A Taste of Tradition: Exploring Jewish Holidays with Adina Oberman

Helping Families Be Happy

On this episode of the "Helping Families be Happy Podcast," host, Christopher Robbins husband and father of nine, residing in the Central Valley of California talks to Adina Oberman. She is a former preschool teacher and over 15 years, she has helped families through the ups and downs of early childhood. Adina is the creator of “Big Books for Little Hands”, a valuable resource for parents and educators seeking the best books to navigate the challenges of life with kids to the best books for navigating the challenges of life with kids.

Episode Highlights

• 01.40: Adina mentions the importance of food in Jewish holidays, emphasizing that eating together is a significant part of the celebration.
• 03.40: Sukkot is a holiday during which people build temporary huts outside their homes. This holiday is a celebration, often associated with the harvest season, where communal meals are held in these temporary huts.
• 04:15: Simchat holiday is a celebration of reading the Torah, the Old Testament, from beginning to end over the course of a year. Simchat Torah is a joyful holiday filled with festivities, including lots of eating and family fun.
• 05.52: Christopher notes that Yom Kippur is a solemn holiday and it's a specific time when people can reflect on any offenses they may have committed against their family, friends, God, and the world around them.
• 07.15: Adina emphasizes that seeking forgiveness tradition is beautiful because it helps prevent small transgressions from accumulating within family relationships. It allows people to come full circle, make amends, and start fresh, fostering reconciliation and positive relationships.
• 09:25: Christopher asks Adina to describe the foods and recipes that are typically included in celebratory Jewish meals.
• 10.21: In Jewish celebrations food varies from house to house and my family but during Rosh Hashanah, there are several symbolic foods like apples dipped in honey, braided bread, and Matzo ball soup and brisket.
• 11.52: Adina suggests that food is an excellent way to engage children in cultural traditions. Parents can involve their kids by either preparing food together or sitting down to eat and explaining the significance of the dishes being served to help children feel connected to their heritage and understand the reasons behind the holiday customs.
• 12.16: Adina recommends reading books about Jewish holidays to children. These books can be a valuable resource in making abstract concepts more understandable and relatable to young minds.
• 16.06: Adina suggests seeking out a local Jewish Community Centre, which can be found in many states across the United States. JCCs typically offer a wide range of programming for all ages and levels of observance which allows families to participate in meaningful ways within the Jewish community and helps build a strong Jewish identity for their children.

3 Key Points

1. There are several Jewish holidays during this season, starting with Rosh Hashanah, which is the Jewish New Year, says Adina. She explains that Rosh Hashanah is a time for celebration, renewal, reflection, and a focus on making the upcoming year better.
2. Adina explains that Rosh Hashanah is a joyful holiday and is a time of renewal and rebirth, similar to the way January 1st is celebrated as the New Year in the secular calendar. During Rosh Hashanah, people often engage in the custom of dipping apples into honey, symbolizing the desire for a sweet and prosperous year ahead.
3. PJ Library serves as a practical and accessible way for parents and caregivers to introduce their children to Jewish traditions and strengthen their connection to their cultural heritage, says Adina.

Tweetable Quotes

• “Simchat holiday follows Sukkot in the Jewish calendar and is marked by lively and spirited celebrations within the Jewish community.” - Adina Oberman
• “You can say "Happy New Year" to anyone celebrating Rosh Hashanah but in general for any Jewish holiday, you can use the phrase "Chag Sameach," which means "Happy Holiday." This is a versatile greeting suitable for various Jewish celebrations.” - Adina Oberman

Resources Mentioned

• Helping Families Be Happy Podcast Apple
• https://www.bigbooksforlittlehands.com/
• Podcast Editing