Here are a bunch of fun activities to help kids prepare for Rosh Hashanah, liven up the holiday meal, and reflect on what it means to start a new year.
Getting Ready
Blow the Shofar
On Rosh Hashanah the voice of the shofar (ram's horn) is like a wake-up call: Pay attention to yourself and ways you can improve! Pay attention to the world and how you can help make it better!
Make Cards
Many people send cards to their friends and families around Rosh Hashanah to wish them a happy new year.
Eating Together
Braid a Round Challah
On Rosh Hashanah a symbol of making ourselves and the world more whole is eating a round challah.
Sample Symbolic Foods
On Rosh Hashanah we eat simanim, foods with special symbolic value for the new year. Each of these appetizers is chosen because the food itself (or the Hebrew name of the food) connects to a wish for the new year.
Letting Go and Looking Ahead
Set Intentions
During the Ten Days of Teshuvah (Ten Days of Returning) we have a special opportunity to focus on our relationships, to say we’re sorry for things we’ve done wrong, and to discuss how to make our connections to family, friends, and community stronger.
Tashlich Activities
Rosh Hashanah has a special cleansing ceremony called tashlich, which means to “cast” or “throw away.” It is a chance to symbolically get rid of our bad actions. Tashlich can be an occasion to talk about your mistakes (the ones you were thinking about as you threw your crumbs) and ways you can grow and improve.
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Music, Podcasts, and Playlists for Rosh Hashanah
August 26, 2025