Episode Transcript
[00:00:01] Shalom. It's Jacob Sager, father of five, figuring out what it takes to make a home truly jewish. Today, we're exploring how to create a jewish environment for your growing family. It's not about how many menorahs you own, but about the atmosphere you create. Let's talk about making your home a mini sanctuary.
[00:00:20] There's a concept in Judaism called, which means small sanctuary. It comes from a passage in the book of Ezekiel where God says, I have been for them a small sanctuary in the countries where they have gone.
[00:00:34] Rabbi Abraham Isaac Cook, the first Ashkenazi chief rabbi of modern Israel, expanded on this idea. He taught that every jewish home should be a Mikdash meat, a small sanctuary that brings holiness into everyday life. This doesnt mean turning your living room into a synagogue. Its about creating an environment where jewish values, traditions, and spirituality are woven into the fabric of daily life. As we prepare to welcome new life into our homes and change the environment accordingly, we have the opportunity to shape what this small sanctuary looks like for our family.
[00:01:10] We have the opportunity to shape what this small sanctuary looks like for our family.
[00:01:15] Creating a jewish home isnt about checking boxes or following a strict set of rules. It's about infusing your space and your daily life with meaning, values, traditions. It's about creating an environment where your child can grow up with a sense of identity and belonging.
[00:01:31] So let me tell you something. We recently moved into a new house, and we waited a long time to put the mezuzote up for no particular reason. And when we put them up with our kids, it really meant a lot to them and to their rooms, and they wanted to know the blessings for putting them up. And it really changed the environment about our house. And when we make Shabbat dinner at our house, which really, in a way, is very low key, on Friday nights. One time we made it about dressing up, like really dressing up. Our kids wore ties just to dinner at our own house, and were going to enforce that in the future. But its become a part of how they prepare every week, and they take a lot of joy and pride in it, and its changed everything.
[00:02:16] They are as much a part of creating the jewish environment as in your household once you invite them into it. So you got to start that first. So how do we create this Mikdash meat, this small sanctuary? Let's break it down first. Rituals and traditions. Think about creating touch points throughout your day and your week that connect you to jewish heritage. There's plenty of them that are there that existed throughout our religion, you could be lighting Shabbat candles on Friday night, saying the shema before bedtime, or having a special havdalah ceremony at end Shabbat.
[00:02:55] The key is consistency and meaning. Two values in action Judaism isn't just about rituals. It's about how we live our lives in the bigger world and how we treat human beings. How can you embody values like sadaqah, charity, khaser, kindness, or Tikkun Olam improving or repairing the world into your daily life? Maybe it's having a tzedakah box where you put coins regularly, or making it a family practice to help neighbors or volunteer in your community.
[00:03:26] Three jewish learning make your home a place where questions are encouraged and learning is ongoing. This could mean having jewish books available, discussing the weekly Torah portion, or exploring jewish history and culture together.
[00:03:41] Four celebrating holidays. Jewish holidays provide wonderful opportunities to create lasting family memories. Remember, it's not about perfection. Maybe your Passover Seder is more about questions and discussions than following every page of the haggadah. Maybe your Shabbat dinner is more about flavors than about rituals. All of that is okay. The point is to have multimedia memories that matter.
[00:04:09] Fifth, hebrew and jewish culture. Consider how you can incorporate hebrew words or yiddish words if that's your jewish culture, or Latino or other jewish languages, israeli music, or jewish art into your home environment. There's so many easy ways to do this with streaming music. There's so much great jewish content for children on Amazon prime. If you look around, there's some good cultural touch points that can help create a rich, immersive atmosphere in your home. 6th food and hospitality we've already touched on this in a huge way throughout all these other points, but jewish tradition places a high value on coming together over food and creating joy through a shared experience of that food. How can you make meals a time for connection and tradition? Maybe it's about having those special foods. Maybe it's about inviting other people over. Or maybe it is about doing the rituals and really sanctify it by making it different than other times you gather at the table. Remember, creating a jewish home is an ongoing practice, and it's yours. It's your jewish home. It will evolve as your family grows and changes, and as you grow and change. The goal is to create an environment where jewish identity feels natural, where it's joyful, and where it's meaningful and ongoing and growing and a part of everyone's life. Here are three things you can do this week to start creating your family's jewish home. First, talk to your partner about the jewish home you are creating together. Its an important conversation to have and especially before your children are born. The possibilities are infinite. Its a great time to dream and imagine and think about what could be.
[00:06:01] Second, designate a space in your home for jewish objects or books. This could be a shelf, a corner, or even just a small table. Make it a place that draws the eyes, invites engagement, and feels beautiful and exciting to you. And third, start a family tradition of your own. Maybe you pick a special song or poem for Shabbat, or a unique way to start each new jewish month. Or maybe there's going to be something you do at Passover that's just brilliant and exciting and gets everybody involved. The key is to make it meaningful for your family.
[00:06:38] As we wrap up, I want you to think about this.
[00:06:41] What kind of jewish memories do you want your child to have of growing up in your home?
[00:06:47] Remember, creating a jewish home is not about perfection. It's about intention and love. This is Jacob Sager reminding you that every jewish home is unique, just like every jewish family. Your mikdash may at is yours for creating shalom. I can't wait to see you next time.
