Virtual Jerusalem combines a very good introduction with games and more at http://207.168.91.4/vjholidays/rosh/kids.htm There are holiday-related short stories and plans for creating a calendar, a mitzvah chart and a Jerusalem tzedakah box. The site has a page that tries to demystify the holiday and encourages kids to talk to God. To get things going, it includes comments from children ages 4 to 6. Hereís one from Sam, age 6: ìDear God, Instead of making people die and having to make new ones, why donít you just hang on to the people youíve already got here?î
The learn@JTS Kidsí Corner ó http://learn.jtsa.edu/topics/kids/together/roshhashanah ó emphasizes activities that parents can share with their children. We are told that we eat symbolic foods on Rosh Hashanah to portend a good year: We eat a fish head for a year in which we will be at the head and not at the tail. Then the Web site challenges families to adopt some brand new food traditions. How about eating squash so that ìbad luck may be squashedî? Also on the site, youíll find instructions for making a personalized Rosh Hashanah greeting card with your own fingerprint. And because this is the holiday for sweet things, there are kid-friendly recipes for Taiglich, Chocolate-Covered Frozen Bananas and Rosh Hashanah Gingerbread Wish Cookies. (When the cookies have cooled, use icing pens to write a Rosh Hashanah wish on each one.)
JewishFamily.com óhttp://shlk.com/146 ó points out that since Rosh Hashanah is the worldís birthday, it is appropriate to do something good for the world. Start by having your family finish these phrases: ìWe thank You for the beauty of the world that we see inÖî and ìHelp us to make our dreams a reality by helping us toÖî And to demonstrate your care for the world and its inhabitants, calculate what it costs to prepare a special Rosh Hashanah family dinner. Then make a holiday donation to Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger. [http://www.mazoncanada.ca/]
I really liked the activities and ideas at JewishNewYear.com ó http://jewishnewyear.com/holidays/tishrei/4750 Click on ìCool stuff for kids.î You can make your own honey jar that looks like a yellow and black honey bee, find out how a shofar is made and play some games. There are even recipes for traditional and not-so-traditional holiday foods like honey cake, honey wafers and candy apples.
The Aish HaTorah site has some really challenging puzzles and mazes. After reading through the holiday articles at the site, youíll be ready for the quiz, at http://aish.com/holidays/The_High_Holidays/family_activities.asp
Hereís a sample question: ìWhat are the names of the sounds the shofar makes? A. Tekia, Truah, Shevarim. B. Tefilah, Torah, Sefarim. C. Tequilla, Brew-a, Collada.î
We may no longer spend weeks huddled over a table preparing New Yearís greeting cards. But you and your kids can still send out special holiday wishes and, thanks to the Internet, you have plenty of time. There are many sites that let you com