OUTLINE:

Crack open a pomegranate and discover the deliciously deep meaning behind this central symbol of the Jewish new year! In this program of the participants will learn about the important symbolism of the pomegranate in Jewish tradition—specifically as it relates to Rosh Hashanah. Then participants will take actual pomegranates and use the seeds/juice to paint beautiful greeting cards for Rosh Hashanah !

MATERIALS:  

• Printed Pomegranates in Judaism Source Sheet (also at bottom of page)
• Several pomegranates (or seeds and pomegranate juice if the actual fruit cannot easily be found in your area)
• Bowls/plates (for pomegranates/juice/seeds)
• Spoons or mortar and pestle (for crushing the seeds)
• Paint brushes of various sizes
• Watercolor paper
• Calligraphy pens (or other nice fine point pens for writing details on the cards)
• Watercolor and/or regular pencils (for sketching designs)
• Envelopes
• Optional:
  • Gloves (to wear while breaking the pomegranate)
  • Aprons (to protects clothes from stains)
  • Stamps
  • Pomegranate flavored snacks/drinks

PROGRAM OUTLINE (~60 minutes): 

• Welcome and Framing (10 min)
• Learning about Pomegranates in Judaism (20 min)
• Pomegranate Painting (30 min)

Welcome and Framing (10 minutes)

• Welcome everyone and invite them to grab pomegranate themed snacks and drinks.
• Gather everyone and share with the group something along the lines of…
  • Pomegranates are a central symbol of the Jewish new year. Today we will be preparing for Rosh Hashanah, the head of the Jewish year, by doing some learning about pomegranates and their role in Jewish tradition. Then we will crack open some pomegranates and use the juice like watercolors to paint Rosh Hashanah greeting cards to send or give to our friends and family.

Learning about Pomegranates in Judaism (20 min)

• Break everyone into groups of two (or if the group is small, learn as a full group) and pass out the Pomegranates in Judaism Source Sheet. Let your guests know that they’ll have about 20 minutes to work through the sheet with their partner (or as a group).
• After 20 min, call everyone back together, if people were learning in pairs consider having every pair share out something they
  learned/noticed/discussed in their group.

Pomegranate Painting (30 min)

• If you haven’t already, have guests crack open the pomegranates and crush the seeds in a bowl with the back of a spoon or mortar and pestle. Offer aprons and gloves for guests who don’t want to stain their hands/clothes.
• Invite everyone to take some paper, fold it in whatever card shape they would like (the size of the card might depend on the size of envelopes available), sketch out any design they would like and paint with the pomegranate juice on the paper to create a unique Rosh Hashana greeting card.
  • Optional: Offer guests stamps and the chance to write/mail a Rosh Hashanah greeting card to a friend or family member.