Shabbat and Holidays
Wiggles Welcome: 3 Tips for High Holiday Services with Little Ones
Bringing little ones to High Holiday services can feel like a lot. Will they sit still? What if they get loud? What should you bring? And how long should you realistically expect them to stay? Here’s the good news: High Holiday services with young children do not have to be picture-perfect to be meaningful. With […]
Traditions, Transitions and Teachings of the Fall Jewish Holidays
Originally Published September 24, 2024 by Jodi Teitelman, former Network staff member Updated August 6, 2026 The Jewish High Holidays are one of the most meaningful seasons of the Jewish year. From welcoming the Jewish New Year on Rosh Hashanah to dancing with the Torah on Simchat Torah, each holiday offers unique traditions, rituals and […]
Here’s the Scoop: Must Try Ice Cream for Shavuot
The Jewish holiday of Shavuot celebrates Moses receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai after the Jews were freed from slavery in Egypt. Traditionally, we eat dairy to symbolize Israel, the “land flowing of milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8). One way that many Jews celebrate is by enjoying ice cream, the best dairy of them all! […]
Passover Through My Sephardic and Mizrahi Lens
By Carmen Thomas, Timonium Parent Community Connector Growing up in an Indian and Moroccan Jewish household, I didn’t always realize how different our traditions were from those in other American Jewish homes. It wasn’t until I got older that I began to see how unique—and deeply meaningful—our customs really were. Passover, in particular, always highlighted […]
Purim, Already? Why This Holiday Deserves a Spot on Your Calendar – and in Your Kitchen
By Melissa Myslinski, Harford County Parent Connector Purim is almost here, and a lot of us are scratching our heads thinking, “Well, that was fast.” Between sports, dance, Sunday school, vacations, the occasional snow day and mountains of work, it’s tempting to let this Jewish holiday quietly slide by. We ask ourselves: Does my family […]
How to Make Your Friendsgiving a Little More Jewish (and a Lot More Meaningful)
Fall is my favorite season — the colorful leaves, crisp air, an excuse to live in cozy sweaters, and, of course, all the warm, comforting food. I’m sure I’m not the only one who looks forward to celebrating the season with friends over a good meal. Friendsgiving has become one of my favorite traditions. It’s […]
How to Celebrate Sukkot in the City
By Maggy Kay I grew up in the DC suburbs with a big yard, and every year during the High Holidays (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) my dad would hand out little “business cards” during services. They weren’t for work — they were invitations to our family’s open sukkah, just a few days away. Now, […]
Shul Memories: Tips for Navigating Synagogue with Young Children
I loved taking my toddler to the family shabbat programs at our synagogue. He would curl up in my lap and clap along happily with the music and he was thrilled by the challah and grape juice. When he was in PreK, instead of sitting in my lap for the service he wanted to hide […]
What is Tu B’Av?
Tu B’Av: The Jewish Version of Valentine’s Day Tu B’Av, often called the “Jewish Day of Love,” may not be as widely celebrated as other Jewish holidays, but its message to love one another and ourselves is timeless. Falling on the 15th of the Hebrew month of Av (usually in early to mid-August), Tu B’Av […]
Spark Joy This Lag B’Omer: Family-Friendly Ideas to Celebrate Together
By Gabrielle Burger & Laura Wilson Lag B’Omer, the 33rd day of the Omer, is a joyful break during the solemn period between Passover and Shavuot. This year Lag B’Omer begins at sundown on Thursday, May 15, 2025, and ends at nightfall on Friday, May 16, 2025. It commemorates the end of a plague that […]