Celebrating the Jewish holidays can be a fun way to teach your children about cultural values and rituals. That's why we at OyToys have developed exciting ways to bring the Jewish holidays to life for your children. Since we focus specifically on children's Jewish educational tools, we carry a much broader selection than the stores that specialize in adult Judaica.
What are the major Jewish holidays? Purim is the celebration of the Jews' victory over Hamen, a hated tyrant from thousands of years ago. During Purim, Jews eat three sided cookies called Hamentaschen, which symbolize (of all things!) Hamen's hat. In addition, Jews traditionally spin what's known as a grogger, a noisemaker, whenever Hamen's name is mentioned.
Bringing the Jewish Holidays to Children
Closely following Purim is the Jewish holiday of Pesach. This is an eight day festival, which celebrates the Jews' escape from bondage in ancient Egypt. This is a well known holiday, even to secular Christians in America. During the summer months, there is Tu B'Shevat, a holiday that honors the trees and the environment. In the fall, Jews celebrate the New Year, Rosh Hashanah. After the New Year, Jews observe ten days of repentance, which culminates in Yom Kippur, the most sacred holiday in the Jewish culture.
The fall holidays of Sukkot and Chanukah celebrate the harvest and the miracle of the Second Temple, respectively. To teach your children about the rich history of Judaism, it's helpful to have tools like books, games, puzzles, and toys, to bring these marvelous stories and cultural ideas to life. Think of OyToys the next time you celebrate the holidays.
