Family-friendly High Holidays Guide For East Bay Families - 510 Families

Family-friendly High Holidays Guide For East Bay Families

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 Sunday, September 25, and ends on the evening of Tuesday, September 27. Yom Kippur begins Tuesday, October 4, and ends Wednesday, October 5.

Jewish Celebration Rosh Hashana New Year
Image courtesy of PJ Library Bay Area

Shanah Tovah (Happy New Year)! The Jewish new year of 5782 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

PJ Library Reading Together
Photo courtesy of PJ Library Bay Area

Community Rosh Hashanah events

Please plan ahead, some of the in-person children’s activities require tickets or RSVP. Watch this space.

No 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:

Tip: For a full family Rosh Hashanah dinner, Market Hall has online ordering and curbside pick-up.

Rosh Hashanah with Kids - PJ LIbrary Books

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

Yom Kippur with Kids
Photo courtesy PJ Library Bay Area

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.

Visit PJ Library Bay Area’s Yom Kippur Resource Hub to learn more about the holiday and find kid-friendly activities for home.

Community Yom Kippur family events (more will be added throughout the season)

No Events

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.

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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.

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✡️ Enroll in free Jewish books for children, from birth through 8 years old: PJ Library

✡️ Free Jewish chapter books for readers, ages 8.5 – 12 years old: PJ Our Way

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