tradition teaches us that the Passover Seder is meant to be a learning experience for children of all ages, from 1 - 100. Our questions are more important that the answers. As you prepare to sit around the Seder table, we’d like to offer you some additional questions to help connect the past, present, and future of our Passover traditions.
Celebrating Passover with Shalom Sesame: Passover Around the World
Together with your children, watch these Shalom Sesame videos to learn about how Passover is celebrated in other cultures. Then try some of the discussion ideas and activities recommended by Reform Jewish educators to further extend the lessons learned in the videos.
Giving Thanks for #GivingTuesday
Thanksgiving used to be a day unto itself; now we have a whole Thanksgiving season! Americans' shopping habits brought us catchily-named, add-on "holidays" like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.
Celebrating Passover with Shalom Sesame: Seder Traditions
Together with your children, watch these Shalom Sesame videos to learn about the customs of the Passover seder. Then try some of the discussion ideas and activities recommended by Reform Jewish educators to further extend the lessons learned in the videos.
Hanukkah Stories: The Miracle of the Expanding Oil
One of the most delightful aspects of Hanukkah is observing its central mitzvah: lighting Hanukkah candles and saying the accompanying blessings. The commandment was sparked by an event that took in the 2nd century BCE.
Emor: Words for the Next Generation
When the Rabbis divided the Torah into its 54 parashiyot (portions), they generally arranged for each portion to begin with a unique or otherwise significant word that would in some way summarize major themes of the entire section.
Celebrating Passover with Shalom Sesame: The Story of the Exodus
The Passover story - the Jewish people's enslavement in Egypt and subsequent exodus - is re-enacted each year at the seder table. Part of what is so unique about this experience is that each family, and each person, is supposed to find relevance and personal connections to the Passover story.
Teach (and Practice) a New Jewish Value Each Night of Hanukkah
Assign a different Jewish value each one day of Hanukkah and plan appropriate activities for your family. The idea of activities is not simply doing for doing’s sake, but doing for the sake of learning. Be sure to reflect and talk afterward!
A Brief History of Latkes: Why We Really Eat Them on Hanukkah
So you think you know why we eat latkes for Hanukkah? The miracle of the oil lasting for eight days instead of one, right? Maybe. Did that really happen or did we need it to happen?