ROSH HASHANA AND YOM KIPPUR

 

Styrofoam Apples Decoupaged With Fabric Strips For Rosh HaShana!

 

You'll Need:

* quilting fabric, or any very lightweight cotton (preferably) fabric

* fabric stiffener, like mod podge fabric, Paverpol, or even woodworker's glue diluted with water

* styrofoam apples

* sticks to make the stems

 

How To:

Cut fabric into 1/2" strips that are long enough to go around the entire vertical circumference on the apple

Dip fabric into fabric stiffener, run the strips between pointer and thumb to remove as much of the stiffener as possible and apply to apple by starting at the underside of the apple and running the strip up the side of the apple, ver the top and down te other side.

One can do this with shorter strips, but you will get a much cleaner look by hiding the ends on the underside. Continue to apply strips until apple is covered, and set aside to dry.

Once apple is dry, make a hole in the top for the stem.

Dip end of stem into some glue, and insert into hole.

 

 

Apple Core Magnet

 

You'll Need:

• Red craft foam

• White craft foam

• Green craft foam

• Brown chenille stick

• Brown marker

• White craft glue

• Round magnet

• Hot glue gun

• Scissors

• Pattern

 

How to:

Trace the pattern onto red foam and cut out. Repeat this with white foam.

Glue red foam to white foam with red on top. Use our photo as a guide.

Cut out two leaves from the green foam and use white glue to attach them to the top of the apple, behind the red foam. Let the glue dry.

Cut a two inch piece off the chenille stick and save the remainder for another project.

Hot glue the chenille stick to the back of the foam apple, leaving about one inch showing from the front for the stem. Bend the top of the stem slightly.

Use a brown marker to draw on a few seeds.

Hot glue a magnet to the back and hang on the fridge!

 

 

Make your own personalized jewish holidays calendar

 

To make a Jewish Holidays Calendar watch these youtube videos, and use your imagination! The list of 2014-2015 Holidays can be seen here.

 

Video 1

 

Video 2 

 

Video 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make a Shofar

 

The Shofar is such an important part of this holiday that sometimes Rosh Hashanah is called Yom Teruah, which means “day of the Shofar blast” in Hebrew.

 

How to:

Gather 3 toilet paper rolls per horn, a party horn, masking tape, glue, paint brush, scissors and white and brown paint.

Cut all they way across one roll lengthwise.

Remove fringe or cardboard from the party horn so you are only left with the plastic noise maker.  Wrap the cut cardboard tube around the plastic noisemaker.

Fasten cardboard to plastic noisemaker securely with masking tape.

With the other two rolls fold the edge to make a pleat in the bottom side. You are  making the bottom small enough to fit inside another roll. This will give the Shofar a nice curve.

Place the tubes inside each other.

Paper mache the toilet paper rolls with long strips of paper and a mixture of equal parts water and glue (use can also use equal parts flour and water). If you want to forgo the mess, simply wrap the toilet paper rolls with masking tape.

Allow the paper mache to dry completely. Paint with white paint. While white paint is still wet, sponge on some bits of brown and mix and smudge lightly to give the horn “realistic” color and dimension.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUKKOT AND SIMCHA TORAH

 

Edible Mini Sukkah 

 

How to:

Just run a bead of icing down the seam of your structure and hold it still for 15 seconds.  A glass or a can from the pantry can help you to hold your walls steady until the icing has hardened.

Add your roof and you’re nearly done! We used cinnamon sticks for the roof of our first mini sukkah– they’re pretty, and they smell great, too. Make sure you leave space between each roof “plank,” 

Now it’s time to decorate.  If you want to keep things natural, in the spirit of Sukkot, you can decorate with spices, nuts, or dried fruits. You can also use kid-friendly ingredients like pretzels and chocolate chips or colorful candy.

Then while the icing is still soft, gently press your decorations (candy, nuts, spices) onto the icing dots and let them dry completely till they harden. Be sure you give them time to dry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Straws Sukah - By Rebe Edid

 

You'll need: 

* Styrofoam board, 8" x 10"

* 50-70 thick, sturdy drinking strws

* Scissors

* Hot gluegun and glue sticks, or 6 jumbo chenille stems

* Smal plastic fruits

* Decorative chains or eaded fringe

* Artificial or Natural leaves

 

How to:

1. Stick 15-20 straws for each wall into board until you form 3 sides (straws will stick more easily if you cut one end at an angle)

2. Glue 5 straws across the top of the walls to form the roof. You may have to connect two straws to reach across. Or, bend the ends of the chenille stems 1/2" and insert them into the walls. 

