Category: General Jewish

Tisha B’Av is coming up! (July 15 evening – July 16, 2103)

This week, we have the fast of Tisha B’Av, the day we mourn the for many things, especially the loss of our Temples. This is a 25 hour long fast – it starts at sundown and goes through sundown the next day. It’s during the summer, so the day is often hot in addition to being …

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Permanent link to this article: https://organizedjewishhome.com/2013/07/14/tisha-bav-is-coming-up-july-15-evening-july-16-2103/

9 days meatless meal ideas

For the 9 days leading up to the fast of Tisha B’Av, we restrict certain things. One of these is food: we don’t eat meat (or drink wine) except for on Shabbat (or a few other circumstances, like a siyum.) This starts after this Shabbat, but I wanted to make it easy to plan. (Note: …

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Permanent link to this article: https://organizedjewishhome.com/2013/07/02/9-days-meatless-meal-ideas/

Have an easy fast!

It’s shiva Asar b’Tammuz today (17th of Tammuz) today – the beginning of the three weeks. Today we fast in memory of the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem. It’s a minor day fast, although long and hot in many parts of the world. Time to think about what to do with kids on a fast …

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Permanent link to this article: https://organizedjewishhome.com/2013/06/25/have-an-easy-fast/

Tu B’Shevat is coming up – this Shabbat!

Tu B’Shevat is this Shabbat – Shabbat Beshalach. Tu B’Shevat is the new year for the trees, or more precisely, one of the new years…for more discussion, see here for the Chabad main page or here for the Aish page. Here are some recipe ideas, projects for kids, and coloring pages. One way to celebrate the day …

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Permanent link to this article: https://organizedjewishhome.com/2013/01/22/tu-bshevat-is-coming-up-this-shabbat/

Inspiring and Helpful Jewish Books

What books do you turn to for education, ideas, and inspiration? There are so many out there, and what each person needs is different. Here are just a few of my favorites (Jewish version – secular to come, bli neder). How does SHE Manage?: Four Very Different Women Swap Ideas on Managing Home and Family, by …

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Permanent link to this article: https://organizedjewishhome.com/2012/11/13/inspiring-and-helpful-jewish-books/

A whole year of parsha ideas and links!

PARSHA! Would you believe I’ve been making the parsha resources and project ideas for a whole year already (Here’s the whole list: Parsha)? What an anniversary to celebrate!. This week, we’re back to the beginning: Beresheit (Beresheis, or Genesis). I’m planning to go in and update the weekly parshiot as we go, so please keep …

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Permanent link to this article: https://organizedjewishhome.com/2012/10/11/a-whole-year-of-parsha/

Kids and Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur is coming up. Physically, it’s a hard day. As the fast stretches on, what should you do with the kids on Yom Kippur? The faithful video player, so useful in minor fasts, is useless on this day. So are arts and crafts, coloring, and playdough, some things that always bring a smile and some …

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Permanent link to this article: https://organizedjewishhome.com/2012/09/23/kids-and-yom-kippur/

Making mezuza cases (with kids)

Let’s start with the basics: what is a mezuza (mezuzah)? It’s basically a rolled parchment with some verses on it, put into a tube or case and attached to the doorways in Jewish homes. The mezuza is the scroll itself, but the term can refer to the scroll and case. Why do we put them …

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Permanent link to this article: https://organizedjewishhome.com/2012/09/10/making-mezuzot-cases-with-kids/

52 Week challenge week 34: Rosh Hodesh observance, Elul spirituality

Today is Rosh Hodesh Elul, the new month right before our biggest month of holidays – Tishrei (the month of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the Sukkot!) Rosh Hodesh (also spelled Rosh Chodesh) is  the “head” of the month – the start of the Jewish month marked by the new moon. Each month, it is …

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Permanent link to this article: https://organizedjewishhome.com/2012/08/19/52-week-challenge-week-34-rosh-hodesh-observance-elul-spirituality/

Shabbat of Tisha B’Av (when the fast is pushed off)

Tisha B’Av is normally a fast day and a day of great mourning. This Shabbat is the 9th of Av – yes, that’s Tisha B’Av! And we don’t fast or mourn on Shabbat. So this year, the fast will be observed on the 10th of Av, which is Saturday night and Sunday. Practically, this means …

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Permanent link to this article: https://organizedjewishhome.com/2012/07/27/shabbat-of-tisha-bav-when-the-fast-is-pushed-off/