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Rosh HaShanah
We count our years from the Creation onward, this much is clear. That is to say, according to the account of the Torah, we maintain that—mythically, at least—the world was called into existence almost 5771 years ago.
But there is one not insignificant facet of this beautiful idea that is the crowning glory of all things human and plural, and this is the fact that the beginning of the tale falls precisely on the sixth of the seven days mentioned in the Bereshit, the Genesis, the one on which human beings, male and female, were created.
Time is irrelevant without beings there to count it. And the human being that values being such should take account of all of creation. To take care of each other and to take care of this marvel that surrounds us is one of the keys to what we call Rosh Hashanah.

The Book of Life: The Inscription we Write

The Days of Awe have the potential to be filled with trepidation and fear as well as with wonder and possibility. No words from the machzor have more potential to elicit both than the haunting words of the Unetaneh Tokef’, in which we are told that during the Days of Awe our fate in written and sealed.

This lesson offers students ways of understanding the ‘decree’ that awaits each of us in the coming year and the varied ways that it might be impacted by t’shuvah, t’fillah and tzedakah. Students are lead through a process of creating a personal understanding of the concept of ‘averting the evil of the decree’ and produce a document that might be mailed to each later in the school year as a reminder of their intention.

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Conversing With G-d

So, we pray and act in so many ways as if we know G-d, the entity on the other end of the line of communication in our lives as Jews. What do we really know? What do we think? What do we believe?
This curricular guide provides an opportunity for students and teachers/group leaders to think about how we regard G-d, what our expectations are, and the limitations of the language and means we use to describe G-d and our relationship to G-d. The series of activities and strategies used here are intended to script a journey for all members of the learning community to take together as well as explore personal feelings about G-d and G-d’s place in our lives.

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Rosh Hashanah/ Yom Kippur: Exploring Themes of Teshuvah

How does Teshuvah make us better people? What do the calls of the Shofar say to us? What do we wish to throw away with our Tashlich crumbs, and what should we keep?
This project will take participants through a series of encounters, culminating with a family program, which will explore Teshuvah through creative dramatics, learning the meaning of the various shofar calls and their relation to the chagim, art, poetry, and finally an interactive family activity with a meaningful "air tashlich" ceremony.
The activities may be run as a unit in sequence, or individually as desired.

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A Blank Sheet: Here’s to a Colorful New Beginning!

This ludic proposal encouraging group participation broaches the concept of turning a new leaf. Activities focus on Hebrew vocabulary pertaining to Yamim Noraim, the story of Jonah, and the custom of wearing white. It also entails the creation of artistic exhibits and closes with a party, to which families are invited.

The activities in this project can be either carried out as an integrated series, or individually, as per the objectives of the coordinator.

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Creative Openings

The Jewish Tradition has it that Rosh Hashanah is not only a time for change and of preparation for Yom Kippur, but also the very birthday of the entire world. Or, if you prefer, a new anniversary of the creation of the first man and the first woman.
Rosh Hashanah is a time for us to reconnect both with creation and our own creativity, for putting into practice the challenge of getting out of the sieges that often – and in the belief, even, that they protect us—end up drowning in our own being, which becomes void of meaning when it cannot feed on the surrounding world.
On this occasion, the idea is to be able to press on in our search for texts from different ages that show us that we are responsible for the world we live in, and how, should we wish to free ourselves of these mental blinkers, there are many roads to doing so.

By Rabbi Joshua Kullock

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You’re the Expert on Chagei Tishrei: Rosh Hashanah

This exciting program is individualized for and equally useful to classrooms and camps, schools and centers! It is similar to the method that many scouting groups use to promote experience and award merit badges. Here, children will select and accomplish a certain number of activities and, through their efforts, acquire increasingly higher levels of expertise.

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Heshbon ha-Nefesh

This project, composed of seven core elements, presents an approach to the concept of Heshbon ha-Nefesh (reunion with the soul), understanding “balance” in terms of “value” and as an attitude within Judaism.

Given the significance of time within Judaism, balance is not achieved in a day but over a period of time, with a beginning marked by the start of the year and a final judgment to evaluate this balance.
There are four key concepts that support this period of time: the start or beginning of this period of reflection (Teruah), the awakening of the soul and awareness to carry out this task, memory or introspection, and the evaluation and judgment of acts.
This leads to balance, which is the act of thinking, analyzing, and drawing conclusions with regard to one’s own actions and those of a collective.

Two main aspects of Jewish culture are connected to balance: memory and the right to free will (the right is given but the responsibility it entails is unavoidable)

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Collective Heshbon ha-Nefesh

These activities will be based around an analysis of one of the most transcendental chapters of the Book of Exodus, which deals with the creation of monotheism within Judaism: the golden calf.
Its relationship with Rosh Hashanah, Yamim Noraim, Chodesh Elul, and the concept of Heshbon ha-Nefesh will also be studied.
The study will focus on an example of collective Heshbon ha-Nefesh.

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Sarah and Hagar: Relevant lessons for early childhood educators

It is time to broaden our approach to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur from apples and honey to include the story of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar. There are lessons to be learned from each of these characters and from the ways (positively and negatively) they interacted with each other. Emotions rage, dreams are dashed and fulfilled, messages are misunderstood.Using the story as the vehicle, these lessons can be referred back to throughout the year.
By Maxine Segal Handelman

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