3. Hang or glue decorations in place

4. Arrange and glue leaves on roof

 

 

 

Sushi Mat Sukkah  - By Rebe Edid

 

You'll need: 

* Styrofoam board, 8" x 8"

* 3-4 bamboo sushi mats

* 10 thin wooden skewers or dowels

* Wood glue

* Small plastic fruits

* Any kind of decorative chains

* Artificial or natural leaves

 

How to:

1. Glue one skewer on each side of mat, leaving the pointy end sticking out about 1/2". Repeat his step until you have 3 walls.

2. Arrange the 3 walls in a squared U shape and stick into the board, as shown.

3. Glue the remaining skewes across the walls to form the roof

4. Hang decorations and glue in place

5. Glue the remaining sushi mat on top or arrange and glue leaves on roof

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shoesbox Sukkah - By Rebe Edid

 

You'll need: 

* Shoebox or box in good condition

* Markers or acrylic paints

* Brushes

* Thick craft glue, or hot glue gun and sticks

* Small plastic fruits

* Any kind of decorative chains

* Artificial or natural leaves

 

How to:

1. Decorate the walls of the box using the markers or acrylics, or by gluing foam or wooden sticks inside and out.

2. Hang or glue decorations, fruits, and chains

3. Arrange and lue leaves on roof

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foam Torah - By Rebe Edid

 

You'll need:

* Noodle water toy

* 2 dowels that fit in the noodle's channel (a small saw may be required)

* Measuring tape or ruler

* Craft Knife

* 4 wooden curtain-rod finials, or anything that resembles Torah finials

* Wood glue

* Packing tape

* Fabric

* Fabric glue, needle and thread; or hot glue gun and sticks

* Scissors

 

 

How to:

1. Measure the diameter or wigth of the noodle and multiply by two or by three to calculate the lenght you want. Cut two equal pieces.

2. Put the two pieces together and secure with tape

3. Wrap the noodle with fabric until completely covered, and glue or sew in place

4. Apply decorations only to the front and let dry

5. Make two small incisions in fabric oer the channels, and insert a dowel into each opening

6. Glue a finial on each dowel end ad let dry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HANNUKAH

 

Dancing Figures With Wine Cork Feet Are The Cutest!

 

You'll Need:

* colorful card stock

* black markers

* wire (not too thin) mine is florist's wire

* wine corks

* tape

 

How To:

Draw figures on paper and cut them out. Cut wine corks in half lengthwise (adults only, please!).

Attach arms and legs by taping lengths of wire to back of drawing. Poke bottom of legs through top of wine cork foot and fold under so it can't slip out.

Make a bunch and get ready to celebrate! We enjoyed this one so much I know we'll be making even more in the next week.

 

 

Marshmallow dreidels

 

Kids can have fun and play with their food with these marshmallow dreidels. Take a jumbo marshmallow, attach a chocolate kiss withfrosting and decorate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make a cake Menorah for the entire Kvutzah

 

Video 1 (watch minutes 1.46-2.45)

 

 

 

TU B'SHEVAT (15 de Shevat) 

 

On the 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar we celebrate Rosh HaShanah L'Ilanot,the "New Year for the Trees."

 

A butterflies with dried fruit to take home

 

On Tu B'Shvat it is customary to eat fruits from the seven species for which the Land of Israel is praised: “...A land of wheat and barley and (grape) vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and (date) honey” (Deut. 8:8).

 

You'll need:

 

Dried Fruit

Ziploc

wooden cloths pins

pipe cleaners

paper bowls

markes

 

How to:

Ask the chanichim to pick up 6 brown fruits and put in their Ziploc bag

Chanichim will decorate the wooden clip with stickers, markers or paint.

They will create the antennas from pipe cleaners and then they are ready to assemble their butterfly.

