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(by permission of Congregation Etz Chaim in Lombard, Illinois)
This program is designed for individuals, couples or families with children to complete during the school year. The goal of
the program is to "climb your tree of life." There are three categories of activities. Under each category there are a number of
possible activities that can be completed. Each family should find six activities that they feel they can achieve during the
year. In total, each family should attempt to complete 18 activities.
In each category some activities are geared to adults; some are geared to families with children. These are just suggested activities. If
you have another idea for an activity in a category and you feel that it fits into that category, please record it. Families who complete
18 activities will be honored at a Family Shabbat Service at the end of the school year.
Some of our Jewish values:
- Tzedakah - righteous giving
- Gemilut Hasadim - deeds of lovingkindness
- Talmud Torah - Jewish learning
- Hachnasat Orchim - hospitality
- Al Tifrosh Min HaTzibor - do not separate yourself from the community
- Bal Tash-hit - appreciating nature
- Tikkun Olam - healing the world
- Shemirat Shabbat - observing Shabbat
- Shalom Bayit - making peace between people
- Tzedek, Tzedek Tirdof - justice, justice, you shall pursue
- Chanun, v'Rachum - compassion and understanding
- Menschlekeit - having the confidence to be a mensch (a decent human being)
· · · · ·
- Read a book with a Jewish theme and make a poster that could be used to advertise the book.
- See a movie or play with a Jewish theme. Write a movie review for it.
- See or listen to a television or radio program with a Jewish theme. Write a critique of it.
- Research, on-line, a Jewish topic of interest to you. Write down something new that you learned about this topic. List the websites you used for your research.
- Teach someone about an aspect of Judaism.
- Visit a Jewish place of interest. This could be another synagogue, a museum, an exhibit of art or artifacts, etc. Bring in something from the place that you either bought or picked up (such as a brochure).
- Present a two minute D'var Torah (lesson from Torah) at your family dinner table.
- Share in writing a saying or concept someone taught you about Judaism or Jewish life and tell about that "someone" who taught you.
- Listen to a recording of Jewish music. Write a review of the piece, noting the artist and the song. Attending a concert or musical performance at Adat Shalom would also qualify.
- Attend a seminar, program or lecture related to Judaism or Jewish life. Write out what event you attended and something you learned. Possible programs could include any of our adult education programs.
- During six different weeks, read several verses from the weekly Torah portion. If this is a family activity, you could use Shabbat Talk at the URJ web site. Write out the name of the portions you read. The names of the weekly Torah portions can be found on a Jewish calendar available in the TAS office.
- Visit Israel. Send the staff at Adat Shalom a postcard.
- If you aren't going to Israel yet, create an itinerary for when you do travel to Eretz Israel (the Land of Israel).
- Prepare a traditional Jewish dish that you never have prepared, such as kugel, cholent, hamantashen, etc. Bring a taste to the staff.
- Make up your own activity. Describe what you did and how it fits into the category of "Torah."
· · · · ·
- Say the Shehecheyanu at least 4 times - 2 times by yourself as part of observances at home or for personal milestones; and 2 times on Jewish holidays. Note the occasion/holiday/event for which you recited the Shehecheyanu. Personal milestones can include a birthday, anniversary, first day of school, first soccer goal, birth of a child or grandchild, etc.
- Attend three Shabbat services. When noting the service you attended, please indicate the name of the Torah portion for that Shabbat.
- Participate in candle blessings for three events (Hanukkah may only be counted one time). When recording the event, if it was Shabbat, note the Torah portion.
- Invite another family to your home to celebrate Shabbat or another holiday. Take a picture of the group participating in a Jewish ritual.
- Attend at least two of the following holiday worship services/ celebrations at Temple Adat Shalom. Write out what makes each of these unique. Include one part you particularly liked.
(Sukkot, Simhat Torah, Hanukkah , Selichot, Purim, Yom HaShoah, Shavuot)
- Learn two new blessings that you did not know before. (If you need help finding some to learn, ask our clergy for assistance). Make a picture illustrating each of the blessings or write out why you wanted to learn them.
- Recite the following prayer after making peace between two people:
Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha'olam, oseh hashalom.
Blessed are You, our Eternal God, Maker of Peace.
Write out how you felt after saying the blessing.
- Recite the "works of creation" blessing when seeing a wonder of nature (mountains, hills, deserts, seas and oceans, lightning, stars, planets, sunrises, sunsets).
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha'olam oshen ma'asaih bereishit.
Blessed are You, our Eternal God, who makes the works of creation.
Write about or draw a picture of where you were when you recited this blessing.
- Recite the following blessing before doing a mitzvah of tikkun olam, repairing the world.
Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam shenatan lanu hezdamnut letakain et ha'olam.
Blessed are You, our Eternal God, Ruler of the universe, for giving us the opportunity to mend the world.
Write a haiku or draw a picture of what mitzvah you were about to do.
- Observe the conclusion of Shabbat by participating in a Havdalah service. Draw a picture of the objects used.
- Create a bedtime ritual including a Jewish prayer or song.
- Immerse in a mikvah to mark a special time in your life.
- Put up a mezuzah someplace in your home that does not have one. A mezuzah can be placed on the entrance to any room except a kitchen or bathroom. If possible, make your own. Take a picture of the new mezuzah.
- Make up your own activity and describe how it fits into the category of "Avodah."
· · · · ·
- Participate in the Yom Kippur food drive. Take a picture of you/the family with your groceries.
- Do a Mitzvah (good deed). Make a picture showing what you did.
- Participate in Mitzvah Day. Write a news bulletin about what you did.
- Volunteer to work at a homeless shelter. Write a poem about what you did.
- Visit or take a meal to a congregant who is ill or home bound.
- Do something to fight anti-semitism, racism or other types of prejudice and discrimination. Write out what you did, explaining what impact it had on you.
- Invite a Jewish newcomer from your community to your home for a meal or dessert. Write out how responsive the newcomer was to your hospitality.
- Volunteer on a synagogue committee or at a synagogue event. Write out what you did.
- Volunteer for a local organization or institution. If you are a child, volunteer to walk the neighbor's dog, cut their grass, shovel their driveway, etc. Write out what you did and how it made you feel to do it.
- Participate in a community-sponsored "race", "walk", "telethon" or other fund-raiser for a worthy cause. If possible, take a picture of the event. One possible event could include the Crop Walk. Write out the event in which you participated.
- Volunteer to bake cookies for an Oneg Shabbat sometime during the year.
- Be a part of a community volunteer organization that is in your neighborhood or town. Write out what organization you participated in and what that organization's purpose is.
- Have your own drive/sale with the proceeds going to a charity which you choose.
- Make up your own activity and describe how it fits into the category of "Gemilut Hasadim."
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