This blog is filled with ideas to turn everyday moments into Jewish moments, especially for families with young children.
All in Jewish Values
To celebrate our puppy, we wanted to share an easy project - a no-sew sock puppy! Today is also an extra special day to make one since it’s the first day of the Hebrew month of Elul, which in Judaism is the New Year of the Animals.
We have lots of fun ideas to celebrate Lag B’Omer, like this cute DIY “no-sew” ant plushie, because you know, ants and picnics go together! Whether you are celebrating the holiday with a picnic, or just want to cuddle with a new friend, we show you everything you need to make your own ant plushie!
Today the sun is shining after several days of rain, so it’s a perfect (and much needed) day to check on some newly bloomed spring flowers in our backyard, and maybe even make a flower arrangement for Shabbat. Come explore with us!
We love the idea of lovingly watching over Baby Moses too, on his river journey, in a DIY Baby Moses mini diorama. There are a few steps in making this craft, and it would be a lovely project for an adult and child to do together. So let’s go make a Baby Moses mini diorama!
We think it’s special when children are able to take part in preparing for the Passover Seder. One special way they can do this is by making a DIY afikomen bag, which will later be used to hide and seek the afikomen.
Did you know that passover is also called Chag HaMatzot - The Festival of Matzah? One favorite story that my mom would tell was about a special little matzah that seemed to have a smile on his face.
From the night of our first Passover seder, and for seven days thereafter, it’s a customary tradition to put aside leavened bread, bagels and muffins, and eat matzah. Lots and lots of matzah!
Something special about Passover is that each and every food on the seder plate tells part of the Passover story. This is especially true for matzah. With only two ingredients, it’s a wonderful activity to bake your own!
Spring (Aviv in Hebrew) has always been my favorite season. In Judaism, spring is the season of life, victory and optimism. If there was ever a time and place to celebrate spring, it is now! We have a wonderful round-up of activities! So let’s go celebrate spring!
It seems like the world could use some extra warm hugs and healing right now. We have a tradition in our home that when we’re feeling under the weather, we make, what our Nana Shirley calls, “liquid gold,” or chicken soup!
From creating joyful noise to playing carnival games to eating sweets, there are so many fun ways to celebrate Purim. When I was a young, what I loved most about the holiday was dressing up as Queen Esther.
Tu B’Shevat is the perfect holiday for children to plant seeds of all shapes and sizes. In Hebrew, the word seed is pronounced Ze-ra, and vegetable seeds planted during the Hebrew month of Shevat (this year in February) should be ready to eat and enjoy by Passover! Come plant some pea seedlings with us!
In Central Florida, we’re right in the middle of strawberry season. With a chill in the air, and the promise of warmer days to come, picking strawberries (and eating fruits and nuts) for Tu B’ Shevat is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday!
It’s the Birthday of the Trees, the Jewish Holiday Tu B’Shevat (named for the date of the holiday - the 15th of the Hebrew month of Shevat), and that means we’re celebrating with a birthday party!
It’s almost Tu B’Shevat (the 15th of the Hebrew month of Shevat)! On this day, we say happy birthday to the trees, and we thank the trees for so many things: fruit and nuts, shelter for little animals,
During the Hebrew month of Shevat and for the Jewish holiday Tu B’Shevat (on the 15th of the month of Shevat), families can celebrate this time of year by planting seeds. One special way to make a seed grow is for children to use the warmth of their bodies to help a little seed start its growing journey in a DIY beanie baby necklace. Click here to learn more!
It’s fun to dress up as a superhero, but even more fun - and more special - to be a mitzvah superhero! Our cape is covered in all kinds of felt “mitzvah” stickers. Each sticker reminds us of a special way to be kind. This is an adorable activity to do with littles, so let’s go be super mitzvah heros!
It’s wonderful when children have the opportunity to participate in an act of kindness for someone else. Yesterday, we made mini challahs, and today, we are going to package up them up into little loaves of love for a special challah delivery.
We’re just getting ready to start the second Hebrew month of the Jewish calendar – the month of Cheshvan (falling in October or November). This month brings us the well-loved story of Noah and his ark full of animals.
The Hebrew word for butterfly is Par-Par. We thought it would be special for children to take a "butterfly" home from the butterfly garden, so it could watch over them as they grow and change throughout the New Year.
