High Holiday Storytelling Workshop for Kids

Authored by Tessa Bloom, "High Holiday Storytelling Workshop for Kids" offers a writing workshop designed for children aged 9–12. This book guides young writers in crafting High Holiday fiction, emphasizing an approach that avoids using sacred items as fantasy props or recycling common holiday narratives. Participants select a specific moment, such as a meal, shofar practice, an apology, a synagogue interlude, a family journey, or a sukkah transition, and conduct research to establish a believable setting before they begin drafting. The author incorporates mini-lessons covering elements like point of view, dialogue, sensory details, conflict, and conclusions that do not resolve harm with a simple apology. Source cards help differentiate between liturgy, custom, family recollections, and invented elements.

The workshop includes examples showcasing various American Jewish households, without attributing ethnicity, disability, interfaith identity, or level of observance as a character's primary challenge. Peer review focuses on both story construction and unsubstantiated religious claims, ensuring that no student is required to disclose personal practices. Educator notes address the use of fictional Hebrew, stereotypes, and the respectful application of names. The culminating anthology features an author’s note that distinguishes between verified facts and deliberate inventions. This educational resource frames storytelling as an exercise in imagination, supported by evidence, specificity, and careful consideration for children learning about Jewish traditions.