One of the best ways to raise Jewish children is to get them engaged with their Judaism from a young age, and the weekly Jewish holiday of Shabbat is the perfect time to do so. Shabbat is about spending present, meaningful time with family, friends, and religion. There are plenty of ways to get kids involved with and excited about celebrating this weekly ritual.
Read on to learn our favorite ways to celebrate Shabbat with kids, including Shabbat activities children are sure to love.
What is Shabbat?
Shabbat is the weekly Jewish holiday of rest. It’s held from Friday at sundown until Saturday at nightfall. As the Torah teaches, God created the world in six days, and on the seventh day, he rested. We celebrate Shabbat each week to commemorate his creation.
Shabbat involves a number of ritual objects and practices that make the holiday special. They include:
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The Friday night ceremony: Each Friday night at sundown, we light Shabbat candles, say Kiddush, and eat challah. Throughout this ceremony, we recite a number of prayers.
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Saturday morning synagogue: In the morning, we attend a synagogue service. It includes Shacharit, the morning prayers, a weekly Torah reading, and Musaf, additional prayers.
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Havdalah: Shabbat ends with Havdalah, a bittersweet, immersive service that serves as a transition out of the holiday and back into everyday life. It engages all 5 senses: touch, taste, sight, sound, and smell.
Are Kids Required to Follow the Rules of Shabbat?
During Shabbat, Jewish people are expected to refrain from work and instead focus on prayer, self-reflection, and family time. Depending on the type of Judaism you practice, this may mean abstaining from all technology, cooking, cleaning, driving, and all other types of work. For others, it may simply mean a greater focus on being present with friends and family.
If you fall on the more observant end of the spectrum, you may find yourself wondering if kids are required to follow the rules of Shabbat, too. It’s generally expected that, once a child reaches the age of “education,” typically around 4 years old, they’re expected to begin observing the requirements of Shabbat. Furthermore, it’s a parent’s responsibility to teach them what is, and isn’t, allowed on Shabbat.
Fun Ways to Celebrate Shabbat with Kids
For some parents, 24 hours of present, engaged time with kids, without TV or electronics, can feel daunting. The good news is, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Shabbat with kids and make the time spent together special and meaningful. Read on to learn a few of our favorite Shabbat activities for children.
Attend Kids’ Shabbat Services
Many synagogues offer special Shabbat services for kids on both Friday and Saturday nights. These are designed to meet children where they are and teach them about the traditions of Shabbat. They may include songs, dancing, storytelling, and other activities. They’re also a perfect opportunity to get a little away time to attend Shabbat services of your own.
As children grow, their Shabbat services grow with them. Young kids may participate in tot Shabbat, while preteens may attend Shabbat services that prepare them for their Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
Create Handmade Shabbat Ritual Objects
Make special family Shabbat traditions by having your kids DIY their own Shabbat ritual objects. Not only do kids love arts and crafts, but they’ll look forward to celebrating with their own handmade objects every Friday night. Try these Shabbat activities for children who are artistically inclined:
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DIY candlestick holders: There are plenty of different ways to create DIY candlestick holders for kids to decorate. Use air-dry clay, then paint it with acrylic paints. Save glass bottles, then decorate them with chalk paint or glue beads and rhinestones to the surface. However you make them, DIY candlestick holders can be used week after week.
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Decorate challah covers: This simple DIY begins with a cloth napkin or handkerchief. Decorate with fabric markers or paints. This is a great opportunity to learn about Jewish symbols like the Star of David and Hebrew letters!
If you keep Shabbat strictly, these are great activities to do in the days leading up to Shabbat. For those who don’t, do these activities for Shabbat with kids and use them as an opportunity to talk about the teachings and traditions of the holiday.
Make Your Own Challah
They’ve made their own challah covers, why not make their own challah, too? This Shabbat activity for kids can be modified according to your kids’ ages and interest in baking. Have them participate in making the dough themselves, or make it yourself and involve them in the final steps.
Making your own challah is a great way to teach young kids fine motor skills. Each kid can have their own mini challah to braid and decorate. And when it comes to topping, there are no rules. While traditional challah may be topped with sesame seeds or poppy seeds, who says their challah can’t be topped with sprinkles?
Talk About Torah Stories
The Torah is more than just good entertainment. It’s filled with stories about morality, right and wrong, and other lessons that help kids lead more just, Jewish lives. For your new family Shabbat tradition, bring a discussion about the Torah portion of the week to your Shabbat dinner table.
If you need a little guidance for your conversations, try our Torah portion conversation cards. Each card has thought-provoking questions inspired by the weekly Torah portion, designed to build connections. You’ll be amazed how these conversations inspire your kids to think more critically about their lives and their actions.
Do a Mitzvah
Mitzvot are the backbone of the Jewish religion. These good deeds, defined by the Torah, encompass ethical and spiritual obligations designed to make the world a better place. Plus, there are 613 mitzvot to choose from, enough to keep you going for many years!
Each Shabbat, sit down with your kids and let them pick a mitzvah they’d like to do that weekend. Collecting tzedakah, or charity, visiting the sick, donating items to people in need, or inviting over a friend are all mitzvot. Challenge your kids to complete as many Mitzvot as they can over the course of a year.
Celebrate Shabbat with Oneg Home
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Ready to begin your Shabbat practice?
