There’s one thing that really bothers me when it comes to most centerpiece and tablescape ideas: they’re just not practical. But I love setting a gorgeous table – the kind where the entire tablescape feels like decor.

For this year’s seder, my goal was simple: create something that feels effortless, allows for conversation AND easy removal when needed, but really fills the table. The result is on-theme, with calm almost-neutral colors that is elegant, understated, but totally not boring.

I’m going to walk you through recreating this modern Passover table setting step by step. I’ll be sharing loads of tips, variations, what I used, and more insights. This is really cool because it’s assembled in minutes – it’s not really DIY but also requires enough assembly to be a bit creative.

And while it does require some budget to assemble, it also doesn’t require hundreds of dollars worth of flowers that’ll wilt the next day. In fact, ALL of the components besides for the candles are reusable for other mix-and-match centerpieces you might want to put together another time. Even the water can be used on your plants…

So let’s explore this gorgeous modern Passover table setting with a pretty reusable centerpiece that’s subtly on-theme, and totally not tacky.

Choosing this modern Passover Table Setting Centerpiece

While this looks like a generic tablescape, this moder Passover table setting – specifically the centerpiece, but also the details – is very intentional.

Symbolism

I chose olive branches as my focal point because of their significance as one of the seven species of Israel, and specifically one that is often used in Jewish practice. Grapevines can work too, but I do love the look of these olive branches from Michaels.

Fishbowl floating candle holders feature river rocks and water to symbolize the Nile river, the splitting sea, and the journey as well. Floating tea light candles give a beautiful festive vibe.

Practicality

One of the things that I really dislike about all of the centerpiece inspo that I usually find is that it’s not practical for two reasons:

1. It’s super complicated to assemble – and dismantle as needed during the meal
2. It’s too high to allow for comfortable cross-table conversation. Even vases with flowers have this effect.

My goal with this seder centerpiece was to allow it to actually stay on until the food comes out, and then allow it to be easily removable when the center of the table is needed to serve food.

This tablescape fills the table but intentionally avoids adding high obstructions. And while we could have added raised details with narrow legs that allow for conversation, I wanted it to be child-friendly too.

In this case, even the flames are in water so that families with kids can actually have candles on their table.

Reusability and Versatility

A final feature that I wanted to “change” from what I normally saw: I want it to be reusable. The various elements, while not super cheap, are not quite like getting expensive florals AND they’re all reusable. Every part of it is neutral enough to be totally revamped and reused in different ways, for other needs.

The bowls with floating candles are a feature in so many table settings, the olive stems can be repurposed in vases for table decorations or home decor, and the rocks make fabulous vase filler.

The rest of the Modern Passover Table Setting

While this modern Passover table setting is definitely centered on the centerpiece, I figured I’d set the rest of the table too and share it with you. Again, each step is intentional.

We’re starting with very standard plates and wine glasses. If I was purchasing glasses special for this, I would have gone with something more textured glass in look than crystal (like hobnail).

White plates are a great foundation for many tablescapes, and in this case, keeps things light and airy. I do have wood-texture chargers that I’ll be adding into the final ‘scape but didn’t have out yet while filming this.

The base: the tablecloth and linens

My tablecloth is a light beige color, continuing with the natural tones. It’s also reminiscent of the color of sand, and is light enough to feel truly festive.

It has a subtle linen texture and serves as a great blank canvas for many tablescapes.

I swapped off between green and pink runners for the centerpiece. I wrapped the branches mainly to hide them, and to provide a pretty base for the whole thing. I did settle on the light blush pink ones in the end, and I’m glad I did.

My napkins are frayed-edge off-white ones with a natural linen texture, again, keeping things light, classy, and full of natural texture.

Little touches: napkin rings, flatware and glasses

There are many ways to softly tie in different elements to the theme in a way that is neutral but fits. For flatware, I chose inherited floral flatware to go with the subtle Pesach-appropriate Spring touches that are naturally included in this tablescape. On Pesach, we’ll just use our Pesach flatware, but if you’re purchasing special for this, it’s a nice touch.

I used my DIY wooden napkin rings that I made, but any driftwood or light wood look goes beautifully. And while I weighed using my pink hobnail glasses, I did in the end choose our inherited glasses with olive trees in the pictures and a gold rim for interest and height.

The Pyramid Placecards

And a final surprisingly neutral touch were these Pyramid placecards. I made them using this SVG and not only do they seat everyone quickly, but they are also gorgeous and tie everything in with the beginning of the journey to the Holy Land.

I had a vision and it really came together. I am so happy with the result of this modern Passover table setting and can’t wait to set it for real – these photos were all staged while I set my Shabbat table so that I can share a practical and pretty Pesach seder centerpiece before the holiday starts.

How to Assemble the Olive Branch Centerpiece for your Modern Passover Table Setting

This will be focusing on assembling your centerpiece.

You’ll need

• Olive branches – I got these from Michaels (they are 34.5″ long – get something similar to really cover a small table, or create a few to cover a very long table). Find similar on Amazon
• A table runner – I used a pink one but also considered this green one
• River Rocks – I got these from Michaels, find similar on Amazon. I used 3 packages.
• Fishbowl vases for floating candles (they can have floater stems like my hand-me-down ones or not)
• Tea Lights
• This is the lighter I used and I do love it but a match will work too!

Watch the video

Watch the full-length video on YouTube if you prefer to learn that way! Or scroll down for written instructions with photos.

Assembly – Step by Step

1. Lay out your branches so that they sit as flat and widespread as possible, pretty sides up. Lay three in each direction with the stems overlapping in the center.

Wrap the center with a table runner. I recommend wrapping it somewhat loosely.

2. Add your river rocks to the bottom of the vase. If yours has a candle holder, they should barely touch the holder. If yours doesn’t, just fill it about halfway, or whatever looks pretty to you.

3. Cover the rocks with water. If you’re floating the candle, you’ll want to make sure you really cover it plus a few mm so that your candle will float.

4. Prelight a tea light (it’ll be easier to light inside the vase if you do this) and place it in the candle holder or float it in the water, being very careful not to get it wet.

5. After you place your vases, go ahead and light your candles.

Your Passover centerpiece is complete and you’re ready to set the rest of your modern Passover table setting!

The post Modern Passover Table Setting Idea with Floral Centerpiece appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

If you’ve followed along with my social media, you’ll know that I love setting a beautiful holiday table. I challenge myself to set things up for a gorgeous Shabbat dinner every week, in fact.

With Pesach around the bend, I wanted to try a technique that I did NOT master in the past again, and share the results, including the tricks you need to make it work. I decided to hand stamp some beautiful DIY Passover napkins using the craft foam technique.

Yes, this uses craft foam to make the stamp!

Choosing Your Materials for DIY Passover Napkins

Let’s explore the basics of what you’ll need to make these gorgeous fabric napkins, because materials really do matter here.

The base napkin

The main thing you need in your base napkin is to know that it’ll actually absorb the ink. In the past, I tried this technique on placemats, and it didn’t work. Some absorbency in the base fabric is important.

You’ll want to test one napkin before stocking up for a whole craft. The ones I used are actually flour sack towels. They make for a very generous sized napkin. Hypothetically speaking, real fabric napkins should work too, but again, you’ll want to try it first.

Will it work with paper napkins?

After I did this, I tested it on paper dinner napkins too. It worked, though it was a bit less forgiving (that is, a bit of shadowing or mistakes showed up much stronger). I do plan to make a set of paper napkins for this year too.

Since it’s a bit lower expenditure, you may want to test a few different paper napkins to see which shows up best for you. I used very soft, towel-y napkins.

The Fabric Paint

To make these DIY Passover napkins, I used Fabric Creations Soft Fabric Ink. My favorite color was wine, but you can definitely try others.

It’s a very soft ink that comes in a paint-style formula. So it absorbs into the material – rather than sitting at the surface like a craft paint would – and really becomes part of the fabric.

You can definitely play around with acrylic paints. As long as they are permanent, they should work. They will sit at the surface of the craft more, but you can also try thinning them a bit. This might dilute the color, but if you have a need, I would definitely play around and give it a try.

The stamp itself

The stamp was made from craft foam, attached with double-sided tape on a gripper/handle/base.

You can print this template (it’s down by the instructions), choose your design, and then transfer it to foam (more on that soon). Cut it out to create the outline of the stamp.

Grooves and internal engravings are made using a pen (one that doesn’t work if you have that), or anything that with a little pressure will make deep marks in the foam. These are less consistent and reliable. The more “engravings” you have, the riskier your craft is and the more work you’ll have as you go along.

If you want to turn this into a “real” stamp, you can definitely purchase actual rubber stamp tools, transfer the design, and carve it using carving tools.

To hold the foam, I used a wooden chunky cutout. I had these around my craft room and they’re easy… You can definitely make a base for your foam using scrap cardboard boxes. Just cut 3 same-size pieces from a box – they should be slightly larger than your foam cutout, and a shape you can grip preferably. Use double sided tape or hot glue to layer them up for a thicker base and then attach your foam stamp.

Tips and Tricks for stamping DIY Passover Napkins

Ready for success? Here are the results of my experimentations, and tips for getting it right on the first try.

Template Transfer Techniques

One big challenge is how to transfer the template/design to the foam. This won’t be an issue if you’re making your own designs – or just visually copying mine – and I’ll share more tips on that below.

Meanwhile, here are two ways I tried, plus more ideas, with tips.

First, I tried just cutting out the main shape, outlining that with pen to cut out later. That part is easy. The challenge was the engravings. I tried just pressing in through the paper to make marks on the foam below. That works, but because the foam is such a soft base, the paper does tear. So it works, but it’s not a neat process.

The second way was to use carbon paper. That’s been pretty foolproof for me in the past on multiple materials – including rubber stamp sheets, and acrylic like with this Tzedakah box craft. However, here, the carbon paper was so finicky. It did not transfer nicely at all. Again, it gave me a functional result – especially if I’m willing to go over it again following the design off to the side as well.

