Shofar in the Park
What to Prepare:
Shofar In The Park Gift Bags (see “Resources” below)
Attach “Shofar in the Park” label on each bag.
In each bag, put the following:
1 Shofar and Stuffing in cellophane bag
1 snack
1 Decorate your own cookie Kit (with label)
One prayer song sheets
One set of game cards
Schedule:
Here is a sample schedule for an hour-long Shofar in the Park event that includes short tefillos, shofar, and kids’ activities.
4:00pm-Families arrive at the park and receive a gift bag as they enter, they set up their blankets. Have all families face one direction so it is easier to speak.
4:07: Welcome everyone. Give a short three-minute speech about Rosh Hashanah and explain what will happen. (“We will say the Shema together, then the Shofar Blower will say the Brachot, everyone will answer Amen. Then we will blow 30 sounds. Follow along in your prayer song sheets. After the shofar is sounded, we will say the Yehi Ratzon prayer together.”)
4:12: Lead everyone in saying Shema. Then say Shofar Brachot and blow shofar.
4:16: Read the Yehi Ratzon together. Lead everyone in singing the songs on song sheets.
4: 25: Rosh Hashana Craft: Make our own stuffed Shofar!
4:30: RH Who am I Game! Each bag contains 6 cards. Kids should lay out the cards in front of them, 3 per row. Caller in the middle says questions out loud beginning with “WHO AM I”? Kids have to hold up the correct answer. Volunteer in the middle holds up the large poster with the correct answer so everyone can see if they got it right. Each kid gets one point for every correct answer.
*For an added twist if you have a smaller group: Kids have to jump on the correct answer instead of picking up the card (you can spread the cards around and they need to jump on the full size correct card)
4:40: RH Edible Craft! Each bag contains a Decorate Your Own Cookie Kit. (Shofar and Apple cookie, two small containers of frosting, 2 containers of sprinkles, half a green sour stick, one wipe). Kids smear frosting on their cookies, decorate with sprinkles and say Bracha and eat!
4:55: Announce Shofar Raffle winner: all those who RSVPed are entered into the raffle to win a real Shofar. (Raffle has to be done before Yom Tov.)
Resources:
Bags to package everything in — Amazon
To be placed on goody bags for the kids. Labels are 3.5 x 5, and can be printed on Avery template 8168.
Rosh Hashanah Stuffed Shofars:
Stuffing (if you need a lot) — Amazon
Cellophane bag for stuffed shofar kit — Amazon
Decorate your Own RH Cookies Kit:
1 Shofar cookie
1 Apple Cookie
(Use Shofar and Apple Cookie cutters to make cookies, or buy from bakery)
Frosting: 2 small containers of frosting—one red (Pillsbury white frosting mixed with red food coloring) and one chocolate. Green sprinkles and yellow sprinkles in separate small containers. Green sour stick for apple stem. Make a sample beforehand, and have a picture of it to display and show everyone.
1 plastic knife
To be placed on the Decorate Your Own Rosh Hashanah Cookies Kit. 2-1/3" x 3-3/8". Print on Avery Presta® 94211.
Shofar in the Park Who Am I Game
Answer cards:
Shofar
Machzor
Apples in honey
Pomegranate
World
Pic of a Jewish girl and boy
Questions:
WHO AM I?
1. I am made from the horn of a kosher animal. (Shofar)
2. I have many seeds in me. You eat me on Rosh Hashanah to show HaShem we want a year filled with mitzvot, as many as my seeds! (Pomegranate)
3. Happy birthday to me! Today I am turning 5,782 years old! (World)
4. I sound like someone crying. I remind you to do Teshuva; to feel bad for the mistakes you’ve made and to change for the better. (Shofar)
5. HaShem created the world for me ☺! (Boy and Girl-people)
6. You eat me on Rosh Hashanah because I am so sweet and delicious. I symbolize your wishes for a Shana Tova Umetukah, a happy sweet new year! (Apple in Honey)
7. On Rosh Hashanah, we crown G-d as king of the _____? (World)
8. I make 3 different sounds. You will hear a total of 100 sounds from me each day of Rosh Hashanah! (Shofar)
9. I am the special book you use on Rosh Hashana to pray to Hashem for a sweet new year (Machzor)
10. Every single mitzvah that you do makes me a better and brighter place (World)
11. I am the most precious to HaShem (Boy and Girl)
12. I will be sounded when Moshiach comes, the time of peace and happiness we are all waiting for! (Shofar)
Courtesy of Chabad Potomac. To be included in the gift bags.
Shofar-Blowing Text (Annotated Siddur - Kehot)
Can be distributed to participants
This one is for you to use. It contains the key dinim of shofar as well as the brachos and sounds.
For use if the baal tokeah needs a reference that is not in Hebrew.