Spanning the Generations: Shabbat Notes for You and Your Youngsters

When Susan and Howard Meyerowitz’s daughters were growing up in West Hartford, CT, their parents included a Shabbat note in their bookbag each Friday along with either a Hershey kiss or a homemade brownie. Howard and Susan felt that this was a fun way for the girls to connect with their Judaism each week, and it provided them with a pleasant entry into Shabbat. Both daughters are grown up now, but the tradition is alive – now Susan and Howard’s grandchildren are the lucky recipients of these creative and imaginative notes.

The notes included stories, games, and other fun activities – and are a wonderful way for grandparents to bond with their grandchildren and to keep our traditions alive.

Below are some examples of Susan and Howard’s Shabbat notes. You can borrow some of these ideas, or create some new ones of your own, and please feel free to share them with us!

If you would like to see more of Susan and Howard’s Shabbat notes, just let us know below in the comments.

For more intergenerational fun, subscribe to Chai Mitzvah’s Grandparents and Beyond! Click here for more information.

You can also join Chai Mitzvah and the Chicago CJE on the first Tuesday of each month at 3 PM Eastern Time, and explore fun ways to share meaningful moments in our lives with our youngsters and with each other. December 7th’s topic is Rites of Passage. Rites of Passage are significant experiences you have that change you in some way. Join us for meaningful discussion and creative ideas. Click here to register.

And related to Shabbat – adults, please join Chai Mitzvah for Shabbat, the Day of Renewal on Tuesday, December 14 at 7:30 pm Eastern Time. This is the second of a three-part Community Gathering series on three different aspects of Shabbat. It will include customs from around the globe, folk stories, texts, poetry, music and food. Join us to expand and enrich your Shabbat celebration. Bring your own stories, recipes, and memories to add to our Sharing Shabbat Community Book! Click here to register.