Jewish Holidays for Grandparents and Grandchildren

"Jewish Holidays for Grandparents and Grandchildren" by Rachel Adlerstone offers guidance on navigating the complexities of intergenerational Jewish holiday observances. The book addresses how Jewish holidays can highlight differences in family structures, language, memories, and expectations between generations. It provides a framework for grandparents and grandchildren to share the Jewish year without portraying elders as sole sources of information or children as guarantees of unchanging tradition. The author's approach emphasizes conversation, shared activities, and community engagement for each season. It encourages storytelling that respects individual experiences and acknowledges uncertainties, rather than focusing on rote memorization of facts.

This guide includes practical advice for various family situations, such as interfaith families, adoption, conversion, divorce, and long-distance relationships. It also considers challenges like dementia and disability, and situations where parents do not continue certain customs. The book offers interactive video-call plans and outlines safe cooking practices with allergy checks and adult supervision. It details how to document holiday objects before they are passed on. Scripts are provided for situations where generations disagree, safeguarding parental boundaries and a child's autonomy regarding affection or belief. The book culminates in a project to create a family collection that records both continuity and change within family history.