How can parents introduce their children to Jewish values and culture? You can…
Do you like to do arts and crafts? The internet is full of great ideas for ways to reflect your child’s inner Jewish artist. Creative Jewish Mom and the Jewish section of Pinterest have much to offer.
If you really feel inspired, discuss the weekly Torah portion at your Shabbat table. Check out the URJ section on “Torah for Youth and Families,” which will help you find ways to apply the lessons of Torah to children in preschool through high school.
Do you have other ideas? Please email me and let me know!
Have Jewish fun in the kitchen. Children of all ages can help to bake challah, make kugel, or chop vegetables for an Israeli salad.
Unwind with a Jewish movie night. Depending on your child’s age and interest, go from OyBaby, to a family film like An American Tail or a Shalom Sesame episode, to The Book Thief, The Chosen, Yentl, or Fiddler on the Roof for older children. Teens can enjoy more adult fare such as When Jews Were Funny, Ushpizin, and Remembrance (Die verlorene Zeit). Netflix also has a great section of “Israeli movies” if you do a search.
Read a Jewish book. Check out your local synagogue’s library, or even the closest city library branch to see what they have in stock. If your child is 11 years old or younger, are you signed up for PJ Library? They send Jewish books free once a month to every child in your household!
Spend Shabbat outdoors! Go on a nature hike, take a Shabbat nap under a tree, light Shabbat or Havdallah candles in the park. Enjoy the bounty of God’s creations, and try to say the Shehechiyanu or one of the blessings for seeing something in nature, if appropriate.
If you’re traveling, see what there is to “do Jewish” in whatever city you visit. Is there a synagogue? A Jewish restaurant or deli? A Jewish museum? A historical or archeological Jewish site? A great Judaica gift shop? Explore and see what you can find.
