The High Holiday season is one of the richest stretches of the Jewish calendar — a month-long journey from the reflection of Rosh Hashanah to the joy of Simchat Torah. For families with young kids, it can also feel like a lot: new foods, longer synagogue services, unfamiliar rituals, and a lot of “why do we do that?” questions. The good news is that these holidays are, at their heart, incredibly kid-friendly. They’re full of sound, sweetness, building, dancing, and togetherness: all the things little ones already love. PJ Library provides a plethora of resources for your family! Read on for links.
Here’s a season-long guide to help your family celebrate meaningfully, at home and in community.
Rosh Hashanah: The Jewish New Year
Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Jewish year and the start of the “Days of Awe,” a ten-day period of reflection leading up to Yom Kippur. Here is a great video for the kids: Rosh Hashanah Shaboom! Episode: Be the Best Me | BimBam
- Apples and honey: Let kids dip apple slices in honey while talking about wishing for a “sweet new year.” Try a taste-test of different honey varieties as a fun sensory activity. Rosh Hashanah with Kids | PJ Library
- Shofar sounds: Kids love the shofar (ram’s horn) blown during services. Practice imitating the sounds at home: tekiah (one long blast), shevarim (three broken blasts), and teruah (nine short blasts) with a kazoo or their own voices. A fun song to learn the notes: Shofar Blast (Peter & Ellen Allard)
- Round challah: Bake or buy a round challah, symbolizing the cycle of the year. Young kids can help braid dough or decorate the loaf with raisins before baking.
- Tashlich: Head to a creek, pond, or the ocean and toss breadcrumbs into the water, symbolically “casting off” mistakes from the past year. It’s a simple, visual ritual that even toddlers can grasp. Another great video for the family: What is Rosh Hashanah? The Jewish New Year
Rosh Hashanah is great time to reach and connect with others.
Send Shanah Tovah (Happy New Year) cards or texts to family and friends. This can be great craft project for kids using stamps, stickers, or drawings.
Call a grandparent or relative who lives far away to wish them a sweet new year.
Check in on a neighbor, especially anyone who’s elderly or alone, with a small honey cake or note.
Get involved in the community
- Attend a family or “tot” service at a local synagogue. Many congregations offer shorter, interactive services designed for young children.
- Join a community Tashlich gathering at a local park or waterfront.
- Look for a community-wide apple-picking or honey-tasting event in your area.
- See our local happenings in our PJ Newsletter: High Holiday Events for Families in Sarasota-Manatee
Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement
Ten days after Rosh Hashanah comes Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, a day of fasting, prayer, and reflection. Learning About Yom Kippur With Kids | PJ Library
Celebrating with kids
- Young children don’t fast, but you can involve them in the spirit of the day through a “sorry” ritual: writing or drawing something they’d like to do better this year.
- Talk about forgiveness in kid-friendly terms — asking a sibling or friend for a “do-over” after a disagreement.
- Attend part of a family service; many congregations have short, engaging programs for kids during the day. Watch this video to learn more: What is Yom Kippur? An introduction – BimBam
- Use the day’s theme of forgiveness as a chance to reach out to someone you’ve had a falling-out with, even briefly.
- Reach out to friends or family who are fasting to wish them an easy fast.
- Offer to bring a break-the-fast dish to a friend or relative’s home.
A Season of Connection
What ties these holidays together is community and connection: with family, friends, neighbors, and tradition. You don’t need a big budget or perfect Hebrew to make these holidays meaningful for your kids. Wishing your family a sweet, meaningful, and joyful holiday season. Shanah Tovah! Happy and healthy New Year!