As you prepare for the fall busy season, consider ways to create supportive and joyful worship opportunities for families these High Holidays with services full of warmth and spritual significance.
Organizing meaningful family services takes thoughtful planning. Here are some simple tips to get you started.
1. Enlist parents to help keep down adult noise levels by deputizing them as officials "shushers."
2. Embrace the unique opportunity for creative expression and experiential learning. Enourage movement, dancing, singing, hand motions.
3. Use child-friendly materials targeted to meet the interests and needs of young children and their adults. Here are a few to consider.
The High Holy Days Machzor: A Prayer Service for Young Children and Their Families
This prayer book, created especially for young children, features large Hebrew print, warm watercolor illustrations, and simplified liturgy. It comes with a free leader's guide. Download it here.
Machzor Katan: High Holiday Prayer Book for Families with Young Children
This delightful, brief (just 12 pages) Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur prayer book features a shortened service, full transliterations, easy-to-understand English introductions, child-friendly illustrations, and sweet songs for the whole family. Machzor Katan infuses quality family time into the richness of the High Holidays.
The optional Leader's Guide takes you through the service step by step with a full script, lyrics, talking points, and game templates and supplies, such as bingo boards and large color photographs. A companion music CD is also available.
