A sweet New Year

These first few weeks have flown by, and the children in the Preschool 2 class have noticed, and begun to show an interest in the cycle of the year. They’re noting that birthdays are coming up, the seasons are starting to change, and that there are holidays coming. While they have a daily meeting where they share a calendar, it was difficult for them to envision all of these changes and important dates on a ‘flat’ calendar. Along with their teachers, they have created a 3D calendar using a lazy susan and photos. This calendar has become a way for them to see what’s next, and a way for them to mark time in a meaningful way. 

How wonderful that this interest has coincided with Rosh Hashanah! Rosh Hashanah is often referred to as the birthday of the world, and the beginning of a 10 day period of reflection for Jewish people that ends on Yom Kippur, the day of repentance. 

As we prepare for the holidays, we use this opportunity to talk about the symbols of Roshahah with the children. The links will take you to some of the songs that we have been singing together:

• The Shofar, which is a rams horn that is blown to remind Jewish people to ‘wake up’, and look inward and repent. For the children it is a chance to talk about and practice different sounds and patterns as we talk about the different sounds that are blown on the shofar. We have been able to hear the Rabbi blow the shofar for us already!
  
• Wishing one another a Happy and Sweet New Year or L’shana Tovah!
  
• Since food often plays a large part in Jewish holidays and traditions, we dip apples in honey and eat honey cake to celebrate having a sweet new year.
  
• Round Challah, will also be a part of our snack on Fridays as well. While we do have challah every Friday, it is a long braided loaf. On Rosh Hashanah the loaf is round, reminding us that they year is a circle. 
  

Yom Kippur is a more somber day. Called the Day of Atonement, it is a chance for Jews to repent and ask for forgiveness from God and from others that they may have wronged. With the children, it’s an opportunity to talk about saying “I’m sorry” when they’ve done something that may have hurt another person, or made them feel angry and sad. We talk about how we can make things better in these situations beyond just saying sorry. 

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are a time that we teach the children (and to be honest, we all need a reminder about this)  that it’s okay to make mistakes and that everyone does, but we can always ask for forgiveness and make things right. 

Have a wonderful and sweet new year!

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