Many Jews attend services at synagogues or temples where they will pray for a sweet year full of blessings, and hear the blowing of the Shofar (a Ram's Horn). The holiday is marked with family and friends gathering for dinners each night and a Tashlich or Casting Off of Sins Ceremony.
They send cards or call each other (some people email, Facebook, tweet, etc.). A fun project to do with the kids is to create New Years' cards and send them to family and friends.
Here is a fun, easy and very personalized card craft for you to send:
Materials You Need:
- Construction paper
- Pencils
- Scissors
- Crayons
- Glue Stick
- Sparkly stickers, glitter etc.
- Fold 8 1/2x11 construction paper in half.
- Trace your child’s hand onto the paper, putting their pinky against the folded edge.
- Add a New Year’s greeting inside the card and have your child decorate the card with crayons, stickers and glitter.
One of the key traditions of this holiday is to hear a Shofar blown. The loud noise can be scary for some, and other kids love it. The idea behind the Shofar being blown is that it is a wakeup call to start atoning for the sins/mistakes of the previous year because the day of atonement is close.
Kids can make their own Shofar at http://joyfuljewish.wordpress.com
THE FOOD OF THE HOLIDAY
The meals provide a wonderful opportunity for the family to get together, enjoy each other’s presence and reflect about the past year and be optimistic for the upcoming year. Some fun foods to enjoy while celebrating this holiday is apples dipped in honey, Pomegranates, sweet carrot tsimmes, the round challah or egg bread with raisins and honey cakes.
On the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah (this year September 5, 2013), jews walk to a river or a place of water. It is best if there are fish in the water. At the river, they say a special prayer which reminds them about doing better in the next year. Click HERE for the prayer and how to do this ceremony.
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