This beautiful new PJ Library guide explores ways for your family to celebrate the Jewish fall holidays at home.

 

 

 

 

For easy use, download and print these three special sections of the guide: Symbolic New Year Foods, What’s All the Praying About?, Family Conversations.

For High Holiday playlists, music videos, and podcast episodes, check out PJ Library Listen.

And now continue scrolling for a digital companion to A Time to Grow: A PJ Library Family Guide to the Fall Holidays.

Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. The Jewish calendar is based on the cycle of the moon …

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Getting Ready

Sweet Greetings

How do we greet one another on the Jewish New Year?

Have a Blast!

The shofar (ram’s horn) is like a wake-up call

Challah in the Round

Making ourselves and the world more whole

Preparing the Evening Meal

A traditional meal dating back 1,500 years

Rosh Hashanah Evening

Holiday Blessings

Wishes for our children and blessings on a new fruit

Symbolic New Year Foods

Appetizers with symbolism and word-play

Blessings for symbolic New Year foods

Rosh Hashanah Day

What's All the Praying About?

Unpacking 5 High Holiday prayers

Reflections on 5 High Holiday prayers

Tashlich: Casting Away Our Mistakes

A cleansing ceremony for the New Year

Ten Days of Returning

Ten Days of Returning

In the ten days beginning with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur –  the Ten Days of Teshuvah (Ten Days of Returning) – we turn away from our mistakes and return to the “best self” we can be…

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Family Conversations

Having thoughtful one-on-one conversations and family talks

Family Conversations

Yom Kippur

The Ten Days of Returning end with Yom Kippur, an entire day set aside for thinking about our actions …

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Being Ready

A Different Day

What makes this day so different

Final Preparation

Tips before beginning Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur Evening

Kol Nidrei - How We Open Yom Kippur

At synagogue everyone begins by standing

Yom Kippur Day

Covering Over and Planting New

What are the habits we want to change?

The Story of Jonah

A gigantic tale about forgiveness

Goals and Challenges in the New Year

Better person, better world

Conclusion of Yom Kippur

Closing the Gate and Ending the Fast

Next year in Jerusalem!

Sukkot
& Simchat Torah


Five days after Yom Kippur the moon grows full. It lights up a special celebration called Sukkot …

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Let's Get Building

Building a Sukkah

A hut of one's own.

Ready to Shake?

Close-Up: Lulav and Etrog

How to shake a lulav

Sukkot Evening

Holiday Blessings

Blessings in the sukkah and for shaking the lulav

Simchat Torah

Rejoicing with the Torah

Celebrating the Tree of Life

What is PJ Library?
If you like this guide, make sure you are signed up for PJ Library, and we will send your child an age-appropriate, expertly curated Jewish children’s book every month. PJ Library is a free program for families raising Jewish kids from birth through 12 years old, offering books that capture children’s imaginations with fun characters and vibrant illustrations. PJ Library stories are a fun, easy way to share Jewish culture and values with your child.

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