Another way – the most consistent but time consuming – is to start by cutting out and outlining your outer shape. Then, cut out each of the internal parts, place it on your foam, and trace them individually.

Keeping things clean and lines sharp

As I went along with these DIY Passover napkins, there was one very important lesson: if you want clean stamps, you need to be patient and intentional with your process.

Using a paper towel to clean around the edges of the stamp before each application really keeps things from shadowing. Using a toothpick to clean out the paint from the engravings really helps keep them sharp.

As with every craft, the amount of effort you put into it can really show. With this one, you may be able to get away with doing it quicker, but it’ll just look less neat. A bit of variation is nice and provides a handcrafted look, but too much can get messy.

Heat setting your artwork

One step that I don’t recommend that you miss: heat setting your prints at the end. This basically just means pressing it with a hot iron to seal the color. It’ll ensure the colors don’t run and that your print remains sharp.

While not 100% necessary, it’ll really help preserve your work. There are ways around it (for example, dry it on hot) but that might otherwise ruin the napkin. If this is a quick kids’ school craft, you can press it for them, or figure that they’re meant to be disposable. But if you’re investing into making yourself a nice set of napkins that you plan to use for years (or gift), do heat set them.

Making your own artwork

I always love to encourage actual creativity, and these DIY Passover napkins are begging for that. In fact, it’ll be much easier to “transfer” the template if you’re just drawing it right on.

You can use my images as idea starters and then make your own, design your own from scratch, or a mix of the two. In fact, on the matzah template, I didn’t even put the lines – I left that for you.

There are two approaches to making your own designs for this. One is to design it on a separate paper and transfer it, as if it’s a template. The other is to draw right onto the foam. I recommend the second option, but with keeping it simple. As I mentioned, template transfers on foam aren’t so easy, so you’ll be able to skip that. I drew my first wine glass right onto the foam.

And just one final note: you can use this technique to decorate the same flour sack towels as Pesach towels, pouches as Afikoman bags, and more. This technique is so fun, looks great, and opens up so many new possibilities for customized home decor.

How to make DIY Passover Napkins – step by step tutorial

Materials needed

• Base napkins – I used flour sack towels
• Rigid cardboard to put behind the napkin
• Craft foam
• Double sided tape – I recommend this for adhering your foam to your base because it will keep it nice and flat.
• Wood blocks that are a bit larger than your design but “holdable” – 4×6 is a good size OR cardboard box scraps layered together
• Fabric paint
• A flat paintbrush
• Toothpicks
• Paper towels
• Pen and optional carbon paper for template transfer/grooving. If you have a pen that doesn’t work, that’s great.
• Iron
• Pressing cloth or butcher paper
• Something to iron on (a heat-resistant mat or ironing board)
• The template – print it below

Print the Template

Download your free template! It’ll arrive right in your inbox. By downloading, you’re subscribing to our FREE newsletter with updates on cool printables like this, ideas to simplify Jewish life, and more. Unsubscribe at any time at the bottom my emails. I respect your privacy and the law, and won’t share or sell your email address.

Watch the video

Watch the full-length video on YouTube if you prefer to learn that way! Or scroll down for written instructions with photos.

Step by Step with Photos

1. Print your template on paper. Position it on your foam. Go over the design, pressing down hard with a pen. Note: for simpler designs, you can first cut the outer shape out – it’ll be easier to trace.

I recommend that you start with something easy, like this wine glass shape.

2. Press down with the pen to make a clear line for any engravings.

3. Cut around the outer shape of your design. You may need to re-trace it a bit first if it didn’t come out clear.

4. Tape your foam cutout to a base that’s easy to hold – either wood, or stacked cardboard.

5. It is highly recommended to iron your napkin before stamping it. Place a piece of cardboard or cardstock behind the napkin.

6. Paint a thin but even layer of paint on your stamp.

7. Use a toothpick in the groove to highlight the engraving.

8. I recommend testing your stamp on a scrap cloth or paper first. When you’re ready (you do need to re-paint each time), press it down on your napkin. Get it in the right spot on the first time. Press down firmly, rubbing the back of the stamp, without shifting it.

9. If you’re doing multiple stamps, keep going….Reload your stamp, clean around the stamp part, and in the groove each time.

10. When you’re done, allow it to dry totally (based on paint instructions). then, using a barrier between the iron and the design, press it to heat set it.

You’ve successfully made your own beautiful hand-stamped DIY Passover napkins! Set your table with pride!

Which Passover crafts do you want to see more of in this space? Comment below!

The post Make Your Own DIY Passover Napkins – An Easy Fabric Printing Tutorial appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

As someone who started making Pesach due to challenging times and NOT because of a personal choice, I had to learn hard and fast how to be less idealistic with Pesach cleaning and more… easy.

As the years went by and I made Pesach while moving the next day, while zoom schooling kids in my first trimester, with toddlers, I jotted down tips and pieces of “advice to self” that showed their faces as I went along. I did that in this very post and finally decided to expand on it to create a resource full of Pesach cleaning tips and hacks to make things (hopefully) easier.

The thing with tips like these is that they are VERY case sensitive and sometimes (gasp!) triggering. So take what works for you, ditch what you know won’t, and consider giving something you’re moderately skeptical about a one-time try.

Pesach Cleaning Tips for Reducing Your Pre-Pesach Workload

One of the first things to do if you’re overwhelmed with Pesach cleaning is to actually try to shrink your task list before Purim 🙂 Or after Purim but before you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and really start.

Ask your Rabbi

One of the best things we ever did was get a handout from our rabbi as to what is required and what isn’t. Disclosure: this is my personal guidance that I received, so ask your own. I am not a halachic authority and second-degree advice can be sketchy. But I want to give real examples of things you might hear, so you understand how worthwhile that phone call (or text message) is:

• We were told we only need to clean rooms where chametz is brought. In non-toddler years, this eliminates huge swaths of my house.
• We only need to clean where things might be found on Pesach ( so furniture that is never moved doesn’t have to be moved.) That turns Pesach cleaning from “turn the house upside down” to “do a slightly deeper clean.)

But be realistic about which spaces need more and will be hard to move through without. Even things that don’t HAVE to be cleaned will some years ultimately be cleaned.

Still, it’s good to know what to leave out for the years where you’re really short on time. However, I’ll still address the elephant in the room…

The Spring Cleaning Dilemma

Yes, it’s a dilemma! Passover cleaning isn’t supposed to be Spring cleaning. It’s nothing more than making sure no half-eaten toddler sandwiches or pretzel remnants remain in your living spaces. And of course, converting the kitchen.

But there are some years that you’ll want to Spring clean. In fact, every house needs a bit of a deeper cleaning every so often, and since you’re cleaning anyway, it’ll be hard to move through the house without getting a little deeper.

My mindset is also that once I’m cleaning, I might as well do it right. But then there’s the pre-Pesach stress that mounts.

My main advice is to schedule any organization projects for between Chanukah and Purim. Purge early. I do this even when I’m not planning a big spring cleaning – emptier spaces are simply easier to clean.

This can be done on a larger scale or a smaller one. For example, you can turn over your whole playroom and do a grand purge. Or, just focus on emptying the clutter that built on a specific shelf, so that a week before, you can empty, clean, and put things back in a few minutes.

The reason I suggest doing this between Chanukah and Purim is that I find that the Pesach pressure starts to mount after Purim. That’s when things get more permanently Pesach cleaned. However, after Chanukah, it’s still close enough for things to remain relatively organized – but that only works if you purge too.

Otherwise, a good approach is to start right after Purim, but with spaces that are easier to keep food-free (read: not your living room. Think upstairs bedrooms, basement playrooms…)

If your resolution to the dilemma is “no spring cleaning”, be disciplined about it. Maybe set a time for after Pesach to tackle those areas so that you aren’t tempted to do it as you clean.

Either way, I find that Spring cleaning in the winter months makes Pesach cleaning move faster.

Micro-tasking

You might only have half an hour… but half an hour plus half an hour equals an hour! On those evenings where you have a few minutes (maybe you’re stirring the pasta on the stove occasionally and need to be around) choose a micro-task. Empty a toy bin, reload it, and stash it somewhere the kids won’t get to it until that room is ready.

Even ten minute micro tasks add up. If while serving up breakfast for a week you do two toy bins every morning, that equals 12 (excluding Shabbat).

I personally thrive on micro-tasks. I find that I run out of energy before I run out of time, and micro-tasking really helps rooms seem more approachable.

Here are some things that can be micro-tasked. Some are more appropriate for earlier in the season and some for later:

• Consolidating areas you’ll be repurposing for Passover. Putting away the Shabbat cutlery, but plan to use that drawer for Passover? Put it all away where you’ll be storing it over the holiday.
• Any storage containers/bins that need cleaning and can be stowed until that room is clean.
• Bookshelves that will be cleaned (we only do the ones with the kids’ books, not Judaic sefarim.)
• Any open shelf areas that are out of kids’ reach (again, only if it needs to be cleaned).

These micro-tasks do work best in communal/living/dining areas, since you’re doing it between other tasks. If you’re able to steal away more (for example, if you don’t have young kids you can add things like closets, dresser drawers, etc. Again, probably Spring cleaning and not Pesach cleaning, but super helpful.

Delegating and roping in family

I wish there was an easier way to do this. But family help can be incredibly load-reducing. I personally don’t want Pesach to feel like a burden to my family. It’s one of my favorite holidays BECAUSE everything is so fresh and clean.

But sharing the load can be so helpful.

Rewards and incentives

My personal policy is to reward every day the kids help. In the weeks after Purim, it’s mostly Sundays. Bigger jobs (like the playroom) get bigger prizes. Smaller ones get a choice from my “prize box”.

Our prize box has had to grow up a little from the gimmick treasure chest I gave the kids but here are some ideas for quick incentives for tween/teen kids. For budgeting purposes, we go through about ten per kid throughout the Pesach cleaning season (give or take).

