Rosh Hashanah fun for the whole family

Need ideas on how to get your littles into the Rosh Hashanah mindset? Here are a couple fun ideas to try with your family.

Create a unique family symbol appetizer

We know that on Rosh Hashanah we eat apples and honey to symbolize our hope for a sweet new year. But did you know there are other symbolic foods we can eat on the holiday to symbolize other hopes for the new year? See some delicious examples below–and then take a crack at creating your very own family symbol, one that you can repeat every year.

Carrots for a happy new year

The Hebrew word for carrot, ‘gezer’ sounds like the Hebrew word ‘ligzor’, which means to cut. We eat carrots in hopes to cut out the bad news–and make it a happy new year!

Peas or beans for prosperity

‘Rubia’, another name for string beans, sounds like the word “rabim,” which means “many” in Hebrew. We eat beans in hope for prosperity.

Pomegranates for fertility/abundance

We eat this fruit, one of the Seven Species native to Israel, in hopes that our blessings abound like the seeds of the pomegranate.

Dates for ending our sorrow

‘Tamar’, the Hebrew word for “date,” means ‘end.’ We hope we can put an end to our sorrow.

Now you try! For example, “Serve pear so that Grandma will not lose her pair of glasses.” What are some words that represent the fun of your family?

Learn & Let Go

The 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are a time to make peace with friends, family, God, and ourselves. We all make mistakes. One very important life skill is to learn how to deal with them.

Supplies:

-Paper (biodegradable is best–or try toilet paper!)

-Crayons/pens/markers

-Envelope

-Filled bucket, sink, or bathtub

1. On individual pieces of paper, write down some of the mistakes you made that year.

2. Decide which mistakes you choose to embrace (so that we remember not repeat them again) and which ones you are ready to leave behind.

3. The ones you choose to remember, so that you don’t repeat them again, put inside an envelope.

4. For the ones you are ready to let go of, crumple them up in the palm of your hand and throw into the water. Watch them dissolve–and feel renewed.

5. At this time next year, review these mistakes again. Were you able to learn from the experience and make a change, or do you have to re-learn that one again?

Maya Lotan is the founder of Days United, a culture box company that makes it fun and easy to celebrate traditions.