A Springtime Celebration of Stories

The Jewish people are sometimes referred to as “the people of the book” because storytelling, through the Torah and other Jewish texts, has shaped Jewish values and life. Storytelling is also one of the best ways to share Jewish traditions with children. Your family can start by telling and retelling stories of your family’s customs and celebrations, and by collecting and reading Jewish storybooks. (Check out The PJ Library to help you get started!).

The holiday of Shavuot celebrates the gift of the Torah to the Jewish people, and is a great time to think about how to incorporate Jewish storytelling into your family’s life. The most common Shavuot custom is to stay up all night and study the Torah. Kids love late-night festivities, and you can celebrate the spirit of this tradition on Shavuot or anytime by designating a special night as a “night of storytelling,” when you stay up late reading your favorite books together.

You can make your late-night reading party even more special by observing the Shavuot custom of eating dairy. You can try making crowd-pleasing favorites like macaroni and cheese, blintzes, or cheesecake. You can even make these Mount Sinai muffins: they look good, taste great, and help tell the story of Shavuot. For more ideas, check out these books, songs, and crafts to get your kids into the Shavuot spirit.

Stories That Shape Jewish Life

Sharing classic Torah stories with kids can be a great way to communicate Jewish values. You can watch the animated versions of Moses on Mount Sinai or Abraham and the Visitors. Your kids can draw their version of Mount Sinai, or together you can create your family's very own Ten Commandments. While you’re at it, the biblical story associated with Shavuot is the Book of Ruth, which offers a goldmine of values to explore with your kids, like the importance of charity, friendship, kindness, and compassion.

Shavuot isn't the only Jewish holiday that incorporates storytelling. In fact, many Jewish holidays start with a good story, like the Purim story of Queen Esther or the Chanukah story starring Judah the Maccabee and the miracle of lights. By celebrating these holidays — and sharing their stories — with your kids, you're not only handing down the traditions of Jewish holidays, but also demonstrating the importance of storytelling as a part of Jewish life.

From the original stories in the Torah to Jewish folktales to the new books being written today, there's no question that storytelling itself is an essential Jewish value. You already know the importance of reading with your kids, so take the opportunity to share the Jewish stories that make up our culture. Check out The PJ Library for some great Jewish kids’ books, like the Shavuot-friendly A Mountain of Blintzes and The Littlest Mountain. You can also sit back and watch some classic stories unfold with animated versions of the Hillel and Shammai story and where it all began: the story of creation. Remember, introducing Jewish customs and values to your kids is as simple as telling a good story!