• Beanie Bouncers
• Stationery and other fun school supplies: tool theme pens, infinity pencils, erasable pens, gel pens, Minecraft erasers (or other favorite themes)
• Fun fidgets and squishies
• Wigglits
• Enamel pins
• Shashibo (big prize for a more intense cleaning day)
• Cool keychains: Keyboard keychains, screw robots, wristlet keychains
• Water bottle straps
• Mini brick builds
• Collector cards (Pokemon, topps…)
• Button lights
• Adhesive patches
• Coin purses, pencil pouches, journal pen holders, and other small accessories
• For my 5 year old daughter we also added collectibles/blind boxes
• Also for my daughter we added Barbie outfits and accessories
• Another for my daughter: scrunchies

I also usually give the kids a bigger reward to thank for all their help closer to Pesach. Usually it’s a Pesach-friendly toy they can play with. As they grow older, this needs to grow with them, and kids who aren’t looking at toys can get something like a new piece of jewelry, a new watch, or some other accessory as a reward.

Some ideas for Pesach-friendly toys and incentives:

• Keva planks – good for a huge range of age groups. This is what we gave them last year. It’s a timeless, “keep for the grandkids” quality toy.
• New LEGO sets (some people don’t use LEGO on Shabbat and holidays, so ask your Rabbi. We do, so this is a great choice for us).
• Plus Plus is another fun, open-ended building toy
• Clixo is a Jewish-owned magnetic building toy that my kids love
• New games. Some recent (non-muktzah) favorites include Tummple, Floats McGoats, Smart Games single-player puzzle games, and Quirkle
• An experience: gift them a super cool Chol Hamo’ed trip as a reward! This only works if you’re not doing the same for Sukkot
• We usually also give the kids a couple of new Jewish books as a reward for their help.

More ideas for Passover cleaning incentives can be post-cleaning ice cream parties, evening outings/dates, and other things like that that include the kids in positive experiences associated with cleaning.

Doing it together

Another tip is not to just hand off tasks to the kids. Doing it together can turn cleaning into a family experience, time spent together, especially in today’s digital world when we have so little of it.

While this can work for some things, and others may need to be handed off, using this as a tool when you can creates positive memories around Pesach cleaning.

Making the task fun

What do YOU do to make boring tasks interesting? Do you turn on music, listen to a podcast, dance while doing it? This is an opportunity for hands-on training with kids, to teach them how to get through boring things.

Cleaning the outside of the car might be totally unnecessary, but every kid loves a good car wash! So make that part of cleaning the car…

Do you have a fun cleaning gadget that the kids love? Go ahead and encourage them to use it, even if it’s unnecessary for the job! For my kids, it’s the spin brush and the Green Machine.

Tips and gadgets that make things easier

I’m gonna get hate for this: more stuff? But there are some tools that I love that I thought I’d share with you, in case it’ll make your life easier. You don’t need every cleaning gadget out there. But if there’s one here that directly solves a problem, I’m so glad to have helped!

Some favorites:

• This spin scrubber helps me really get things clean with less elbow grease
• I love this flat mop and bucket – it is easier to lug around the different parts of the house.
• The Green Machine is great for when you want to wash upholstery. It does an excellent job at applying the soap and suctioning it out. We combine it with a spin scrubber for a full clean.
• I have yet to own a good steam cleaner, but I know my friends swear by it!
• Another thing my friend taught me: if you don’t like using harsh/dangerous cleansers, try Dawn Powerwash. It does a good job of cutting through grease without the chemicals. I do find it a bit sudsy and hard to wipe off (it’s meant for washing off of dishes), but it works well.

Pesach Cleaning Tips for Getting Organized

A good plan really helps things along. Having things marked down, having a good timeline and plan, is so much more settling than flying by the seat of your pants.

And while it does take time to get organized, it can save time in the long run. Plus, it takes down time to get organized – not active time.

The big cleaning list

The first thing you want is a good, solid list. My mother has shared her Pesach cleaning checklist here in the past and allowed me to offer it as a free download for you to work off of. It is extremely helpful, as it is a single-page at-a-glance list you can mount in a prominent spot. It’s a customizable doc so you can make it suit your home and Pesach cleaning goals.

One of my favorite things about using a checklist is the satisfaction of checking off what you did. And this one really accommodates micro tasking as it whittles things down to the details. It also gives you the satisfaction of making more checks!!

The main goal of the checklist is really just to keep track of what you’ve done, get a feel for what still needs to be done, and to make sure you don’t miss anything.

Make a timeline/calendar

Well in advance of Pesach, make a timeline for your cleaning. Work backwards from Pesach. Figure out some cooking days closer to.

Then, pencil in cleaning tasks based on how much time you normally have on that given day. If you’re stuck with Sundays only, schedule a few morning hours and a few late afternoon hours (with a good break for lunch). I’m scheduling smaller 1-2 hour tasks for the few Friday afternoons before Pesach.

Be realistic about your own capabilities, and leave leeway for incidentals that come up (such as sick kids…)

The Pesach Planner

And finally, there’s nothing like a good planner to have everything in one place, remember things from year to year, and write down notes for the next year. I designed a planner special for this – that is Pesach Planned.

This is a printable planner that you can use year after year, reprinting the pages you need as you need them.

You WILL need to set up the initial planner, and then spend that time scheduling and planning. But I found it to be a small time investment that pays off by leaps and bounds, because once I have a good schedule, I waste less time doing things in an impractical order.

Pesach Cleaning Tips for turning over the kitchen and the final stages

Navigating those final days before Pesach can be really challenging. You don’t want to be eating Kosher for Passover forever before, but you also need enough time to do everything you need done… And it can take a long time to setup that kitchen!

These Pesach cleaning tips will help you navigate the final stages of readying your home for Pesach.

Don’t do the Kitchen Last

It seems practical to do the kitchen last – once you do the kitchen, there’s no more Chametz, right? Wrong. At least for some people…

Know your lifestyle and think outside the box. Decide on the order that works best for you. I started doing the dining room last a couple of years back and never looked back.

You most likely have appliances that can easily be moved to the dining room for Chametz purposes. Your kids will want to eat Chametz until the last second. So you might as well flip over earlier, be able to start cooking, and do the last areas on Bedikat Chametz day. The kids are home then, they can help wipe down chairs, and they’ll be happy to eat bread for longer.

Just make sure you have a good plan. I do include pre-holiday menu plan pages in Pesach Planned. This takes a lot of the burden off of the last minute. Think of things you can make in the toaster oven, air fryer, and Betty Crocker, jot it down, and have a plan. Some examples:

• Breaded fish, fish sticks
• Pizza
• Schnitzel
• Nachos

And you can supplement some non-Chametz parts of the meal from the kitchen, too.

Skip emptying cabinets

Swapping over the kitchen takes a LONG time – and so does moving everything back. But you don’t need to empty cabinets – or at least not as many as you think. Here are a couple of strategies to cut back on that.

Alternate storage

Forget emptying multiple cabinets to make space for Pesach stuff. Just get plastic drawers or freestanding cabinets to use as pantry and dishes storage instead.

I have never done this, but it’s on my to do list to try. I know people who do it and swear by it. Keep everything where they belong. Lock up all your cabinets. Set up a couple of freestanding cabinets or plastic drawers wherever you have space, and let that be your Pesach stuff storage.

You might not need as much space as you think

I find that there are certain space-intensive things that are really only used in the days before Pesach, but not throughout the holidays. Some examples are:

• The food processor. I usually do all the processor dishes on a designated day.
• The big stock pots – those are used to batch produce dishes.
• Any duplicates that are used for batch cooking.

A lot of ingredients are purchased in large quantities, most of which will be turned into food by the time the holiday comes.

A strategy I use so that all I need to empty is one (large pantry-style) cabinet and one drawer: as I finish with these things I move them downstairs. Until then, they are out and in-use. They are not in storage for those days before Pesach. I do a big pre-Pesach clean, but that large pot is on the stove, the food processor on the counter, and ingredients that I know I’ll be using shortly is also on a corner of the counter.

I dump them in my (now empty) Pesach boxes and then when the rest of the Pesach stuff join them after the holiday, I organize those too.

I also only take up the seder things when we’re ready to set the table, and put them right away in the box after the seder. Those don’t need designated kitchen storage at all.

Hack a Pesach “kitchen” so you can eat Chametz longer…

A couple of years ago, I set up an improvised makeshift Pesach kitchen in my basement. It was a game-changer. I was able to prepare things like dips, kugels, meats, and soups in advance. We peeled piles of garlic to have ready to use in that space.

It wasn’t really hard. You DO need a space with a sink that you can use (and you can set this up relatively cheap near existing plumbing if you don’t already have it).

I used my craft room (which is technically a kitchen but not functionally). It has a sink. You need a work surface – which can be a folding table or two. A laundry room can work. I kashered the faucet and got an insert for the sink. It stays Kosher for Pesach since it’s not used for food year-round.

I cook using appliances – crockpots, pizza makers for high temp roasting, and I hope to one day add a decent countertop toaster/convection oven so that I can do some baking.

I really hope that you’ve found some Pesach cleaning tips and hacks in this post that work for you – for your family, your home, your needs. Remember: Pesach is very personal. Between minhagim (customs), family size and age, available help, how many guests you’re having, home/space, finances – making Pesach looks radically different for everyone.

Don’t get frustrated or overwhelmed if it seems so much easier for others. Everyone is dealt a different package, and you need to make the best of yours. Happy cleaning and Chag Sameach!

The post Pesach Cleaning Tips & Hacks appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

I grew up in a home with a gorgeous wood Sukkah that my parents built themselves (yes, they still have the same one!) I always took for granted how easy it was to hang decorations in the Sukkah.

Many years later and my first (and current) Sukkah is actually a canvas one! Canvas Sukkahs are possibly the most challenging to hang things in.

I decided to share with you some ideas for hanging all sorts of posters and decorations in different types of Sukkahs.

