Beth Israel creates High Holi-DIY Boxes for Edmonton families

by Carla Lehrer

(AJNews) – Edmonton’s Beth Israel Synagogue (warmly referred to as the family shul) is constantly striving to create an environment that is warm, welcoming, fun and educational for all children in the community.

Although COVID has limited our options, we have always sought out fun and exciting ways to continue to reach out to the youth of the city.

Weekly Boker Torah zoom classes have been held where younger children get a chance to pray, learn parsha and do arts and crafts. This week they enjoyed a game of Simon says and hide and seek. We also have had multiple paint nights where kids created some amazing high holiday artwork and got to finally see one another for a bit.

Although restrictions will keep us physically apart, we at the family shul want to create a sense of unity and togetherness this holiday season. That’s why we’ve created the BI youth “High Holi-DIY Box.” This fun filled box will be distributed to members with children ages 3-13. Kids will find a treasure trove of activities, crafts, recipes, coloring pages and lessons that cover all the holidays from Rosh Hashana to Simchat Torah.

Everything in the box has been customized and carefully chosen to create the most complete and meaningful experience possible. We may be far apart, but we are never far in heart.

The family shul wants everyone to feel welcome because we are all one community. Therefore, our box will be available in limited quantity for sale to non-members as well. Furthermore, there will be a community wide, social distant, outdoor shofar blowing on Sunday September 20 at 3:30pm in the Beth Israel parking lot. We can’t wait to celebrate (at a distance) with our entire Edmonton family.

If you would like more information or to order a High Holi-DIY box please email youth@familyshul.org

Shana Tova