This Rosh Hashanah is the perfect opportunity to welcome and engage young families, create community among them, and begin to build the strong relationships that will keep them coming back. Start the New Year with a meaningful, inviting service just for them, using Machzor Katan: High Holiday Prayer Book for Families With Young Children.
Parents of young children often face a touch choice at the High Holidays: leave their young children elsewhere, or risk distraction and restlessness by bringing them to services meant for adults. A family Rosh Hashanah service using Machzor Katan can be a meaningful and fulfilling answer to this dilemma.
No matter their level of practice, all families will be able to follow this shortened prayer book with full transliterations, easy-to-understand English introductions. Adorable illustrations and delightful songs help keep young children engaged and bring everyone together for a joyous celebration. A matching audio CD with all the songs is also available, as well as a Leader’s Guide, which provides a script, talking points, and templates for family games and activities.
Of course, you don’t have to wait until Rosh Hashanah to offer engaging family services. Every Shabbat is an opportunity to bring young families together to nourish their friendships and your community. “Persevere, try and find a community, and Shabbat may become one of the best parts of having young children,” advises blogger and Jewish dad Marc Stober, whose family became regulars at their synagogue after discovering a warm and welcoming a tot Shabbat program that helped them get to know other parents while answering their own need for regular, spiritual, Jewish engagement.
For Shabbat services, we recommend Siddur Katan: Shabbat Prayer Book for Families with Young Children for a cheerful, non-denominational morning prayer service. The colorful illustrations help engage young children, while full transliterations and clear English introductions help their parents keep their places. Spirited songs written especially for this service energize the entire room, helping create a vibrant space in time for families every Shabbat morning. Leaders of all backgrounds can lead the service by just following the script and talking points in the Leader’s Guide.
Both Machzor Katan and Siddur Katan are priced at just $6.95 per copy, with significant quantity discounts available for synagogues and schools, providing a truly affordable way to offer a regular and vibrant tot Shabbat experience in your community.
Looking for an affordable Shabbat morning resource for families with children aged 5-10? Try Siddur Mah Tov: A Family Shabbat Prayer Book. Available for both Reform and Conservative congregations, Siddur Mah Tov enriches family worship with lush paintings by artist and educator Julie Wohl. An audio CD by Craig Taubman, How Good, brings the word of the prayers of Siddur Mah Tov to joyful life. Quantity discounts are available for congregations and schools.
For even more engagement ideas, see 10 ways to use songs from How Good in your congregation.
