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PDF (11+) Jewish Feasts, Festivals, Holidays & Culture - Activity Book - PDF
This is the PDF to print at home. To purchase the PAPERBACK and read reviews on Amazon.
This journal is a do-it-yourself research journal. We recommend using Jewish-authored books and websites to learn more about the holidays and celebrations mentioned in this journal. The following websites are full of valuable information and would be a good starting point:
There are also many wonderful books written about the Jewish holidays that will help you discover the rich history, culture, and meaning behind each celebration and guide you as you plan your own celebrations and traditions.
Table of Contents:
6 How to use this Journal8 Introduction
10 Shabbat
26 Hebrew vs. Gregorian Calendar
28 Rosh Chodesh
30 Month of Nisan · Yom Ha’Shoah
59 Month of Iyar · Lag B’Omer · Yom Ha’Zikaron · Yom Ha’Atzmaut
84 Month of Sivan · Shavuot
98 Month of Tammuz
100 Month of Av · Tisha B’Av · Tu B’Av
114 Month of Elul116 Month of Tishrei · Rosh Hashana · Yom Kippur · Sukkot · Shemini Atzeret · Simchat Torah
160 Month of Chesvan
162 Month of Kislev· Chanukah
176 Month of Tevet
178 Month of Shevat· Tu B’Shevat
188 Month of Adar· Purim
204 Lifecycle Events
Introduction:Jewish history and culture are remarkably complex. Some holidays are major and some are minor. Some holidays are ancient and some are modern. Some include feasting, some include fasting. As you start studying about the diverse Jewish holidays, it’s important to understand something about the diversity of the Jewish people. In over 4000 years of Jewish living, there has never been consensus on what a Jewish life should look like.
Census numbers vary, but there are approximately 14.7 million Jews in the world. About 6.7 million live in Israel and another 5.7 million live in the United States. The rest are scattered across Europe, Central and South America, Africa, Australia, and beyond. For many, Jewishness is more like citizenship than a religion.
If you’re unfamiliar with Jewish holidays, you might find the traditions to be strange. As you study, be sure to use Jewish websites for your research. They will have an insight into the culture and Hebrew language that is important. For example, in this book you will see “G-d.” For Jews, the name of the Creator is the most holy word. Some have chosen to omit the “o” as a way of respecting the name by not allowing it to be destroyed or desecrated. Like much in Judaism, there is disagreement about this. For the sake of those who prefer “G-d,” we will use that spelling.
Exploring a culture’s holidays can be like visiting a new country without leaving home. As you discover the beauty and diversity of Jewish holidays, maybe you’ll start some new traditions with your family. Shalom!
Written by Sue Gerdes Designed with Sarah Janisse Brown
Artwork by: Savannah Gerdes and Sergey Andreev
Introduction and editing by: Tony Gerdes
Contributions by: Melanie Potter & Ann Kofsky www.annkoffsky.com ~ JewishBoston.com
You may also be interested in Praying for the World and A Treasury of Psalms & Proverbs.
Thinking Tree Learning Levels:
A1 = Pre Reader (Pre-K) ages 2-5
A2 = Beginning Readers (K-1st) ages 6-7
B1 = Early Elementary (2nd-3rd) ages 8-9
B2 = Upper Elementary (4th-6th) ages 10-11
C1 = Junior High (7th-8th) ages 12-14
C2 = High school + (9th-adult) ages 13+
Many Thinking Tree Journals span a wide variety of ages because the students use books at his/her reading level. For example, some journals may say for ages 7-17 because you customize it and meet the student where he’s at.
Reproducible for Family Use Only.