O

ne of the greatest gifts we can give 
our kids is a strong and positive 
connection to their Jewish heri-
tage. America is a melting pot and a nation 
of immigrants, but every Jewish child 
should experience the wonderful depth and 
richness of Jewish culture and forge their 
own unique Jewish identity. 
Encouraging kids — especially teens — to 
strengthen the connection to Judaism and 
actively explore their Jewish heritage can 
be challenging. We live in a cosmopolitan, 
online world that’s filled with pressures and 
distractions that previous generations could 
never have imagined. The good news is that 
if you can offer a genuine sense of belong-
ing, kids will usually jump at it!
In the 20th century, the Jewish communi-
ty was far more cohesive and life generally 

felt simpler. Milestone life events like a bar 
or bat mitzvah created a powerful sense of 
belonging. Tasty Jewish food, holidays and 
the synagogue cemented Jewish culture and 
Jewish identity. Even in small towns, most 
Jewish kids grew up with a cultural connec-
tion to a wider Jewish community. Their 
lives, outlook and personal values were 
shaped by their Jewish heritage.

TIPS FOR ENHANCING JUDAISM
Celebrating a bar or bat mitzvah and getting 
together to enjoy traditional Jewish food on 
holidays like Passover, Shavuot and Rosh 
Hashanah are still great ways to expose your 
kids or grandkids to Jewish culture. These 
days, though, you need something more to 
create a real sense of belonging in a rapidly 
changing world. 

Here are five tips for teaching kids to love 
their Jewish heritage:
1. Celebrate Jewish holidays. A traditional 
Pesach seder with the Haggadah continues 
a tradition that goes back to the days of the 
Bible.
2. Read to your kids! There are plenty of 
wonderful children’s stories that bring to 
life thousands of years of Jewish history and 
tradition. 

62 | MARCH 30 • 2023 

TRAVEL

Ways to teach your kids to love their Jewish heritage. 
Enhancing Judaism

IRIS HAMI SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS 

The beaches of Tel Aviv

