Responses to September’s question:A picture of a cartoon bee hive hanging from a tree with “jkidphilly” written across it. There are three cartoon bees buzzing around the hive and the words “Hive Mind” are written next to them.

Rosh Hashanah is coming! What are your favorite “new year” or “fresh start” rituals or practices — with yourself and/or with your jkids?

  • “We have done tashlich every year since the kids were tiny. We gather crumbs or bread and go to a local park and talk about things we can do better in the coming year and what we need to apologize for in the past year.
  • We typically like to go pick apples as a family and then bake apple pies and other treats at home. It’s wonderful to get out in the fresh air and do something as a family, and even more fun to come back to the house and bake together. Then, while the goodies are in the oven, we play a family game, like Clue or Uno. For us, this new year tradition helps us to remember the importance of family time: working together and playing together. It also gives us a real chance to talk and take stock of the past year and what we hope for the new year. As for me, I try to pick a good, spiritually-related book to start on in the evening, when my family is finally asleep. The quiet night is a perfect time for some self-reflection.
  • This is the time of year we measure our kids on the family growth chart (kitchen doorway.) We talk about how much our kids have grown since last year.
  • Learning shofar patterns and blowing the shofar!
  • We have a clear glass plate shaped as an apple. I put sliced apples on it and drizzle honey over the slices. Pass around the table. Everyone loves it especially the children.

Click here to submit responses to October’s question: Sukkot time! Any tried and true recipes that are easy to transport and eat outside? What about fun activities you can do in your (or others’) sukkah? Don’t have a sukkah to go to? That’s ok, too! What do you like to do outdoors in the fall?