 

 

Make a Chocolate Fondue

It is customary to increase in the amount of fruits one eats on the 15th of Shevat, in order to praise G-d 

who created all these species of fruits. So, you can make a Chocolate Fondue teaching the chanichim

about the custom of eating fruits. In particular, one should include among the fruits the species of

fruit which the land of Israel is praised for: grapes, olives, dates, figs and pomegranates.

Other fruits we eat in Tu B'Shevat are: wheat, etrogim, apples, walnuts, almonds, carobs, pears.

 

 

PURIM

 

Bake Purim Hamantashen!

 

You'll need:

4 eggs

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup oil

1 Tbsp lemon juice and lemon rind from half a lemon

1 teaspoon vanilla

5 cups sifted flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 egg to brushjelly for the filling

Bring a toaster-oven to the KEN

 

How to:

Pre-heat oven to 350.

Beat eggs and sugar

Add he next fivex well

Divide the dough into four parts

Stretch it on a floured surface about 1/2 cm thick and s with a cup.

Fill each one following the ilustrtion and put them in a greased pan.

Brush with beaten egg

Bake for 20 minuts

 

Make Masks for Purim!

 

You'll need:

• Craft foam
• Scissors
• Elastic thread
• Craft needle with an eye big enough to thread the elastic thread
• Things to decorate your masks like colorful jewels, feathers, and pom poms

(all can be found at your local craft store)
• Glitter glue, white craft glue, and/or a hot glue gun
• Paintbrushes (optional)
• Printable Mask Templates

 

How to:

Cut your mask out of the craft foam. I’ve created a template for you to make the cutting process easier.  

You can measure your own eye distance to be more precise.

Decorate and allow the masks time to dry - erything needs to dry before it can be worn.

Once everything has dried on your masks, add the stretchy elastic thread so it can be worn.

Thread your craft needle with about 10 inches of elastic thread (enough to go around your head), then push it gently through the mask, about a half inch from the outside edge of one eye hole.

Pull it through and tie a knot on the outside of your mask.

Poke another hole on the other side and tie a knot on there too, leaving you a loop of thread on the back side of your mask that you can slip over your head.

 

 

PESACH

 

Eliah's Cup 

 

Eliah’s cup is an important part of Passover Seder. Every year, Elijah the Prophet is invited to the Seder meal. A place is set at the table for Elijah, and we pour a cup of wine in his honor.

 

You'l need:

• natural jute or wool string in several colors

• a paint brush

• an inexpensive wine glass or goblet (99 cents store)

• white craft glue or Mod Podge, and a receptacle for holding the glue

• gems or sequins for decorating the cup (optional)

• scissors

• damp paper towels or wipes for cleaning up sticky fingers

 

 

How to:

Starting at the top of the glass, paint a liberal stripe of glue all the way around the circumference.

Carefully wrap your first color of string around the top. You can secure the end by overlapping a length of string. Don’t worry too much about loose ends. If you can’t get the end to hold, dab an extra bit of glue onto the end and hold for ten seconds or until it is secure.

Wrap the string around and around, descending with each lap until you you have created a stripe in the width you desire.

Cut off your string and hold it for ten seconds before you start with your next color.You can overlap your ends with the next color or just wrap the string close enough that there is no visible stop and start. Wherever the string does not feel tight and secure, paint on some extra glue. Don’t worry about it looking messy because your glue will dry clear.

Keep wrapping more stripes of color. As you get to the curve of your glass, it might be easier to turn the glass upside down.Wrapping the underside of the glass is probably the trickiest part but have patience and apply glue liberally. It will hold, just wait and see.

Then wrap the stem and move onto the base.Coil your string around and around until you reach the outside of the base. Tuck your end under and apply another dollop of glue. Hold for ten seconds to secure.If the cup isn’t colorful enough for your taste, you can add sequins and gems. Just dab on some glue and apply wherever you fancy.

 

When it’s done just let it sit for an hour or so, until it is dry.

 

Note: If you fill this cup with wine at the Seder table, you will need to rinse it very carefully– best to use a damp cloth to wipe it out, rather than put it under running water. Or, use it as a decorative, symbolic Elijah’s cup.

 

 

Ten Plagues

The madrich can tell the story using the art and craft made by the chanichim.

