44 | SEPTEMBER 26 • 2019

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Rosh Hashanah

from Sunday school or day
school? It’
s time to unearth
those boxes filled with clay
honey pots, handcrafted
Happy New Year cards and
paper apple mobiles. Bonus
if you can excavate the
childhood Rosh Hashanah
relics from your own youth.
And if kids never made them
— or you tossed them years
ago — you can always make
new Rosh Hashanah crafts,
like a honey jar or shofar.
Cluster these items in a
special museum-style display
for all to enjoy. Heart strings
will be tugged, guaranteed.

THROW A BIRTHDAY PARTY
FOR THE WORLD
Rosh Hashanah is not just a
Jewish holiday — according
to the Talmud, it is the
birthday of humankind
and the world. Considering
that the universe is a pretty
significant creation, some
special treats to commemorate
this day hardly seem like too
much effort. Whether you
celebrate with a spherical
cake frosted to look like
planet Earth or a candle on a
single cupcake, or even just a
Happy Birthday banner, let
it spark a conversation about
what each individual’
s part
can be in making the world
a better place — the ultimate
birthday gift.

MAKE A ROSH
HASHANAH TABLESCAPE
If you are overwhelmed
thinking about setting
an elaborate table for the
holiday, just remember that
you are going to want to eat
at some point, so it might
as well be at a striking and
impactfully set table. But that
doesn’
t mean an overwrought
one. Small touches can go a
long way, like an apple-print
tablecloth; a few carefully

placed honey or bee-
themed items; a decorative
tray filled with apples and
pomegranates; a shofar as
centerpiece. Tip: Use your
imagination, not Google.

SPARK MEANINGFUL
CONVERSATION WITH
REFLECTION CARDS
Rosh Hashanah is a mini
workout for the soul, so
you should probably break
an existential sweat self-
reflecting, soul-searching
and resolution-making. Like
any good workout, it will
transform, strengthen and
fortify you for navigating
your daily life in the year to
come.
Write some open-ended
questions on cardstock
and arrange them on your
table for your family or
friends to select and answer
aloud. Some examples:
What were your biggest
mistakes over the last year?
Greatest achievements? What
brought you the most joy?
Which moments felt deeply
meaningful? What have you
resolved to do differently next
year?
What you write is up
to you — just make sure
that each question can be
answered by a responder of
any age, and keep in mind
that Rosh Hashanah is not
just about looking backward
but is an opportunity to look
forward as well.
I hope you will use one
or all these ideas to set
the stage for a sweet and
meaningful New Year. And,
full disclosure: While they
are undoubtedly fun, none
of these ideas will absolutely
guarantee that you will be
written in the Book of Life
— but they may get you
featured in Martha Stewart
Living.

L’Shana Tova Tikatevu

48009

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Kenneth M.
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