I’m so excited to share The Art of Jewish Joy, the Jewish holiday craft and activity book I made with illustrator Suzy Ultman (Chronicle Books)! It’s packed with Jewish crafts for kids and grown-ups, simple holiday recipes, and easy explanations of the meaning behind each tradition.

WHAT IS THE ART OF JEWISH JOY?

The Art of Jewish Joy is a hands-on guide to Jewish holidays and traditions. Each chapter explains what a holiday is about and why we celebrate it, then gives you crafts, recipes, and activities to bring that lesson home. It’s not a rulebook or a textbook—it’s a way to learn about Judaism by making things together.

THE MEANING BEHIND JEWISH TRADITIONS

The book focuses on the why behind Jewish customs—and sometimes the meaning starts with a single word. Tzedakah, usually translated as charity, actually means justice. So giving isn’t extra credit—it’s how we make the world fairer.

And chayt, the word for sin you hear all over Yom Kippur, is like the archery term for missing the mark. It’s not about being a bad person. It’s about working on your aim. Little insights like these run through every chapter.

WHAT’S INSIDE: JEWISH HOLIDAY CRAFTS, RECIPES, AND ACTIVITIES

Each chapter pairs a Jewish holiday with a value:

• The Art of Self-Reflection (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur)
• The Art of Big Heartedness (Sukkot)
• The Art of Shining Bright (Hanukkah)
• The Art of Nurturing Nature (Tu B’shvat)
• The Art of Grit and Grace (Purim)
• The Art of Honoring Freedom (Passover)
• The Art of Cherishing Our History (The “Yom” holidays)

Inside, you’ll find a Holiday Spotlight explaining each celebration, personal stories from Suzy and me, and lots of Jewish holiday crafts—like homemade New Year’s cards and a simple weaving project—made with upcycled and natural materials you probably already have at home.

The book also includes recurring features: A Little Nosh (holiday recipes with symbolic meaning), Shabbat Shalom(easy ways to slow down and unplug on Shabbat), and Home Shul (quick Q&As about Jewish customs and symbols). And because there’s no one way to be Jewish, it shows how Ashkenazi, Sephardic, and Mizrahi families celebrate, too.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is The Art of Jewish Joy a Jewish craft book for kids? Yes—and for grown-ups too! The projects are designed for families to make together, with adult supervision noted where needed.

Do I need to be crafty? Nope. If you can use a glue stick, you’re good. The finished project doesn’t need to be perfect—the conversations you have while making it are the point.

Is it only for Jewish families? Not at all. It’s for Jewish families, interfaith families, observant and not-so-observant households, educators, and anyone curious about Jewish holidays.

A HANUKKAH GIFT FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST

Hanukkah is right around the corner—and that means eight nights of gifts to figure out! The Art of Jewish Joy makes a great Hanukkah gift for just about everyone:

• Your grandchildren: Eight nights is a lot of presents. Make one of them something you can do together.
• Your kids: A screen-free way to fill those winter break afternoons
• Your aunt: You know, the one who always hosts. Fresh ideas for the holiday table, plus a few A Little Nosh recipes.
• Your neighbor: Ever wondered about the menorah in their window—or wanted them to understand yours? This one’s for them.
• Your kid’s teacher or Hebrew school: Ready-made Jewish holiday crafts for the classroom. This is a no-brainer!
• Your interfaith family: A warm, welcoming way into Jewish traditions, with zero pressure.
• You: Yep, you deserve a present too. We won’t tell.

You can grab your copy of The Art of Jewish Joy here. And if you’re anywhere near Tampa on November 1st, or Atlanta on November 6th, come say hi. I’m doing a book talk plus a Shrinky Dink jewelry workshop. Yes, Shrinky Dinks! Bring your inner eight-year-old.

Joy and meaning were never opposites in Jewish life. Joy is kind of how the meaning gets passed down—one candle, one story, one craft-covered kitchen table at a time.

So go ahead and ask why. Then go make something.

October 22, 2026| Activities, Decor, Decor, Early Elementary, Everyday Crafts, Family Bonding, Favors, Grown-Up, Hanukkah, Older Elementary, Paper, Passover, Preschool, Toddler, Tween to Teen, Upcycled, Yarn & Fabric