 

You'll need:

* wooden craft dowelscolored

* paperrecycled

* cereal box

* cardboardorange

* plastic plates

* marker for all the detailsa

* hole punch

* double stick tape

* Other suplpies that can help

 

Passover Plate

 

You'll need:

* White foam board or cardboard

* Bowl or platter, for a circle pattern, about 16" in diameter

* Pencil

* Scissor or utility knife, adults only

* White paint and paint brush

* Rick rack Buttons and other embellishments, as desired

* White tacky glue 6 silicone or paper baking cups

* Any other supplies that you might need

 

 

How to:

1. On foam board or cardboard, trace around the top rim of bowl or platter with pencil.

2. Place board on a well-protected surface, and an adult only should use a utility knife to cut out the circle. Or, if you'd rather, use scissors to cut out the board.

3. If using cardboard, paint it with white acrylic paint. Let it dry thoroughly.

4. Place baking cups or bowls around the rim of the plate, spacing them evenly. Using them as a guide, draw a squiggly circle around each cup with a black marker. Remove the cups.

5. Outline each squiggly circle with another, slightly larger one. Then using another baking cup or bowl as a guide, draw a squiggly circle at the center of the plate and outline this one, too.

6. Draw the Star of David inside the center circle. Use the markers to color in each circle and outline. When done, use the black marker to indicate the symbolic food on each circle -- a shank bone, charoset, bitter herbs, hard-boiled egg and leafy, green vegetable.

7. Glue bright buttons around the center circle and rick rack around the board rim. Add other embellishments as your artist desires.

8. Older children can use glass bowls and decorate them with rick rack or ribbon trim and buttons. Younger ones can simply place the silicone cups at each marking.

 

TIP: Older kids might enjoy using a ceramic or plastic platter instead of cardboard. Either one is easy to find at grocery and home stores like Target. Use paint markers instead of regular markers to write on these.

 

 

LAG B'OMER

 

Who makes the best Bonfire?

 

The most well-known custom of Lag BaOmer is the lighting of bonfires throughout Israel and worldwide wherever religious Jews can be found. Some say that as bar Yochai gave spiritual light to the world with the revelation of the Zohar, bonfires are lit to symbolize the impact of his teachings.

 

Place a variety of art and craft material/food in the middle of the room, and split the Kvutzah into 3 or more groups. Let them use their imagination to make the best/most delicious bonfire out of the material you provided. While they prepare the bonfire, you can tell them the story of Lag BaOmer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make a paper Crossbow or Bow and Narrow

 

The bow commemorates the fact that during Rabbi Shimon’s lifetime no rainbow was ever seen.1 (This was a good thing because the rainbow appears when the earth deserves punishment. The first time a rainbow appeared was after Noah’s flood, when G-d said that He will no longer disrupt the world, rather he would send a sign: the rainbow. During Rabbi Shimon’s lifetime, the world was filled with merit because of him and therefore never saw a rainbow).

 

Crossbow

 

Bow and Narrow 

 

 

YOM HAHATZMAUT

 

Make a Pinwheel

 

You'll need:

6.5 inch (16.5 cm) square blue or white thin paper

Ball-headed pin

Scissors

Pencil with an eraser

 

How to:

Cut the construction paper to a square.

Draw two diagonal lines on the paper, one from the top left corner to the bottom right corner, and one from the left bottom corner to the top right corner, to make 4 triangles.

Cut along the lines but leave the middle 3/4 inch (about 2 centimeters) not cut. In other words, do not cut all the way to the middle.

Curl every other corner of the triangle to the center, so you have 4 curls. Stick a pin through the center into the pencil's eraser but be careful not to stick it all the way through. Have an adult help with sticking the pin.

You can make a couple of white and blue pinwheel for decoration.

 

 

Israeli nails!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make Cupcakes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHAVUOT

 

Make a Torah

 

You'll need:

Heavy Construction paper (9″ x 12″)

Pencil

Ruler

Scissors

Paints, Brushes, Crayons and markers

 

 

How to:

Divide the paper into four sections (each 3″ x 9″)

Fold the two ends to the middle so that the edges meet there

Draw arcs like those shown and cut them out. (Remember measuring is important!)

Decorate the front any way you would like. Write the 10 Commandments on the inside in English or Hebrew, depending on the level of your class.