While this post is focused heavily on the HOW to hang Sukkah decorations, if you’re looking for WHAT to hang, I’ve shared that in the past! You can check out my favorite DIY Sukkah decorations for every age group or my favorite cool Sukkah decorating ideas in general.

How to hang posters in the Sukkah

This section focuses exclusively on wall decor, one of the most challenging things to hang in slightly different Sukkahs.

When hanging, keep in mind the weight of your decoration. A large poster can get quite bulky. A small kids’ craft that’s a paper size is usually lighter. Foam board creations are light but bulky, and wood panel crafts, like these Sukkah welcome signs or this pomegranate string art can be their own challenge.

Things that are breakable need to be more secure. It’s kind of expected that a few things might fall here and there, but you don’t want that with heavier or breakable items. With all that in mind, here are some of my favorite tips for how to hang decorations in a Sukkah of every type.

Hanging things on the walls of a wood Sukkah

• Use picture hanging hardware or nails for anything with a natural hook on the back. Heavier items can be reinforced with a mounting tape (see below).
• Use binder clips on nails for flat items like posters. This is a great solution for nails that are left in the wall from previous wall art.

• Use thumb tacks to hang flat items – you’ll need to hammer them in. This is one of the most secure methods and you may even want to leave items in place from year to year because they can be challenging to get out!

• Or, go a bit prettier with fun push pins. This will work with softer woods (you can’t really hammer these)

• You can even go with push pin hooks that you leave in place from year to year, just hanging the decorations!

Another great method for hanging heavier items is to attach two screw-in eye hooks to the top/back of the art and a string between them. Hang it from a nail but wind the string around the nail a few times to reinforce it. It’ll have a bit more hold than a simple alligator hook.

Ideas if you don’t want to put holes in your Sukkah walls:

• Try nano gel tape – that super strong but non-permanent mounting tape that’s super popular! look for a waterproof variety and test it with heavier items in advance. It may pull off some paint finishes so again, test it in an area you don’t care about.

• Another option with the same caveat as above: outdoor-friendly command tape. This mounting tape is often used indoors for pictures and there’s no reason that a water-resistant variety wouldn’t work outdoors as well.
• On that note, command hooks are a great option instead of nails. Again, make sure to get a variety that is water resistant, and graded for the weight of your artwork.

• Velcro strips are a great way to create a “template” to add removable posters. They’re not necessarily “renter-friendly” so again, test ahead of time.
  

Plastic Sukkah decorating tips

Those plastic Sukkah walls come in so many varieties, it’s hard to come up with a one-size-fits-all solution! Some have ribbed walls making it even harder to hang things. Here are some ideas, and I hope you find one that works well for you!

Similar to wood you can try:

• Nano gel tape – you’ll have less of a problem of stripping paint, unless yours has an external printed finish. On ribbed finishes, it may work but it might be a bit less secure.

• Command tape – again, mounting tape can be a great solution. If it leaves residue, you can always try Goo Gone. You have the same caveat with ribbed finishes.
• Velcro strips – These will probably work even better even if your Sukkah is ribbed! It Should be able to catch and hold if it’s not crazy heavy, even if it’s in increments.

• You can also try making use of the metal supports if your plastic Sukkah has those! Magnets come in the form of clips and hooks, and you may be able to glue some magnets directly onto the decorations themselves. Be careful with magnets around kids; they are extremely dangerous if swallowed. And they may blow down in extreme weather, but that’s somewhat expected.

• You can also try suction hooks on smooth walls – but get good ones!

Hanging Wall Decor in a Canvas Sukkah

Yes, this is the sukkah of my own experience, and it can definitely be a challenge! But we’re all up for that challenge.

Most of my ideas will use the poles or roof/schach:

• One of my favorite methods of hanging all the kids decorations is using a beaded clothesline tied from pole to pole.

• Hang posters or other wall art from the ceiling using invisible fishline to “drop” it to wall-level.
• You can use strong magneticnclips and hooks from the pole frames – especially the upper ones, if they show. This is a bit more awkward but it’s a way to do it without tying or finagling anything. Again, magnets are extremely dangerous if your toddler finds them. And it won’t be as secure as tying methods
• You can also hang decorations against the walls from poles using most of the ceiling/schach hanging methods below.

If you want to hang it from the walls, there are ways, but you’ll be adding weight to the canvas. Make sure the poles can handle it.

• Something that I haven’t yet tried personally: you can use large safety pins to pin items to the canvas wall, but it’ll be a bit more challenging, and it can tear cardstock posters.

• If you feel like a bit more DIY: Grommet kits can be used to to add reinforced hanging holes to canvas walls. You’ll want to do this in pairs and thread a ribbon or something to hang your posters from. Be careful not to add too much weight to your canvas this way.
  
• You can also try magnets on both sides of the canvas but be careful if you have young kids around – strong magnets are extremely dangerous if swallowed.

How to hang things from the Schach (Sukkah Roof)

The schach – or roof – is one of the easier ways to hang decorations in a sukkah! Here are some favorite methods.

• My favorite is zip ties – it’s the easiest – and so affordable! You’ll need to cut the decorations off when it’s over, and make sure to trim the ends.

• Ribbon or string is the most obvious method of hanging things from schach.

• And once again, you can use fishing line for that invisible suspension look. This is great for lower suspended items.
• Rubber Bands – These can be used to wrap things onto poles by doubling it over through a hole on the decoration and looping both ends over the end of the bamboo pole.

If you want a less disposable solution, try these:

• If you’re looking for something easy and aesthetic, try metal S-hooks. They won’t be as secure if it’s windy but they’ll look great.

• You can also use shower curtain rings. They may slide around a bit but they add a fun decorative touch.

More tips for hanging decorations in the Sukkah

• Try group hanging methods to make things go faster. For example: a bulletin board with multiple items pinned on.

• Test things in advance so you don’t end up with a Sukkot surprise!

• Clean your base first with rubbing alcohol when using adhesive methods. Otherwise, the dust and oils there get in the way of the adhesive. Alcohol evaporates faster, making it ideal for cleaning, but if you need to clean large surfaces, you can mix it with water.

• When searching for supplies, search for outdoor or “water resistant” options.

• Understand that in especially stormy seasons, things just might not stay perfect if you decorate as you want.

• Trim down any loose ends – ribbons, zip ties, etc – for a neater look.

• Hang heavier items strategically, and add extra fasteners.

Got any more tips for how to hang decorations in a Sukkah? Comment below!

The post How to hang decorations in a sukkah appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

One of the coolest things about the internet is that there is a solution there for virtually anything.

If you’re looking for a printable or cut file for just about anything in life you’ll probably find it… unless it’s a Jewish thing.

One of my goals is to provide resources for Jewish homes that might not exist, and so the “DIY” version of kosher kitchen labels was a must.

To make things more accessible, I created both free and paid versions of this product. All are linked at the end of this post, but if you want quick access to the full bundle, you can get it here:

About the Kosher Kitchen Labels

I try to make my resources work for as many people as possible, so I created a few versions. That includes the various “vernacular” used to describe the categories of dishes.

I included Hebrew (Chalavi, Besari and Parve) , English in two styles (Dairy, Meat, Parve), and Yiddish (Milchig, Fleishig, and Parve).

I created each one as both an SVG to cut from vinyl and a PDF to print on printable vinyl for a good quality sticker or as paper signs.

I also included white background PNG files for you to lay out your own desired sizes and print as you wish, as well as to Print then Cut using your Cricut.

And since some people are on a tighter budget, I do offer the PDF version of the script/English Kosher Kitchen labels as a free download at the end of this post!

Different ways to use these Kosher Kitchen labels

There are so many practical uses for Kosher kitchen labels but here are a few of my favorite.

Printables

Printables are designed to be printed on any kind of paper, but my favorite is glossy vinyl. This can be washed and is quite permanent if adhered to a clean adhesive-friendly surface (so nothing non-stick).

You can hand or machine cut these – whichever you prefer. I didn’t want to limit these to a printable label template so I kept it to a sticker sheet.

Cheaper sticker sheets tend to have poorer adhesive and paper surfaces. They are a good match for longer term storage (such as on boxes for moving or packing away for Passover) but not for dishes.

If you want to label actual cabinets, I recommend digging deeper into what won’t damage paint. I would probably just print it in small on cardstock (or photo paper for a glossy finish) and use Command products to mount it.

SVG/cut files

The SVG files are the real win here, and the reason I really created these kosher kitchen labels.

Just a note: when using an SVG file, the color will depend on the materials ued.

I have two identical mixing bowls in meat and dairy, and so I used blue vinyl to label the dairy one as dairy. I used red vinyl to label my meat mugs as such (we drink tea after meat meals in them).

I used my Cricut to cut out the vinyl and transferred it to the back using transfer tape.

They both have held up to multiple dishwasher runs. I used Cricut permanent vinyl for both and let it sit for a while before using.

You can also use these in laser engravers if you’re that fancy. I’ve engraved wood mixing spoons with the meat/dairy designation so that I don’t forget. I hope to engrave more metal items around the house, too.

Download the Kosher Kitchen Labels

Get the full bundle

The kosher kitchen labels are available for a few bucks in my Etsy shop. Purchasing premium products from me enables me to keep doing what I do, to give more focus to my Jewish blog, creating authentically Jewish resources for homes, educators, and parents.

Get the free sample

Download your free printable Kosher kitchen labels! It’ll arrive right in your inbox. By downloading, you’re subscribing to our FREE newsletter with updates on cool printables like this, ideas to simplify Jewish life, and more. Unsubscribe at any time at the bottom my emails. I respect your privacy and the law, and won’t share or sell your email address.

The post Kosher Kitchen Labels: Meat, Dairy, Parve appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

Last year, I found myself with a young eater in the house, home for the entire Passover, and with sleepover guests for the whole holiday… and I knew I had to be able to start cooking ahead.

While other holidays are easier to do ahead – the months before include doubling Shabbat foods, or preparing components and freezing, Pesach presents the extra challenge of needing the kitchen to be Kosher for Passover first.

