As September ushers in the Jewish High Holy Days, many families across the nation (and beyond) are starting to turn their attention to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, two significant holidays that mark a time of reflection, renewal and community.

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, a festive occasion that typically spans two days (this year falling between 2nd - 4th October). It is a time of celebration, where families gather to enjoy symbolic foods such as apples dipped in honey, representing the hope for a sweet new year. It is also a period of reflection, as it marks the beginning of the ten Days of Awe, a time for self-examination and repentance.

Following Rosh Hashanah is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, considered the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. This year it falls between October 11th - October 12th.

It is a solemn day of fasting, prayer and seeking forgiveness, both from God and from others. Many choose to fast for a 25-hour period during Yom Kippur and much of the day is spent in synagogue services before concluding with the breaking of the fast at sunset.

For children, both of these occasions offer a blend of joy, tradition and spiritual meaning. Both parents and nannies can play a key role in making these days special and engaging for young ones, helping children understand the significance of the celebrations in ways that resonate with their age and personal experience.

It can also serve as a wonderful opportunity to introduce children who are not from the Jewish community or those that are not observing to these holidays to help foster a deeper level of understanding and sensitivity for other cultures and experiences than their own.

Activities to Celebrate the High Holy Days with Children

Making Rosh Hashanah Cards

Crafting Rosh Hashanah cards is a wonderful way for children to express their creativity while learning about the importance of community and well-wishing. Nannies can help children create homemade cards to give to family members and friends. The cards can feature traditional symbols of the holiday, such as apples, honey, pomegranates or even the shofar (a ram’s horn blown during the holiday). This activity teaches children values of kindness and thoughtfulness, integral aspects of the High Holy Days.

Baking Traditional Foods

Food plays a central role in Rosh Hashanah celebrations and baking together can be a fun, educational activity. Traditional foods such as challah (a braided bread) and honey cake are staples of the holiday. Both are easy to source locally during this time of year but are just as easy to bake with the help of a recipe, like this one.

If you’re looking for a unique recipe idea to surprise and delight family and friends this year, these Apple and Honey Challah Muffins are a delicious twist on the traditional round challah and are a wonderful blend of Rosh Hashanah flavours.

Ingredients:

1x sachet (7g) dry yeast
250ml warm water
85g honey
50g sugar
3 eggs
60ml (¼ cup) vegetable oil
1 tsp salt
500g plain flour
1 apple, peeled and finely chopped
Extra honey for drizzling
Optional cinnamon for added flavour

Instructions:

Dissolve the yeast in warm water and let sit for 5 minutes.
In a large bowl, mix the honey, sugar, eggs, oil and salt. Add the yeast mixture and gradually stir in the flour until a dough starts to form.
Knead the dough for 8-10 minutes, then sit in a warm place for around 1-hour until it has risen and roughly doubled in size.
Knock down the dough and fold in your chopped apples.
Divide the dough into small portions, roll into balls and place them in a muffin tin (we’d suggest also using muffin cases for easy clean up and serving).
Allow the dough to rise again for 30 minutes, while you preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
Once the muffins have risen, bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown.
Drizzle with honey before serving.

These muffins are perfect for little hands and make the tradition of challah more accessible and exciting to children. Plus, they’re a delicious treat that truly connects them to the important elements of the holiday.

Teaching Children the Significance of the Holidays

Nannies and parents can help children understand the deeper meaning of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur through stories and discussions. Simplifying concepts of reflection and forgiveness can be done by asking children to think about something they are proud of from the past year and something they would like to improve. Reading age-appropriate stories about the holidays, such as “Sammy Spider’s First Rosh Hashanah,” can also introduce children to the traditions in a fun and engaging way.

Creating a Holiday Table Setting

Setting the table for the Rosh Hashanah meal is an excellent opportunity for children to participate in holiday preparations. It will allow children to draw on their creativity and take pride in something they have prepared for the occasion.

Nannies and parents can guide children in creating simple table decorations, such as napkin rings made from paper and adorned with holiday symbols, colourful place names or even small floral arrangements with flowers collected earlier in the day, making the Rosh Hashanah dinner feel extra special.

Supporting Families Observing the Holidays

Nannies truly can offer invaluable support to families during the High Holy Days by ensuring that everything runs smoothly and that the focus remains on family, faith and reflection.

Organising the Household

Preparing for the holidays can be a busy time for families. Nannies can assist by helping to clean and organise the home in the lead-up to the holidays, ensuring that the environment is calm and welcoming. They can also help with grocery shopping, meal preparation and setting up for holiday meals.

Facilitating Religious Traditions

For families observing Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, it’s important that religious traditions are honoured. Nannies can support this by helping children learn and participate in these traditions, whether it’s assisting with lighting candles, encouraging children to listen to the shofar, or simply helping parents to guide them through the customs of the Yom Kippur fast.

Providing Emotional and Practical Support

Yom Kippur can be a challenging day for parents, especially those who are fasting. Nannies can provide vital practical support by taking care of the children’s needs throughout the day, allowing parents to focus on their spiritual observance. Additionally, they can offer emotional support to children who may be feeling the weight of the more solemn aspects of the holidays.

However your family celebrates and observes these milestones in the Jewish calendar, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur both offer rich opportunities for nannies to help children connect with their cultural heritage, all while supporting the family in creating a meaningful and memorable holiday experience. By supporting the family in the home and engaging in creative activities and learning opportunities, nannies can play a key role in making the High Holy Days both joyful and reflective for the entire family.