The High Holy Days season is a time filled with family, friends, and celebration. We have partnered with PJ Library Bay Area to bring you this high holidays guide of activities, programs, and kid-friendly resources.
This year, Rosh Hashanah begins on the evening of Friday, September 15, and ends on the evening of Sunday, September 17. Yom Kippur begins Sunday, September 24, and ends Monday, September 25.
Shanah Tovah (Happy New Year)! The Jewish new year of 5784 kicks off on Rosh Hashanah when people wish each other Shanah Tovah – a sweet new year! Together, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur make up the Jewish High Holidays with the ten days in between known as the “days of awe.”
Rosh Hashanah activities for East Bay kids and families
Community Rosh Hashanah events are over for this year. Read on for Yom Kippur events.
At-home Rosh Hashanah activities
Browse PJ Library’s Rosh Hashanah hub and downloadable High Holidays @ Home Guide for easy ways for your family to celebrate at home.
Eat sweet foods to ring in a sweet new year:
- Easy Rosh Hashanah Cooking: PJ Library has 21 recipes your family will love
- Make A Round Challah: PJ Library has simple challah recipes for kids and how to braid a round challah
- Level up with an apple cake you can make together. This kid-friendly recipe won’t fail you.
- Eat round challah bread to symbolize the cycle of the years. Grand Bakery in Oakland and Saul’s Delicatessen in Berkeley are ready with circular challah for your Rosh Hashanah needs.
Start this new year off with free monthly Jewish children’s books sent directly to your home from PJ Library Bay Area – Sign Up Today!
Yom Kippur activities for East Bay kids and families
The ten days beginning with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur are called the Ten Days of Teshuvah (Ten Days of Returning) – turning away from our mistakes and returning to the “best self” we can be. We have a special opportunity to focus on our relationships, say we’re sorry for things we’ve done wrong, and discuss how to strengthen our connections to family, friends, and community.
- Adults traditionally do not eat on this day. They break their fast at the end with a celebratory meal. Instead of fasting, older kids might give something else up, such as treats or technology for the day.
- A short discussion about what makes a good apology is appropriate for younger children. Writing down past mistakes on magical disappearing paper and letting them wash away in a bowl of water is a favorite ritual.
- Doing good deeds and charitable acts is another Yom Kippur tradition. Making a donation to a food pantry in honor of the food not eaten that day is a popular gesture of atonement as well.
Upcoming Events for Yom Kippur
No EventsVisit PJ Library Bay Area’s Yom Kippur Resource Hub to learn more about the holiday and find kid-friendly activities for home.
We wish you and your family a healthy, happy New Year and a meaningful Yom Kippur.
PJ Library Bay Area provides free Jewish books to children from birth through twelve years of age. To learn more and enroll, please click here.
Follow along and be part of the conversation on social media on either Instagram and Facebook or both @pjlibrarybayarea.
Thanks again to PJ Library Bay Area for supporting 510 Families. Images used with permission.
✡️ Like and Follow PJ Library Bay Area on Facebook and Instagram!
✡️ Enroll in free Jewish books for children, from birth through 8 years old: Sign up for PJ Library
✡️ Free Jewish chapter books for readers, ages 8.5 – 12 years old: PJ Our Way
