Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah
It was wonderful seeing some of you over Rosh Hashanah—whether at services, enjoying the crafts and activities set up by Becca and Victoria, or at Tashlich in the park on Sunday! There is more to come for Yom Kippur, followed by Sukkot and Simchat Torah—great opportunities for kids and the whole family.
Weekly Music and Activities
Listen to these songs all week long—as lullabies or car music, or as background music for dancing and art activities! Integrate the activities into mealtime, nighttime preparation, or daily play and family time.
Alef-bet Song (Hebrew Alphabet)
David Melech (David, King of Israel)
This song helps children learn some basic vocabulary: kein (yes), lo (no), ima (mother), aba (father), geshem (rain), and shemesh (sun).
David Melech Yisra-eil
דָוִד מֶלֶךְ יְשׂרָאֵל
Chai, chai v’kayam (3×)
חַי חַי וְקַיָם
Ken / Lo (yes / no): כֵּן / לֹא
Ima / Aba (mother / father): אִמָא / אַבָּא
Geshem / Shemesh (rain / sun): גֶּשֶׁם / שֶׁמֶשׁ
Books and Discussion for Yom Kippur
The Hardest Word
The Hardest Word on PJ Library is a book to explore together for Yom Kippur.
Discuss: Saying Sorry and Making Up (Teshuvah)
What is the difference between saying “sorry” and actually feeling sorry?
If you accidentally hurt someone’s feelings, what is the best way to fix it?
Why do you think it is sometimes hard to say “I’m sorry”? How can we make it easier?
Is there anyone you want to apologize to before Yom Kippur starts?
Discuss: Forgiving Others
Think of a time someone apologized to you. Was it easy or hard to forgive them? Why?
What happens inside our hearts when we hold onto a grudge instead of forgiving someone?
Does forgiving someone mean we forget what they did, or does it mean something else?
Discuss: Being Our Best Selves
Yom Kippur is like a “reset button” for our behavior. If you could press a reset button on one habit, what would it be?
What is one thing you did this past year that made you feel really proud?
What is one way you want to be a better friend, sibling, or helper in the coming year?
Songs for Yom Kippur
Avinu Malkeinu: English Rendition
Avinu Malkeinu (Traditional)
God is our parent (Avinu) and our ruler (Malkeinu)—different ways we can view or experience God. We want God to be compassionate (choneinu) like a parent and answer us (va’aneinu). Listen for the word tzedakah (justice). Our “deeds are wanting”—we want to do better in our actions.
This is closely related to the task of “returning” during the High Holy Days: we come humbly before God to ask forgiveness.
V’al Kulam (Traditional)
In the Al Cheit, we list missteps that we or our community might make. Then we sing v’al kulam—“for all of these”—and ask God to forgive us, pardon us, and grant us atonement.
A Book and Songs for Sukkot
Sukkot is a holiday of harvest and thanksgiving.
Tamar’s Sukkah
Tamar’s Sukkah on PJ Library is a book to explore together for Sukkot.
Hodu L’Adonai (D. Maseng)
The recording uses words for Shabbat, but we’ll use the melody for these words from Psalm 118:1–4. We sing them as part of Hallel, a poem of praise, during festivals.
Hodu ladonai ki tov, ki l’olam chasdo.
הֹדוּ לַה׳ כִּי טוֹב, כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ
Yomar-na Yisrael, ki l’olam chasdo.
יֹאמַר-נָא יִשְׁרָאֵל, כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ.
Yomru-na beit Aharon, ki l’olam chasdo.
יֹאמְרוּ-נָא בֵית אַהֲרֹן, כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ.
Yomru-na yirei Adonai, ki l’olam chasdo.
יֹאמְרוּ-נָא יִרְאֵי ה׳, כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ.
Translation:
Give thanks to the Eternal, for God is good; God’s lovingkindness endures forever.
Let Israel say: God’s lovingkindness endures forever.
Let the house of Aaron say: God’s lovingkindness endures forever.
Let those who revere the Eternal say: God’s lovingkindness endures forever.
Lulav Shake (S. Dropkin)
Sukkot is a harvest holiday
The celebration lasts for seven days
We build our sukkah
Then we decorate
A special booth in which we congregate.
Chorus:
Do the lulav shake (shake, shake, shake) (3×)
Do the lulav shake.
The symbols of Sukkot are quite unique
They show God’s presence the entire week.
The etrog’s smell gets into the air
We wave the lulav everywhere.
Chorus
Hadas and aravah on either side
Surround the lulav that we shake with pride.
To the north, the south, the west and to the east
We celebrate and then we feast.
Chorus
Build a Sukkah (J. Black)
You get the boards, I’ll get some gourds
We’ll put some leaves on the roof on top of 2-by-4’s
Chorus:
Build a sukkah, build a sukkah,
We’re gonna build a sukkah, gonna live in it all week long
You get the popcorn, I’ll get the string
When we build our sukkah, yeah, we’ll dance and sing.
Shake your lulav to the ground, shake your lulav in the air
You know you shake it north, you shake it south
You shake it east, you shake it west—God is everywhere
We sleep in our sukkah, see the stars up above
It makes us thankful for all God’s love.
Songs for Simchat Torah
After Sukkot comes Simchat Torah. We read from the very end of the Torah and then from the very beginning—the story of creation.
It’s All Good (R. Sherwin, with Sababa!)
Text: Psalm 136:1 and Genesis 1:31
Chorus:
It’s all good, it’s all good—God made it and it’s all good
We thank you, God, for the gifts you bring / For the food we eat, for the songs we sing
We thank you, God, for the earth and sky / For our family’s love as the days go by
Chorus
We thank you, God, for the night and day / For the gift of Torah that shows us the way
We thank you, God, for our Sabbath rest / For You are One, and we are blessed!
Chorus
Hodu L’adonai, L’adonai ki tov
Vayar Elohim et kol asher asah
V’hinei tov m’od
Give thanks to God, for God is good!
God saw everything that God had created, and it was good.
Once Upon a Time (Avni)
Once upon a time, it was right at the start,
And God said, “I’m gonna make light and dark.”
And God said (clap, clap), “It’s the first day,
And I did very good work today.”
Once upon a time, it was day number two.
The waters were parted, and heaven came through.
And God said (clap, clap), “It’s the second day,
And I did very good work today.”
Once upon a time, it was day number three.
The land appeared, all covered with trees.
And God said (clap, clap), “It’s the third day,
And I did very good work today.”
Once upon a time, it was day number four.
We had the sun and the moon and the stars galore.
And God said (clap, clap), “It’s the fourth day,
And I did very good work today.”
Once upon a time, it was day number five.
We had the fish in the water and the birds in the sky.
And God said (clap, clap), “It’s the fifth day,
And I did very good work today.”
Once upon a time, it was day number six.
The people and the animals were doin’ their tricks.
And God said (clap, clap), “It’s the sixth day,
And I did very good work today.”
Once upon a time, it was day number seven.
And God said, “I finished the earth and the heavens.”
And God said (clap, clap), “It’s the seventh day,
And I’m gonna rest all day today.”
“Yes,” God said (clap, clap), “It’s the seventh day.
And I’m gonna rest all day today.”
Enjoy!