Rosh Hashanah

Compare a moon calendar to a wall calendar; taste apples and honey.

Children wonder and discover; you facilitate more than you lecture.

• How do we prepare for the Jewish new year?
• How is it different from the Gregorian new year?

The Jewish year begins in the fall on Rosh Hashanah and follows a lunar calendar, so dates ‘move’ on the Gregorian calendar. It opens the High Holy Days.

• Tishrei — the month
• Yom Harat Olam — birthday of the world

“Why does Rosh Hashanah move every year?”

Because the Jewish calendar follows the moon, which doesn’t line up exactly with the sun calendar.

• Children understand the Jewish calendar follows the moon.
• Children name the month of Rosh Hashanah and ways to celebrate.

Invite each family’s customs; there are many right ways to welcome the new year.

Folktale. The Shofar That Woke the Town (Folklore) — a single shofar blast wakes a sleepy town to start fresh.

Changemaker. Hillel II — the ancient sage who set the calculated Jewish calendar so Jews everywhere share the same dates.

How is the Jewish new year the same as, and different from, January 1st?

“We learned the Jewish year follows the moon. Try at home: look at the moon and talk about the month ahead.”