The typical solution for the Jewish housewife would be to simply get ready early and Kasher the kitchen a week (or even two!) ahead of the holiday.

But with a baby eating solids, but without the skills to eat the full gamut of foods, I knew I couldn’t turn over my kitchen that early… So my solution? Set up a makeshift Passover kitchen – in my craft room!

Note: I did take photos, however, I wasn’t necessarily planning on sharing so they’re kind of bad photos. It’s all I’ve got right now and I want you to see it so apologies in advance if the food doesn’t look so fabulous- I promise it was!

My craft room, located in my basement, used to be a kitchen. Most Jewish mothers who are not me would likely have used it as a Passover kitchen upon moving in. But I clearly needed a craft room more badly.

The question was: can I make it into a makeshift Pesach kitchen for the times I needed it?

While mine was based in a kitchen originally, the ideas and tips I’m going to share with you here can be done anywhere – with one caveat.

How to set up a Makeshift Pesach kitchen anywhere in the house

Just as a heads up: I will be referencing Pesach law in this post. I am not a rabbinical source – please do not follow my advice here in contradiction to your own customs. I am simply sharing what I did based on rabbinic guidance that we received.

Please verify your personal rabbinical sources for how to best do any Kashering.

The sink

The biggest caveat of a makeshift Pesach kitchen: you need a sink. I haven’t found a way around this. You’ll need to clean up, and you won’t want to wait any extra time to do this.

My best tip: choose to set up in an area in the house that has a sink that isn’t regularly used for Chametz food. The best example would be a laundry room (or anywhere with a laundry slop sink. If you have a nice, deep bathroom sink that you can use, try that.

And if you don’t? If this is something you think you might do regularly, you might want to install a simple slop sink in a place that is practical from a plumbing perspective- nothing fancy. It’ll cost a bit more for initial setup so this post might not be for you – but it’s definitely a fraction of actually putting in a Pesach kitchen and will not swallow up that space permanently.

Another option: use the bathtub. You’ll need a basin (maybe a baby bath with a drain hole if you need something larger?) to soak and wash your dishes in.

We kashered the faucet just that once (and proceeded to leave it Kosher for Passover year-round). For the sink, we just got an insert (as our Rabbi advised is permissible) and scrubbed the sink itself as best as we could.

The appliances

While my ex-kitchen craft room does have an ancient oven in it, it may or may not work, and is currently disconnected and serves as a glorified shelf/space hog. So it’s not functional.

I relied entirely on appliances. Yes, that thing. So here are the ones I personally used and their general functions. I’m going to go into greater detail as to exactly what I made in each one, but for now I want to provide general functions for those of you who need it.

I’m also going to share an additional list of ideas that I may add in future years, and that you may prefer to use.

Betty Crocker Pizza Maker

The Betty Crocker pizza maker serves as a high temp oven – it cooks things at about 425, based on my estimates.

It’s great for roasting things, and for making things that are easy to contain in a 9 inch – or even a little larger if it’s round – pan. You can also cook things directly inside, or use 12 inch parchment circles for easier cleanup.

You do need to supervise the cooking closely in this. I set off my smoke detector due to too many juices being released and some of it charring on the surface.

7 Quart Slow cooker

As suggested, the 7 quart slow cooker... slow cooks things. It’s great for any recipe that requires slow simmering on the cooktop, or cooking low and slow in the oven (yes, meats, I’m talking about you.)

I do recommend just getting this large size because the point of it is kind of to be able to prep, freeze, and maybe even batch.

2 Quart Slow Cooker

The small 2 quart slow cooker is the original slow cooker I had for Passover at home with few kids… and I make so much use of it in general – but especially in my makeshift Pesach kitchen.

First of all, it’s as cheap as buying a pot, and worth having handy if you can store it.

But also, it gives you another thing to use for your makeshift Pesach kitchen, to slow cook, sautee, and braise (with the help of the Betty Crocker) smaller recipes. It shouldn’t make a main slow cooker, but is a great bonus.

Food processor

While not for cooking, a food processor is a must in any Passover kitchen, and one of the first things I pulled out in my makeshift Pesach kitchen.

While this won’t be the only use this gets, as some things get batch produced and need more efficient baking, it really helps to get some food processor recipes out of the way.

More appliances I might add

• A toaster oven – one thing I wished I had when using my makeshift Pesach kitchen was the ability to bake ahead. Baking is a classic freeze-ahead item (in-fact, I often make an allowance of time before the holiday when all baking must be done – usually not in the week before!) A good toaster oven with a stable temperature can allow you to bake. One drawback is the minimal space – since baking is often time sensitive.
  I recommend deciding in advance if you prefer one with better temperature control and more settings vs. one that’ll fit a 9×13 inch pan.
• An electric burner – since some recipes need to really be cooked at a normal temperature, it can be helpful to have the option of an electric burner.
• A multi-cooker – While I’m not big on these for general use, for a makeshift Pesach kitchen it would definitely offer more options.

About Storage

I did NOT have a decent storage solution, and if you have the space and are willing to invest a bit more into this, I do recommend setting up a pantry-style cabinet near where you do this! I might have space for that once I get rid of the old defunct oven…

And instead of moving things around a lot, lock that cabinet up year-round and let that be where you store those items after Pesach too.

Another option is having the basic dry ingredients in a set of plastic drawers that you can then tote to the main kitchen after you Kasher. I may do that next time.

Refrigeration

Both ingredients and cooked foods will need refrigeration or freezer space. Again, if doing this more long-term, with plans to repeat it year after year, you can invest in a small refrigerator to use in the interim.

I use such a fridge in my basement guest room year-round and made use of it for early Pesach food as well.

I recommend having one or two shelves of your freezer ready for prepared foods. You can also dedicate a produce drawer in your main fridge for Kosher for Passover perishables.

The workspace

My place was set up as a kitchen with a small strip of counter. I cleaned it (again, it’s not ever used for food) and covered it (because it likely once was used for food) with a plastic tablecloth.

When I do this again in the future, I’d definitely look into getting a more rigid surface (my tablecloth melted on the Betty Crocker!), or coating the counter with resin (since I won’t be using it for food during the year, I’ll only need to do it once.)

I also used a small folding table as additional workspace. This table actually lives in my craft space. However, if you’re working without preexisting work surfaces, this is still the perfect solution. Just get a couple of folding tables as your “counter space”. And if you feel like you need something counter height, and are willing to get a little more, you can even get a rollaway or foldable island.

What I prepared in my no-oven no-range makeshift Pesach kitchen

So let’s go through some actual case studies of what I made that was SO worth doing in the makeshift Pesach kitchen.

Meats

“Low and slow” meat recipes are perfect fits for cooking in the slow cooker in a makeshift Pesach kitchen! They come out soft and delicious, and are totally freezer friendly. And since they tend to occupy your oven at the wrong temp for way too long, it’s so helpful to have these out of the way.

I cooked a roast with mushrooms and onions – but I added the mushrooms fresh when I reheated it. It came out insanely good.

I also put in a corned beef without any added ingredients and cooked it until it was falling apart. I reheated it with the glaze.

You can also prepare the base for pulled beef and freeze that, or try any meat that is best cooked at low temperatures and for a long time.

Dips

I made dips in my makeshift Pesach kitchen two ways.

I made this delicious roasted red pepper dip (BIG hit) by roasting the ingredients in the Betty Crocker. This did let out a lot of liquid – next time I’d roast the veggies in a round pan. The same goes for the incredible tomato garlic dip that I made.

I also made a garlic confit and eggplant dip in the small slow cooker. The garlic confit was just garlic with lots of olive oil and seasoning. The eggplant dip started out as an eggplant garlic confit but then I decided to try blending it into a dip – and it was INSANELY good. I wish I’d created a recipe, and may try again at another time.

Both are super easy.

I made all of my dips in the makeshift Pesach kitchen, because that’s kind of an “extra” (and one that we do use a lot of) so it had to be done in advance. I also made garlic tapenade (food processor only) and some others.

Kugels

I made this cauliflower pastrami kugel in the Betty Crocker. Since kugels tend to cook at high temps (I usually bake mine at 425 for a crispy outside and soft inside) they are a great choice.

And since they are a bit more work and tend to freeze well, they are the perfect candidate for advance prep.

The only drawback is that kugels are often made in larger batches. For potato kugel, I recommend using this small batch potato kugel recipe. For recipes like this vegetable kugel recipe, you can just halve it and approximate a bit as needed, or bake it in batches as needed since it won’t brown if it sits in the fridge a bit.

Soups

Many soups seem to improve when frozen, and so why not make them in advance? The most flavorful soups often simmer for a while so they’re perfect for making in a slow cooker.

If you need to roast veggies in advance, you can use the Betty Crocker as well.

I made a sauteed veggie soup in advance using the large slow cooker.

Components

Having a space set up allows you to prep things – even if you’re not cooking it right away.

You can squeeze lemons for recipes, peel garlic (especially if you’re cooking it in a way that won’t matter if it’s frozen), and even sautee onions ahead for recipes.

I sauteed my onions in the large slow cooker. I actually used the slicing blade on my food processor to prepare them, and then popped them into the slow cooker.

It needs minimal supervision – just checking in on it occasionally and stirring.

I then froze flat them in small Ziploc bags for quick defrosting and an easy-to-pull-out savory addition to many recipes.

Desserts

While I couldn’t bake, there are many things you can make without popping them in the oven.

You can make frozen desserts in Kosher for Passover pie crusts, or any homemade ice cream, mousse, sorbet that doesn’t need to be baked.

I ended up doing all my desserts closer to, thanks to having had done enough in advance to accommodate that, but I feel like I could have done a decent chunk ahead.

More tips for setting up a makeshift Pesach kitchen

The truth is that there are so many different ways to do this. While I can share how I did it, you’ll need to do it however works best for you.

There is a range of appliances that are in the under $100 range (or even under $50) that is extensive and you can choose a few of those to work with.

