NEW YEAR INTENTION BRACELETS

As we journey through the months of Elul and Tishrei, we renew our commitment to being our best selves, to practicing Jewish values, and ultimately to bringing light and hope to anywhere there is darkness. A wonderful way to teach kiddos (and ourselves) to focus on these renewed commitments is to make New Year Intention Bracelets! Think of what you want to focus on the most in the new year and make bracelets with those words. For example: shalom (peace), chesed (kindness), and ahava (love). These bracelets will be beautiful reminders that Teshuvah, our primary focus on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, means “return” — a return to our true selves, our holy selves, our best selves.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED:

-Stretchy bracelet string
-Letter beads that spell out whatever Jewish values you’d like to focus on in the new year
-Assorted beads
-Scissors
-Painters tape or masking tape

HERE’S WHAT YOU DO:

(1) Cut a piece of stretchy bracelet string that is the circumference of your wrist plus an extra four or five inches (that extra bit will make it much easier to tie the bracelet. (2) Tape one end of the bracelet string to your work surface (I like to use a plate so that the beads don’t roll away). (3) String your beads onto the string in whatever order you like. (4) When you’re ready to tie your bracelet, the best knot to use is a surgeon’s knot. This VIDEO has a clear demonstration of making a surgeon’s knot.