How To Make Jewish Identity Fun And Meaningful For Your Kids: A Story Of Joyful Faith 

How To Make Jewish Identity Fun And Meaningful For Your Kids: A Story Of Joyful Faith

How To Make Jewish Identity Fun And Meaningful For Your Kids: A Story Of Joyful Faith

The Goldstein household was filled with the usual hustle and bustle that comes with raising three young children. Miri, the eldest, was nine years old, with a love for reading and art. Her younger brother, Avi, was seven, and seemed to have endless energy. And then there was four-year-old Shira, the lively and curious toddler who kept everyone on their toes. Life was joyful, if chaotic, but there was something that troubled their parents, Rachel and Ben Goldstein.

One Friday evening, just before Shabbat, Rachel found herself reflecting on the growing challenge of raising children in a world where Jewish identity was easily overshadowed by the influences of secular culture. She wanted her children to feel a deep connection to their Jewish heritage, but more than that, she wanted them to embrace it with joy. 

"How do we make being Jewish not just something we do, but something they love?" Rachel asked her husband one evening after the children had gone to bed.

Ben leaned back thoughtfully. "We’ve taught them the traditions, the prayers, the holidays... but maybe we need to find a way to make it all come alive for them. To help them experience it in a way that’s fun, engaging, and meaningful."

And so began the Goldsteins' journey toward creating a home where Jewish identity was not only a set of rules or rituals, but a source of joy, creativity, and connection for their children. Over the next year, they discovered five life-changing strategies that helped their kids develop a love for their Jewish faith—strategies that other Messianic Jewish families can adopt to make Jewish identity fun and meaningful.

1. Create Experiential Jewish Holidays: Bring the Stories to Life

Rachel realized early on that her children connected best when they could experience Jewish traditions in a hands-on way. So, as they prepared for their next holiday—**Sukkot**—she had an idea. Instead of just explaining the festival, she invited her children to be a part of every aspect of the celebration.

"We’re going to build our own sukkah," she announced to Miri, Avi, and Shira one crisp fall afternoon. The kids stared at her, unsure at first. "A real sukkah? We can help?" Avi asked excitedly.

"Of course!" Rachel smiled. "You’re going to help choose the decorations, gather the branches, and even decide what snacks we’ll enjoy under the stars. Sukkot is all about celebrating the time when the Israelites lived in temporary shelters in the desert—and we’re going to make it come alive right here in our backyard."

Building the sukkah became a family project, with the children working side by side, gathering palm branches, hanging colorful paper chains, and stringing up lights. That evening, as they sat under the open sky, munching on homemade pita and hummus, the children began to feel the magic of Sukkot in a new way. They told stories, laughed together, and even made up a family Sukkot song.

For the Goldsteins, this simple experience brought the holiday to life in a way that no textbook could. And it was only the beginning.

Lesson for Parents:

Make Jewish holidays interactive and immersive. Let your kids be part of the preparations, whether it’s building a sukkah, creating their own Purim costumes, or making Passover seder plates. When children are actively involved, they develop a personal connection to the stories and traditions of their faith. This transforms holidays from something they observe into something they experience with joy and creativity.

2. Turn Torah Learning Into a Family Adventure

One afternoon, Rachel and Ben sat down to think of ways to make Torah study engaging for their kids. While the children had been exposed to the weekly Torah portions, Rachel knew they could take it further.

"We need to make it an adventure," Ben suggested, eyes twinkling. "What if we take the stories of the Torah and bring them into our everyday lives?"

And so, each week, the Goldsteins turned their Torah portion into a family project. When they studied Noah’s Ark, they didn’t just read about it—they built their own miniature ark from cardboard, and Rachel helped the kids create pairs of animals from modeling clay. As the family “rescued” the animals from the floodwaters of their living room, they giggled and imagined themselves aboard the ark, learning about faithfulness and obedience along the way.

When they reached the story of Abraham’s journey, the family packed a picnic and embarked on their own "journey" through the local park. Along the way, Ben shared stories of Abraham’s faith in God, and they talked about what it means to trust God, even when the path ahead isn’t clear.

"Being Jewish means we are always on a journey with God," Ben explained as they ate lunch on a sunny hill. "It’s about walking with Him every day, trusting that He will guide us. Just like Abraham."

The Goldstein children were captivated by this new way of learning Torah. Each story became an adventure they could touch, feel, and live out in their daily lives.

Lesson for Parents: 

Torah learning doesn’t have to be confined to the table or a book. Make it come alive by turning stories into interactive experiences. Reenact scenes from the Torah, take your children on a nature walk as you discuss the creation story, or create crafts that represent key themes. When learning becomes fun and tangible, children are more likely to internalize the lessons and see their Jewish identity as something exciting.

3. Infuse Jewish Values into Everyday Life: Make Kindness and Mitzvot Part of the Routine

Rachel and Ben wanted their children to understand that being Jewish wasn’t just about holidays or traditions—it was about how they lived every day. To make this clear, they started incorporating mitzvot (good deeds) into their daily routines, connecting them to Jewish values.