Here are a few general tips for your makeshift Pesach kitchen:

• Be generous with your workspace, as generous as you can.
• You can go smaller, you can go bigger. You can set up something that’s more permanent (but without installing an actual kitchen or real appliances) or keep it very makeshift.
• Make a good plan. Map out what you’ll cook when for each appliance, so you can have all your appliances used effectively for each cooking session.
• Spend a good few hours just setting things up. And I’m not even talking about the initial setup of the workspace. I mean organizing your supplies, your cooking tools, your ingredients.
• Have a good drying rack with plenty of space.
• Be realistic about what is worth cooking in a makeshift setup. Avoid things with multiple complicated steps and stick to the simpler things. You’ll find that taking care of things that are simpler earlier will free up a bit of time for the fresher detail work…

You can set up a makeshift Pesach kitchen even WITHOUT cooking appliances, and get things like uncooked dips, frozen desserts, peeling garlic, and other basic prep done, giving you an extra day or two of kitchen time – you just need a place to work and a Pesach-ready place to wash dishes (such as the tub with basin).

You can go high or low with this, choose one appliance or go with as many as possible, or just use the ones you own anyway.

Whatever you do, happy prepping and chag sameach!

Got any tips to add for setting up a makeshift Pesach kitchen? Comment below!

The post How to Set up a Makeshift Pesach Kitchen when you don’t Actually Have One appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

These sanity-saving must haves for Passover include both ways to make your Passover prep easier – and ideas to make sure you don’t forget those easy-to-forget items that need replacing! When you’re done, make sure you download the full Passover master shopping list to make your list-making so much easier! This post contains affiliate links and some gifted products.

I’m here to make your Pesach prep as easy as I can make it, so I’m sharing some of the top Passover must haves on my own list.

Some of these are things you actually really need but might forget about. And some of them are just affordable (mostly) gadgets and gear to help your cleaning and food prep go smoother.

Then there are those things you think you may need but can totally ditch. I try to share a few of those here as well, so that you can figure out where to prioritize your budget.

Scan this list for new ideas, for things you need to add to your master list, or for just-this-year items that you know you’ll forget!

Please note that traditions vary. Mine follow a looser but halachically-minded Orthodox tradition. So obviously, ask your Rabbi or do as you do – this list of Passover must-haves is just to provide you with ideas and insights to make things easier!

Must Haves for Passover for Babies & Toddlers

If you have a baby or toddler, you likely have some feeding supplies you’ll be needing in Kosher for Passover version. This is the one thing that I forget almost every time – and find myself scrambling the day before for!

Things to remember to get!

Baby Bottles

As a mother of a toddler, I know I should be letting go of bottles soon, but yes, he’s still using them, and Passover is the WORST time to try to change things for him.

Comotomo makes soft silicone bottles with natural shaped nipples. They come in newborn and larger bottles, with multiple nipple levels, and have air vents to prevent colic.

I love that the wide open mouth means that we can skip the bottle brush this year.

Pacifiers

While not everyone needs to replace this, for those of us who pop ours into the dishwasher to sterilize them (or even the chametz sink)… well, I was told to have fresh ones for Passover.

Baby J uses only the round nipple ones (and yes, I’ve introduced it to some pacifier reluctant family members who were sold!) BIBS makes these in the coolest color – and yes, they have other shapes too for the babies that need those! J prefers the natural rubber latex nipples on the BIBS round pacifiers, and I recommend them too!

Sippy Cups

Again, switching up the toddler’s… anything really, should not be done Passover time and so we’re choosing to restock our sippy cups then too! I use the weighted straw kind, and find that Dr. Brown’s has a much slower flow than others, which works best for us.

I also find that some of the weighted straws aren’t flexible enough – and Dr. Brown’s really does work in both sitting and lying positions.

Silcone Bibs

Yes, you want the same good bibs you use throughout the year for Passover – to protect those brand new beautiful holiday outfits! Do it! I always tell myself I’ll just wash some fabric bibs for that one week… and watch all those brand new stuff turn colorful.

KeaBabies 2-packs come at an affordable price point in gorgeous colors. It’s a silicone bib with a catch tray – and the closure is very secure, so even a stubborn toddler like mine can’t pull it off easily.

Things I personally skip

• Baby spoons – unless I find them at the Dollar Tree because it’s less specific and they can go without it for a bit.
• The same goes for special plates, etc. They can just live without it over Passover.
• Burp bibs aren’t used for food so we treat them like clothing.

Must Haves for Passover Cleaning

Cleaning the whole house is HARD WORK and for those of us who AREN’T getting that extra cleaning help, spending a small fraction of what that would cost on more functional cleaning tools can make a big difference.

Here are some favorites.

Must-have cleaning gear for Passover

Casabella Power Spin Scrubber

Last year, while cleaning my living room, I noticed just how bad the rug had gotten. I was honestly sure a Cheerio would surprise me in middle of Passover from its depths. So I took it outside with some scrubby drill attachments on one freezing cold Friday and cleaned it.. beautifully.

And my back had a fit for the next week or so.

The Casabella Power Spin Scrubber is great for all sorts of applications – those places that need a little more elbow grease (the scrubber’s – not yours). Those hard-to-reach spots, or even more so, the places where you’ll be endlessly bending and turning into awkward positions.

It extends quite far and comes with a few attachments for different needs. If you’ll be using it in your kitchen and bathroom, you can also dedicate specific attachments for specific uses to keep things hygienic.

We’ve been using it for a few months around the house already and will definitely be using it to clean the carpet this year!

Casabella Clean Water Flat Mop Bucket

A mop and bucket system that “organizes” your water, keeping clean with clean and dirty with dirty seems like a fairytale, but yes, it exists! And it exists in such an easy-to-use system that stores so well!

The Casabella Clean Water Flat Mop Bucket is a flat mop with pad that features a bucket that squeegies out the dirty water into a separate section. When you dip your mop, you get clean water (which you can feed from one compartment) and the dirty water squeegies out separately.

The dirty water has a covered spout for easy emptying. And my favorite part is that the whole mop can be dismantled and fit right into the bucket, which is compact enough to go under my sink – literally the only spot on the main floor of the house where I have space to store a mop and bucket system.

As I am Passover cleaning the whole house, having a system like this is a game-changer for my back and my morale. It’s easier to carry around, easy to store closer to where I need it, and actually cleans and doesn’t just smear around dirty water.

Dyson Vacuum

I mostly kept this list to affordable items, but I can’t create a “Passover must-haves” list without sharing the game-changing vacuum that yes, I have been using for about eight years!

It’s hard to find a vacuum that lasts that long (and we did need to replace an easy $30 part that cracked at one point). It’s also very easy to carry around and use, with no cords holding me back and it works so much better than any other vacuum cleaner I’ve owned.

Things to skip

• Any corded mops, steam cleaners – etc. Yes, this is controversial, but I don’t understand why anything used around the home would be corded! It’s just so much harder to use!
• Magic eraser – If you need to magic eraser it, you probably don’t need to worry about it…
• Dusters – Dust isn’t chametz. Period. If it bothers you, vacuum it.

Must Haves for Passover Kashering

You’re going to Kasher your kitchen – and you may be covering it too! Here are some must haves for Passover that’ll help you switch over that kitchen.

Things we’re totally using

No Residue Duct Tape

My friend introduced me to this last year – and it’s a game changer! We used it to cover the edges of the counters and yes, it pulled right off, with no residue. It’s great for wherever you need to create a waterproof seal, but don’t want residue.

(We kashered our counter tops with hot water but didn’t want to make a crazy mess so we covered the edges with this tape – it was a flawless system).

Note: I doubt it would stop at pulling off paint from painted surfaces – I wouldn’t use it there.

Foil tape

Foil tape is what we use around the stovetop – however, please beware that it WILL pull off paint! Ask me how I know!!

Things we skip

• Covers and inserts – since our tradition is to Kasher OR cover (and not both) we’re totally skipping all those inserts. I’m sharing this here because every year I buy fridge and cabinet covers and then remember that if it’s cleaned well, our Rabbi has said that it’s not needed. And who isn’t cleaning these areas well anyway?
• Counter tape – I used to use this before my introduction to no residue duct tape – and I found the duct tape to be a better option (though pricey).

Must Haves for Passover Food Prep

So much time is spent in the kitchen both before and after Passover – more than all the holidays combined (or so it feels like).

Sometimes, simple tools can make a world of a difference and here are some favorites.

Things we’ll be using

GoodCook Pro fruit and veggie divider

In my notes from last year, I have “get cutting tools for next year”. There is so much cutting and dicing that happens that to me, anything that helps with minimizing the fruit and veggie prep is a game-changer.

GoodCook makes a few such aids all at very affordable price points, but I like this one because of how compact it stores – and we all know that Passover storage is a hot commodity. I wanted to see how it works with potatoes specifically, since… well, you know why. I did have to cut down potatoes to fit but then it cut them quickly further into wide French fry shapes. It sliced through smoothly and easily.

It can fit whole baby potatoes, cucumbers, and more and is surprisingly wide. It can cut grape tomatoes quickly for a salad, turn veggies into snacking sizes, and basically feed your family in half the time…

Serrated peeler for tomatoes

While it’s not our custom, some families have the tradition to peel all fruit and veggies for Passover – or not use them! Just imagine what that looks like with tomatoes. If this is your custom, I highly recommend you look into getting a serrated peeler.

I bought this for my mom a couple of years ago (since she follows this tradition) so I don’t have a photo to share with you. But she said it worked fabulously!

Peelers. Just get dozens of peelers

You’re going to lose the one at least once. Just have spares!

Good paring knives – and two spares.

Same as the peelers! Don’t skimp on Passover knives – get good ones, especially the ones you grab for everything (like paring knives).

Things we’re skipping

• Bulky appliances – you don’t need a Passover air fryer, and you don’t even need a blender! Stick to an immersion blender for your soups and dips (but get a decent one). For grating – if you’re making lots of kugel, yes, you will want a decent food processor, but otherwise… just skip it.
• Cutting boards – honestly, it’s just another thing that I don’t need to store for Passover. I use a plate. Sometimes I get the Dollar tree ones to toss away when I’m done, but it’s really not needed.

