I am not Jewish and have been a born again Chritian most of my life. Through this time I have enjoyed the story of Jonah and the whale. Never did I know, or retain the knowledge if I was told, that it was part of a Jewish festival.

I had been explaing to the Children in history, that Jesus was born a Jew.
We found Israel on a modern flat map and on the globe. Discussed and found many key bible places. Discussed the location to the Tigris and Euphrates and the connection between Ur, Abraham and Jesus and done all the normal stuff you do with little ones 5 and under !

Then I read about Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur being called the 'Days of Penitence'. Yom Kippur being the day of Judgement and thought wow! what a great theme, we were only a week out, God would understand that one.

We looked for the first star and blew a recorder (we will make a horn next year !) A rams horn is the ideal, a paper version and plaster will also do, next year. We will try the food, apples dipped in honey, chicken and rice etc... next year too as I will be more preparred.

Jonah and the Whale Story

On the afternoon of Yom Kippur the bible story of Jonah is read, we did this, the kids thought it was great.

We discovered

Is a whale a mammel or a fish?,
Why did it come to the surface?,
How big is a whale?,
Could a man fit inside it?

and then talked about why Jonah had run away from God, why God was annoyed with Nineveh and why God forgave Jonah and Ninevah.

The kids were great with the story and reasons, I was amazed for their ages. But then again Jesus said, "let the little children come to me...."

The kids story,

Jonah was sat down doing grown up things. God then said "Go to Ninevah and tell them I am annoyed with them, if they don't say sorry I will get rid of them.

Jonah didn't want to so he went amd hid in a boat. The boat went on a journey.

It was sunny then it rained a lot, and the wind picked up. (Mum-She gets that from me) Jonah said it was his fault. He owned up and told the sea men to throw him in the sea.

They didn't want to as it was dangerous. Jonah said God would look after him. Mummy said children should not do this.

A whale swallowed Jonah without chewing. Jonah said sorry to God. The whale was sick on the shores of Ninevah. Jonah did his job, the people were sorry.

Jonah went fishing, but didn't catch any whales.