"We’re going to create a family mitzvah chart," Rachel announced one evening after dinner. She explained to the kids that each week, they would choose a different mitzvah to focus on—acts of kindness and responsibility that would bring their Jewish values to life.

The first mitzvah they chose was tzedakah—giving to those in need. The kids emptied their piggy banks, and together, they decided to donate their savings to a local food bank. But Rachel didn’t want it to stop there. She encouraged them to find small ways to give throughout the week. They baked cookies for an elderly neighbor, donated toys to a children’s hospital, and even took turns helping their parents around the house.

Every evening, as the family gathered around the dinner table, they would reflect on how they had lived out that week’s mitzvah. The children were excited to share their experiences, and over time, they began to see kindness not as an obligation, but as a joy-filled expression of their Jewish identity.

"Being Jewish means helping others," Miri said proudly one evening, "because that’s what HaShem wants us to do."

Lesson for Parents: 

Jewish values are not just taught—they are lived. Incorporate mitzvot into your family’s daily routine, making acts of kindness, generosity, and responsibility a natural part of life. By turning good deeds into fun, achievable goals, you show your children that living out their Jewish faith is both meaningful and rewarding.

4. Celebrate Shabbat as a Time of Joy and Connection

In the Goldstein home, Shabbat had always been a special time, but Rachel and Ben wanted to make it a highlight of their children’s week. They knew that if Shabbat felt like a burden, their children might grow to resent it. But if it was a time of joy, family connection, and rest, it could become something they looked forward to eagerly.

To create this sense of anticipation, they began a new Shabbat tradition: Shabbat treasure hunts. Each week, Rachel would hide small treasures around the house—stickers, treats, or little notes—and after the Shabbat candles were lit and the prayers said, the children would set off to find them. The treasure hunts added an element of excitement to the evening, making Shabbat feel festive and fun.

In addition to treasure hunts, the Goldsteins began including Shabbat story time as part of their Friday evening routine. After dinner, they would gather on the couch, wrapped in blankets, and Ben would read stories from Jewish history or recount tales of Jewish heroes who stood for faith and courage.

Over time, Shabbat became a cherished part of the family’s rhythm, a time to slow down, enjoy one another’s company, and reflect on the blessings of the week. The children began to associate Shabbat not just with rest, but with joy, tradition, and family togetherness.

"Shabbat is the best day of the week," Avi declared one Friday evening, as the family gathered around the table. And Rachel knew that her children were beginning to internalize the beauty of this sacred day.

Lesson for Parents: 

Make Shabbat a time of joy and connection. Find creative ways to celebrate that will excite your children, whether it’s through special games, stories, or family traditions. When Shabbat becomes something they look forward to, it reinforces their Jewish identity as a source of delight and meaning.

5. Foster a Sense of Belonging: Involve Them in the Jewish Community

Rachel and Ben knew that their efforts at home were important, but they also recognized the value of community in shaping their children’s Jewish identity. They wanted their children to feel a deep sense of belonging within the larger Messianic Jewish community.

To do this, they made it a point to involve their children in synagogue life and community events. They attended Shabbat services regularly, participated in family-friendly holiday events, and enrolled their children in the local Hebrew school. Miri, Avi, and Shira thrived in this environment, making friends, learning from other Jewish families, and seeing their faith lived out in a communal setting.

One of the most impactful experiences came during Hanukkah, when the family attended a large community candle-lighting event. As hundreds of candles were lit, illuminating the night, the children were captivated by the beauty and power of the moment.

"This is what it means to be Jewish," Miri whispered to her parents, her eyes wide with wonder. "To be part of something so big and beautiful."

For the Goldsteins, moments like these underscored the importance of community in making Jewish identity meaningful for their children. By seeing other families celebrate their faith, their children felt connected to something larger than themselves.

Lesson for Parents: 

Involve your children in the Jewish community. Synagogue life, holiday events, and communal gatherings help children see that they are part of a vibrant, living faith. By fostering a sense of belonging, you help them develop a strong and meaningful Jewish identity.

Conclusion: A Joyful Jewish Identity

For Rachel and Ben Goldstein, the journey to make Jewish identity fun and meaningful for their children was an evolving one. But through experiential holidays, Torah adventures, everyday mitzvot, joyful Shabbat celebrations, and community involvement, they watched their children embrace their Jewish faith with joy and enthusiasm.

Jewish identity was no longer something their children simply inherited—it was something they lived and loved.

For Messianic Jewish parents seeking to raise children who cherish their Jewish identity, the key lies in making it an integral part of everyday life. When faith is infused with creativity, joy, and connection, children naturally gravitate toward it, seeing it not as a duty, but as a source of meaning and delight.

As the Goldstein children grew older, their Jewish identity remained a core part of who they were—a bright and joyful light guiding their steps in an ever-changing world.