More must haves for Passover

There are so many things that didn’t fit into a perfect Passover must-have niche but are high on the list.

A plan (or a planner)

Until I started keeping a Pesach planner, I was always double buying, forgetting, or at least I had things scattered in different places!

Having a plan consolidates everything in one spot and makes sure that you remember how things went down last year. Fill out the Kashering page so you don’t need to refer back to the rabbi each year. Plan your menu in an effective and fun way. Keep track of what you have and what you need for next year.

Water bottle

If you’re a carry-a-water-bottle-everywhere kind of person, don’t forget to get one for Passover too! (It’s on this list because I did forget it in the past)

Trivets

Once again, this is here because we needed them in the past and didn’t have them. To me, something like this was thought of as excessive… until I realized how much hosting and cooking we do. And for the eight (or more) Passover meals, we don’t want to burn our table or tablecloth.

I personally like getting small cheeseboards as gorgeous trivets – especially for larger dishes, like roasts.

Something new to wear

Did you know that one of my favorite Mitzvah’s is to have something new for the holiday? It’s considered a way to bring joy to the holiday, and to elevate materialistic items by using them for a holy purpose.

Whether it’s a new pair of earrings or a festive dress to wear, it doesn’t have to break the bank – just bring a smile to your face!

New toys and games for the kids

While not a MUST, I find that it’s so helpful to have some new toys to pull out during a long holiday. In fact, while we are cleaning all the toddler-preschool toys, we are only cleaning a handful of the big kid toys and games, because they are just so much harder, with endless pieces.

Not only that, but these are the kids rewards for the incredible help they’ve been with Passover prep. They have been taking things on their own, have had an amazing attitude towards cleaning, and rewards are in order!

Some recommendations:

• For games, I picked a classic, a new take on a classic, and a totally new game:
  • Classic: Mancala – my kids have been asking for it so we’ll surprise them!
  • New take on a classic: Monopoly Bid – I don’t get it, but my kids love playing the three or 4 versions of Monopoly that they have, so I picked up another more compact one.
  • Totally new game: The How I Survived Game – While we already played this a few times, this is one of the two games that my kids chose from their big stash to clean for Passover, so that says a lot! And it’s so unique – something we’ve never seen before!
• For toys, I haven’t yet picked anything new up yet, but here are some great ones that are perfect for Passover. We’re looking for things that are non-electronic and Shabbat-friendly, and of course have lots of positive play value, and high entertainment value – see more non-electronic toy ideas here:
  • Keva planks – this Structures set has 200 of these carefully engineered, precise planks. It’s like a wood building block but next level, with cool and elaborate structures to build once you learn how to use them properly.
  • Clixo – My kids love Clixo, and sometimes a new set of a toy they already love (especially if it’s one of the few they chose to clean for Passover) is the perfect way to go.
  • I’ll probably still be getting them a new LEGO set or two, and I still need a couple of new ideas – so drop them in the comments if you have any!

Passover themed activities and seder props

The Seder can be long and we love having some exciting things that are on theme! My favorites are those that can be prepped in advance, keeping them busy during busy times, and then used by the seder to bring the story of Passover to life.

Some ideas:

• Makkot scratch art – I got this for the kids today (in-store at Amazing Savings) because scratch art is always a win here! I figure these can double as table decorations or puppets.
• Color & Craft printable projects – I have designed so many of these over the years. The ones pictured will be available soon, but you can see what else I have available here. The cool thing about printables is that you buy them once and print them for everyone – year after year!
• Props – I got some squishy frogs (for the plague of frogs) for the kids – and there are so many similar props you can get for kids to play with during the seder!

What we’re skipping

• Toys – Toddler and preschool toys live on the main floor so we’re going through those. We won’t be adding any new ones to our stash unless we find something compelling – or if we’re getting anything new anyway, we may save it for Passover.
• No need to overdo it with the clothing – your last year’s stuff are good too! The Mizvah is to have something new.

Got any must haves for Passover to add to this list? Comment below!

The post Sanity-Saving Must Haves for Passover (and what you can skip) appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

Get Ahead of Pesach Challenge

Ready for something new? Here’s a challenge for you: get ahead of Pesach!

What do I mean by that?

I mean GET AHEAD! Not clean early. Not spend a month on it. I mean…

Set the stage NOW to clean and prep more efficiently later, so that you’re wasting less time with “things that should have already been done” closer to.

Sometimes it’s time management that leaves us with last-minute tasks that shouldn’t be done at the last minute. Sometimes it’s just that we need help organizing what to do earlier and what to do later. And sometimes, we just need ideas.

That’s why I’m excited to be launching this FREE doable Get Ahead of Pesach challenge to help you set the stage for more efficient Pesach prep NOW (ideally before Purim or in the two weeks after) so that later – in the two weeks before Pesach, you can focus more on what needs to be done.

This is a 6-day challenge, delivered via email.

Each challenge will include an intro to the “pain point” and how to address that. Then there will be a tip that can technically be implemented at any time, and an actionable challenge for you to do to get ahead of Pesach.

I’m so glad you’ll be joining us!

The post Get Ahead of Pesach Challenge appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

I hope you enjoy this beautiful and doable Rosh Hashanah tablescape, and get some great ideas for your own table! When you’re done, you can check out these printable simanim cards – in case you forgot about them! This post contains affiliate links.

I’m excited to share this gorgeous Rosh Hashanah tablescape – full of ideas for table settings, those little extra touches, and of course, serving up your holiday-specific stuff.

I’d like to extend a big thank you to Sabavi Home – a Jewish owned home decor marketplace that helped facilitate this by providing some of the pieces you’ll see.

I love featuring Jewish retailers in Jewish content and I hope you’ll check out the lovely decor items they sell!

Some of these pieces make fabulous hostess gifts if you’re going away for the holiday, and I’m happy to show them to you in the context of how beautiful they make the holiday table.

I tried to include versatile pieces that can be used beyond the holiday, but will make your Rosh Hashanah table complete. And finally, I am staging this in advance of the holiday just to show you how beautiful it can look!

The theme

One of my favorite ways to make my holiday table my own is to decorate around a theme. You may have noticed on my Passover seder tablescape, that I like to create a vague theme – one that has elements of the holiday but isn’t tacky or in-your face.

For this one, I tried to bring in items, colors and shapes that are reminiscent of every child’s Rosh Hashanah favorites: apples and honey.

I kept the tones for this Rosh Hashanah tablescape bright but warm – a nod to summer that has just slipped away and the approaching autumn.

Apple green combines with geometric shapes that pull from the honeycomb aesthetic. Gold accents pull it together for a touch of glam that still stays warm and comfy.

The various coordinating serving pieces also serve practical uses for Rosh Hashanah specifically, but are also fabulous for year-round, so you can use it instead of just storing it!

The Background and Decor

I started with my tan colored tablecloth because that gives that warm but bright vibe I was looking for. It’s a spill-proof cloth that’ll handle some honey drips.

I used a simple cream colored vase with pampas to keep things light and airy.

I did not add a lot of accents (although you can pull in some apple branches or vines to complete the look) to leave room for serving pieces and movement.

The gold ball you see on the table is the gorgeous Kate Spade On the Dot salt shaker. It fit so well with this table, I had to include it!

Serving up the Simanim (symbolic foods)

One of my favorite pieces on this table is this dip dish and tray by Caesarea. It’s made of high quality lucite and is surprisingly large and spacious – making it a true centerpiece.

The dishes come off the removable tray and can be placed in the fridge independently, since they come with lids. It’s perfect for storing Simanim or small salads that are inspired by Simanim, that are taken out again for each meal.

The lacy laser-cut look inlay on the base and the lids resemble honeycomb (without being explicitly so) making it really spot on for this Rosh Hashanah tablescape!

This honey dish goes perfectly with it, and features a tray for the apples too! It’s out of stock right now, so if you do spot it, you’ll want to grab it – it’s clearly a popular item! If you don’t see it, this honey dish still mimics the shapes of the dip dish and looks fabulous together.

You can also use the dip dish above for honey, apples, and pomegranate seeds – it’s a gorgeous display that is perfect for Rosh Hashanah – and then repurposing for year-round!

Traditionally, on Rosh Hashanah we serve round Challahs. This gorgeous brass-colored aluminum oval-shaped tray from Beatriz Ball goes beautifully with two round challahs. It then serves as a year-round platter for charcuteries, fruit, and more!

I actually love having something like this for serving up cut Challah year-round, as it’s lightweight enough to pass around the table and holds the Challah better than a board.

The gold tones of the Sierra Modern Strie Brooklyn platter pick up on the other warm, apple-and honey tones and I can not begin to show you in images how gorgeous the finish is, but I’m gonna try my best!

The Settings

Since we will be having lots of guests, I decided to pull out the better paper goods for Rosh Hashanah. I also am not using placemats or chargers because those take up precious table space.

I started with these plastic plates that have gold geometric accents. They go beautifully with the Caesarea dip dish above. I get them from Bingo but if you don’t have one in your area, these are similar.

To complement it, I added these Zafferano Perle tumblers in apple green. They add a pop of color and are so perfect for Rosh Hashanah! The white detail on them prevent things from getting too dark and the warm tones of the gold throughout the settings go beautifully with the green.

I used simple white cloth napkins to keep things neat – I find it easier to use “real” napkins when I have lots of guests than dishes, since I can just dump them all in the wash! Instead of napkin rings, I decided to use a bit of green burlap ribbon to tie in a little more apple green.

After tying those in place, I slid in a honey stick (which can be used in lieu of honey for the meal – but I find that it serves more as decor for the meal and people sometimes use it for tea at the end.) I also added a honey stirrer just for the decor angle.

I decided to use the honey stirrers as name cards for the meals we’re having a lot of guests! I just used a paint marker to add the name!

