Family Celebrations for July 4th

Family Celebrations for July 4th

What are your plans for the 4th of July? While American Independence Day is not technically a Jewish holiday, it's a day that emphasizes important values, including freedom and independence, that we can connect to our experience of being Jewish. Here are a few ways to think about connecting to July 4th in a Jewish way:

• Explaining Freedom: How do you explain the concept of "freedom" to a young child? We try to explain it every year when we sit down for our seder at Passover. Take out some of your favorite Passover books (such as "Nachson Who Was Afraid to Swim" )and remind your child about how the Jewish people could not be free until they left Egypt. It draws a great parallel to why the early settlers of our country came here in search of freedom to live and worship as they chose.
• Our Family's Story: July 4th is also a great time to tell your child(ren) about how and when your family of origin came to this country. It's a great time to celebrate the value of diversity and think about how many different kinds of people live in the United States. "The Castle of Hester Street" is a great story about a grandfather recalling his journey from Russia to New York to his grandchild.
• Celebrating in the Cradle of Liberty: For families who live in the Philadelphia area, we have the opportunity to show our kids first hand so many important symbols of the American Revolution. This year, the National Museum of American Jewish History will be open with free admission so that families can come and learn. (An hour in an air-conditioned museum might be just the right thing for this year's holiday!).

BTW: All of the books mentioned above are part of  PJ Library. If your child(ren) isn't signed up to receive these wonderful, free books every month, just click here to sign up!

Have a happy, safe & fun 4th!