Today’s blog is a gathering of relevant holiday items with lots of links. Read on…

Grandparents, as I’ve learned over the past 2 decades, are special. Grandparents even have a Hallmark holiday, Sunday September 13th this year.

And Jewish grandparents have their own organization and website. The Jewish Grandparents Network whose goal is to “explore new ways for grandparents to play joyful and meaningful roles in our families, to cherish our time together, and to share our Jewish stories, heritage, and traditions.”

Many of the ideas and activities are meant for younger grandchildren but the organization is all inclusive.

Below are some links for information and activities for the High Holidays:

Website for the Jewish Grandparents Network (JGN): jewishgrandparentsnetwork.org

Links to resources on JGN’s website:

• Webinar recordings including “Beyond  Apples and Honey — Reimagining Rosh Hashanah Rituals for Grandparents”
• Webinar Discussion Guide that accompanies the webinar “Beyond Apples and Honey”
• Simanim (symbolic food) recipes for Rosh Hashanah (courtesy of Faith Kramer) that are appropriate to make with children.
• Free Rosh Hashanah Bundle: Download the family resources, including a template for a blessing.

Another good resource for information and activities is PJ Library: https://pjlibrary.org/home

Here are links to three desserts perfect for Rosh Hashanah dinner and which kids can lend a hand.

• Apple and honey pie pops: https://jmoreliving.com/2017/09/14/apple-honey-pie-pops/
• Easy apple pie cookies:  https://sherisilver.com/2025/11/18/apple-streusel-pie-cookies/
• Apple mug cake: https://pjlibrary.org/beyond-books/pjblog/august-2026/easy-rosh-hashanah-recipe-that-kids-can-make

Related books for kids include:

Once Upon an Apple Cake by Elana Rubinstein, a gentle mystery for 6-10 year olds in which SaraLee has to figure out how to bake an famous apple cake.

Apple Cake: a gratitude by Dawn Casey, a step by step picture book journey to make an apple cake.

Apples and Pomegranates: a family seder by Rahel Musleah, a traditional seder format especially for Rosh Hashanah.

Finally, what everyone waits for on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur days: it’s not the matzah ball soup or brisket but the sound of the shofar. The shofar blowing is not the same everywhere in the Jewish world. Listen to these videos with two distinctly different ways of blowing shofar.

From Rome: https://www.facebook.com/RomanJews/videos/274453496777924/

From Amsterdam: https://youtu.be/XnGOl4Tk5xg?si=p5Ks6OEBHYOpfPRc. You’ll find the shofar blowing at around 18:40.  Note the hat.