For the flatware, I chose my late grandfather-in-law’s floral set because it goes with the whole late summer/early fall, bee look, keeping things warm and cheerful.

Some finishing touches

If you’re looking for the perfect finishing touches for your Rosh Hashanah tablescape try these:

• Make your own place cards or napkin rings featuring pomegranates – or simply print a ready-made set.
• Or, print these easily – they go with the apples and honey look!
• Simanim cards are a must-have – unless you have simanim party picks!
• And finally, you can fill up vases with apples for a gorgeous Rosh Hashanah centerpiece
• You can hand out the bulk of the simanim on smaller mini plates. We’ve done that in the past.

Got any Rosh Hashanah tablescape ideas to add to the list? Comment below!

The post Rosh Hashanah Tablescape – Decor & Gift Ideas! appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

You’ve probably guessed that my favorite part of Sukkot is decorating the sukkah to make it beautiful. You may have already seen some of my sukkah decoration craft tutorials. But this post is a little different – instead of making new decorations from scratch, I’m going to share my favorite ways to enhance your sukkah decor using items that are already made and easy to find.

I’ve shared peeks into my own sukkah before – and this list of sukkah decorations is definitely inspired by some I’ve picked up – but you’ll also find loads of other ideas (some of which I hope to add to my collection over time).

These products from around the web will give you a huge head start, whether you’re planning to add your own handmade sukkah decorations or if you just didn’t have the time to do it yourself yet. This is such a busy time of year and we could all use a little (or a lot) of help!

The key to sukkah decorating is to be as weather-proof as possible. When buying decor items, look for things that are made for outdoor use OR use outdoor-friendly materials. They are outside for short periods of time – so they don’t need to be perfectly weatherproof, but they should not disintegrate with some rain.

On the flip side, some of these decor ideas can also be used for other outdoor spaces or events – the sukkah is just the beginning!

I’m going to start with some general ideas that work well outdoors, and then I’ll lead you to some more specific sukkah-themed decor I love – including gorgeous art banners from Israeli artists.

Cool Outdoor-friendly Sukkah Decorations

Not every Sukkah decoration needs to be designed as such! Here, I go over some basic materials and products that make for fabulous sukkah decorations that you can buy anywhere.

I do lean towards autumn colors for the Sukkah but you definitely don’t need to follow my lead on this!

Felt Garlands

Felt may not look so outdoorsy, with its soft fabric appearance, but it actually can hold up well in the rain. I absolutely love felt for sukkah decor – its soft texture gives it such a warm, organic feeling to make you feel cozy in the Fall. It’s a whole different vibe than the tinsel and plastic we usually go to for waterproof.

You can use felt to make your shapes, look for premade felt garlands (like this citrusy one that is perfect for Sukkot!), or opt for pom poms!

If you can find felt that’s made of acrylic that is ideal – but not a must. Wool felt absorbs more water than felt, but I’ve still found it to hold up enough.

It will still be a little more drippy than materials that don’t absorb any water at all, so you might not want to hang it directly over where people may sit or stand. But overall I find felt well suited for the sukkah, and – did I mention? – absolutely gorgeous.

One thing to watch out for is that some felts have colors that bleed. Try getting a small part of your felt wet at home to test the colorfastness before hanging it outdoors.

You always want to make sure your sukkah decorations are thoroughly dry before storing them, but that goes double for felt – since you can’t simply wipe water off the surface, give it some extra time and attention to make sure it’s REALLY dry before you put it away. We wouldn’t want your beautiful decorations to get smelly or moldy by next year.

Wooden beaded garlands

Wood is another versatile material that can often handle the outdoors. You might find wood decor that is designed to be used outdoors. Alternatively, beads that were made for jewelry are usually coated with a water-resistant sealant. Or, coat them yourselves using an acrylic sealer to give it some extra resistance.

You can buy garlands that are made for decor, or you can string together chunky beads on your own. I know, this is supposed to be the easy, non-crafting post – but stringing some beads is still pretty easy!

Of course, you’ll need to thoroughly dry these before storing – even if coated, it’s likely that some dampness will seep into the wood and can’t simply be wiped off. Give it some extra time and space before wrapping it up to store.

Fabric Tapestries

Fabric does get wet in the rain, but it still holds up well – it won’t fall apart the way paper does, and it still looks more sophisticated than plastic or laminate. So fabric tapestries are an excellent way to add artwork to your sukkah or outdoor space.

You can spray fabric with a sealer such as Scotchgard to help prevent it from getting soggy. Just note that it could wash off after repeated uses – you may need to reapply after an especially rainy Sukkot. But it should help your fabric decor hold up for a nice amount of time.

Faux Florals (and real ones)

Flowers made of plastic are very outdoor-friendly. Plastic doesn’t absorb any water at all, so it dries out more quickly after a rain and won’t drip all over your guests. You can buy flowers in different arrangements depending on your preferred decor look, or you can arrange loose flowers into these shapes yourself.

You can, of course, also display real flowers! Any hanging flower decor should be gotten as fresh as possible and may shed some petals towards the end of the holiday. I do highly recommend using a cheap vase and getting a gorgeous bouquet of flowers for the center of your Sukkah table, though – there’s nothing like it!

• Garlands These long strands of flowers or leaves can be strung along walls or just under the schach. They come in a huge variety, from plain leaves to flowers to hanging fruits. You can also stick to simpler vines to add some green.
• Wreaths (just not the Christmas ones) A circular wreath of flowers looks very elegant on doors or walls – and you can find some beautiful fall-themed options.
• Clusters A bunch of flowers here, a bunch of flowers there, we love flowers so how could you go wrong?

• Balls –  Balls of flowers look so sophisticated hanging from the cross-beams. Try for a few variations of size or color (within the same color family) and hang them at slightly different heights.
• Hanging faux wisteria can create a real “wow” effect distributed across one or more walls of the Sukkah.
• Hanging potted faux plants Those that hang along the walls are my favorite. They also won’t obstruct the view of the starry night.

Suncatchers & Hanging Wind Spinners

You can get suncatchers and spinners that are made for the outdoors, so they’re already perfect for the Sukkah. Wind spinners will have extra impact in an open space where they can catch a lot of breeze, but they’ll be pretty anywhere – even the gentle air movements of regular life will be enough to highlight the spinners.

Wind Chimes

Wind chimes have a special place in my heart – I will always remember the wind chimes in my grandfather’s sukkah, and how excited I was to see – and hear – them again each year as a kid. Now I get to enjoy the nostalgia for my childhood as I create memories for my own family with our Sukkah traditions. 

You and your family will also surely enjoy the two-in-one decorative and melodic wind chimes. Be careful in placing them out of the way where people won’t bump into them and set off the chimes. In a larger sukkah this should be simple. If your sukkah is smaller and runs a higher risk of people bumping into the wind chimes, you might want to ask your rabbi before hanging them.

String Lights & Lanterns

There are a whole variety of lights that are made for gardens and perfect for the sukkah. I love the look of clear edison bulbs, and there are also plenty of other options if you like a softer glow.

You can use decorative lights as your main lighting, or just to supplement your regular lighting system. If you’re depending on these for light as well as decor, measure your space to help gauge how many lights you’ll need.

In addition to lighting up the inside of your sukkah, consider using a string of lights or lanterns to light the way to the sukkah. Half of the holiday meals take place at night, so having lights along the path is very functional as well as pretty (we use our Edison string lights for this purpose).

Outdoor Rugs

Most people don’t pay attention to the floor when planning their sukkah decor, but don’t underestimate it – a nice rug can add a lot to the overall look of your sukkah, and will make your Sukkah feel like home!

Metal wall sculptures

If you favor a bright, maximalist aesthetic, check out metal wall art such as these butterflies. They’re made strong enough for outdoors, and come in a whole range of different designs.

Sukkah Decorations from Israeli Sellers

What better way to decorate your sukkah than to support Israeli artists and businesses at the same time? Here are some products from Israel that caught my eye – just make sure to check the shipping times so you get them in time for the holiday! Check out Etsy for more options!

Please don’t order Judaic art from unknown sellers, especially on sites like Temu or AliExpress – they are most likely made with stolen artwork (yes, they’ve stolen mine!!). I’m sharing some verified links to legitimate sellers, but if you want to look for more on your own please make sure to support honest businesses and artists.

• 7 Species Vinyl Banner – This one needs at least 2.5 weeks to ship in time for Sukkot but you’ll be rewarded with a boldly colored banner featuring the 7 species of Israel with both Hebrew and English titles.

• Hallel Banners – Israel | US This set of three banners features meaningful phrases from the Hallel prayer overlaid on a background featuring the 7 species.

• Ushpizin – This unique, richly colored design by Yael Harris Resnick combines two favorite Sukkot themes – the seven ushpizin and the 7 species.

• Israel Sukkah art banners Judaica artist Alex Levin sells latex ink prints of his gorgeous paintings in a wide selection of themes and sizes.

Sukkot Decorations -in Sukkot Themes with Quick Shipping

If you don’t have time to order banners made-to-order or from Israel, and want things beyond wall decor for your Sukkah, these ideas are for you.

Double check the shipping times before ordering! They were available on the quick side when I checked, but these things are subject to change. Again, watch out for fraudulent sellers of Jewish art – the links I’m sharing are safe.

• Pomegranate garland
• Pomegranate branches
• Faux Pomegranates (realistic) – Place some in a bowl or use them to make hanging decorations. Try it with lemons too – their bright yellow is a treat for the eyes, and from a little distance they can even pretend to be etrogs.
• Artificial lemon garland
• Grape clusters and/or vines
• Grapevine ball – hang it from the beams. You can also use hot glue to add a few flowers for a different look.
• Olive branches
• Ushpizin poster – This one includes a traditional prayer in addition to artwork
• Sukkah tapestry – This link includes a number of designs by different artists.

Got any favorite Sukkah decorations to share? Please comment below with your ideas!

The post 25+ Sukkah Decorations You’ll Fall in Love With appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.