How are symbols used in celebrations and holidays?

Search by Category
Free Search

6 Unit(s), 17 Resource(s), 1 Teaching Tool(s)

Unit

Purim: Customs and Values

Unit on values related to Purim and how they relate to the customs of this holiday

Ages: 12-14,
Unit

What is Chanukah About?

What is the historical story of Chanukah? This unit addresses the different stories of Chanukah and how they have influenced the character of the holiday.

Ages: 9-11, 12-14,
Unit

Chanukah Candles

This unit is about Chanukah candles: how and why they are lit, the symbolic significance of lighting candles and the idea of spreading light and its cultural and personal significance.

Ages: 6-8, 9-11,
Unit

Passover: Story of the Holiday

This unit deals with the multifaceted story and diverse faces of the Passover holiday, and focuses on the idea of telling the exodus story and its significance.

Ages: 9-11, 12-14,
Unit

Passover: Seder Night and the Haggadah

This unit discusses the various aspects of Seder night – the structure of the Haggadah, the Seder plate, and selected texts from the Maggid section.

Ages: 6-8, 9-11,
Unit

Shabbat – Rituals

This unit on Shabbat deals with the various ceremonies and rituals traditionally performed over the course of Shabbat – including candle lighting, kiddush (the blessing over the wine) and havdalah (the ceremony differentiating between Shabbat and the rest of the week).

Ages: 6-8, 9-11,
Resource

The Sukkah

Sitting in the sukkah (also referred to as “settling” or “dwelling” in the sukkah) is the main commandment on the holiday of Sukkot. In this resource, we will learn about the sukkah and will become familiar with its symbolism and the values learned from it.

Ages: 6-8,
Resource

Hidden and Revealed: Central Motifs of Purim

This resource deals with the motifs of things that are hidden and those that are visible in Megillat Esther (The Scroll of Esther) and how these motifs are expressed on Purim through costumes and masks.

Ages: 9-11, 12-14,
Resource

Megillat Esther: Story of the Holiday

In this resource, we will learn about Megillat Esther and the holiday of Purim. We will address the main themes that are found in Megillat Esther and reflected in the customs of the holiday, such as happiness, “Ve-Nahafokh Hu” (all upside down or topsy turvy), concealment and mutual responsibility.

Ages: 6-8, 9-11,
Resource

Chanukah – The Story of the Holiday

We will become familiar with the Chanukah story and the customs associated with the holiday. We will discuss what we can learn from the story and how it can serve as a source of inspiration in our lives today.

Ages: 6-8, 9-11,
Resource

First Fruits (Bikurim)

The mitzvah of bringing bikurim (first fruits) to the Holy Temple is referred to in the Torah as an act of gratitude to God for bringing us to the land of Israel. In this resource, we will discuss the importance of being grateful for the good things in our lives, the various ways in which we can express our feelings of gratitude, and the connection between gratitude and the first fruits.

Ages: 6-8,
Resource

Light in Art: Monet – The Painter of Light

Light influences and determines the way we see the world, particularly in terms of colors. This is evident in the art of the Impressionist school, including the works of the painter Claude Monet. We will examine how this perspective is connected to various ideas in Jewish tradition.

Ages: 9-11, 12-14,
Resource

Light – A Symbol of Good

This unit discusses light as a symbol of good in the context of the Chanukah story.

Ages: 9-11, 12-14,
Resource

Light and Darkness

This resource discusses the importance of light in our lives and in the world and the use of light as a metaphor for good versus darkness as a metaphor for evil, examining these assumptions.

Ages: 6-8, 9-11,
Resource

Sukkah and Memory

In this unit, we’ll learn about the roles and importance of holiday symbols, including their significance on the personal and family level and their significance for the collective memory of the Jewish people, with an emphasis on the sukkah.

Ages: 9-11, 12-14,
Resource

Sukkot / Eliahou Eric Bokobza

Eliahou Eric Bokobza’s piece entitled “Sukkot” evokes thoughts about the nature of permanence and ephemerality in Jewish life.

Ages: 9-11, 12-14,
Resource

Ma Nishtana – the Four Questions

In this resource, we will learn about the Four Questions section of the Haggadah. We will become familiar with the examples that appear in the text and explore the significance of asking questions on Seder night.

Ages: 6-8, 9-11,
Resource

The Seder Plate

In this resource we will get to know the Seder plate and the role it plays in telling the story of Passover on Seder Night.

Ages: 9-11,
Resource

Havdalah – Saying Good-Bye to Shabbat

We’ll learn about the havdalah ceremony and its different components.

Ages: 9-11,
Resource

Feeling Shabbat – People Creating Holiness

We will use a Hassidic story to discuss the power of symbols and human actions to create an atmosphere of Shabbat.

Ages: 12-14,
Resource

A Happy and Sweet Year – The Signs for Rosh Hashanah

We will learn the blessings said for the special foods (the simanim, or signs) eaten on Rosh Hashanah, and their meanings.

Ages: 9-11,
Resource

Tashlich – An External Act Symbolizing an Internal Process

On the custom of Tashlich carried out on Rosh Hashana, in which we symbolically cast off our negative behaviors and actions.

Ages: 9-11,
Resource

Blowing the Shofar

On the origins and meanings of the mitzva of hearing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah.

Ages: 9-11, 12-14,
Teaching Tool

Permanence and Temporariness Template

Template for “The Sukkah – Permanence and Temporariness” unit, which discusses concepts symbolized by the sukkah and suggests activities around them.

Ages: 12-14,