Judaism, like Christianity and Islam, is an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion. (Here are a few of my thoughts on that.) Although it is a minority religion in the U.S., many people are somewhat-familiar with the major Jewish holidays, and you often hear the U.S. called a “Judeo-Christian” country. This is partly because the Christian Old Testament is very similar to the Jewish Bible; however, some of the books are combined in the Jewish Bible and the order in which they appear is also somewhat different.
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) are the two major fall holidays in the Jewish tradition, while Passover is celebrated in the spring. However, Hanukkah has become super-popular, especially with kids. Sukkot {SUE-coat} and Purim {POOR-im} are also great, kid-friendly Jewish holidays.
10 Fun Facts for Kids About Sukkot
Hanukkah Text Set (Created for Freedom Forum)
10 Fun Facts for Kids About Passover
Sharing Passover’s 10 Plagues with Kids: Books and Crafts
Tips for Finding a Seder in Your Area
Kid Lit. on Judaism — Featuring Women Authors
I have also written about my personal experiences in celebrating and learning about various Jewish holidays.
Lessons from My First Rosh Hashanah
Shakin’ My Lulav During Sukkot
Back to Holidays