Ocean State Libraries

Rosh Hashanah is often referred to as the Jewish New Year. Millions of Jewish people all over the world celebrate this holiday. The holiday usually occurs in September or October and includes the holiest Jewish day of the year, Yom Kippur, the day of repentance. Learn about how Jewish people eat special foods, reflect on the year gone by, and think about how they can improve in the year to come.

Discusses the origin and development of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, their major symbols, and ways of observing them in the world today and in different times in history.

As she and her family celebrate these two Jewish holidays, a young girl contemplates their meaning in her life.

"Rosh Hashanah es la celebración del Año Nuevo judio. ¡Son días para celebrar!"

Two Jewish celebrations--Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, and Passover, a holiday celebrating freedom and renewal--are presented to children through illustrated stories, puppets, and songs. At a Hanukkah celebration, youngsters learn about the miracle of the Menorah as they light candles, play games, and sing songs to commemorate the holiday. As part of an introduction to Passover and the traditional Seder meal, a group of children visit a matzo...