THE CJM IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED. SUPPORT US DURING OUR TRANSITION, SIGN UP FOR UPDATES, OR RENT THE MUSEUM FOR YOUR EVENT

Celebrate the Festival of Lights with The CJM’s ArtBash: Hanukkah! Follow our guided instructions to explore Hanukkah through creative fun and build your own Jewish Backpack Charm. 

Didn't grab an ArtKit? No problem! Gather your own supplies and follow along at home. 

Create Your Own Jewish Backpack Charm

1. Gather your materials

  • Grab a pair of scissors and carefully open your ArtKit. You may want to have a bowl on hand to hold your beads. The kit includes four Jewish charm beads: a donut, a chai, a lion, and a Jewish star. It also contains a number of other beads, straws, and, wires, a key ring, and a carabiner. 

2. Attach Your Charm to the Wire

  • Thread one wire through one of the charm beads, leaving a small amount of wire at the end (approximately one inch). Twist the charm while holding the wire ends to secure the charm. 

 

  • Add 3 to 5 more beads or straws to the wire. You can cut the straws to various lengths. 

 

  • Leaving some space to twist the wire, wrap the wire around the key ring. 

 

  • While holding both ends of the wire, twist the key ring to secure the strand of beads to it. After about five twists, you can cut off any spare wire. 

3. Repeat and attach your charms

  • Repeat the process for each of the four Jewish charms. Affix each one to the end of a wire, add additional beads and straws, and connect to the key ring. Once all charms and beads are connected, add the carabiner and click your creation onto your backpack for a charm-ing new look! 

More ArtBash: Hanukkah

Enjoy more creative Hanukkah projects with our past ArtBash: Hanukkah videos. Past projects include: Light Multiplier, Light Mobile, Hanukkah Light Box, Drops of Light, Spinning Pattern Designs, and more! 

Supporters

Major support for Family Programs is generously provided by Bank of America.

The CJM extends our gratitude to our community partners, Brandeis School of San Francisco, JCC East Bay, JCC San Francisco, Peninsula JCC, PJ Library Bay Area, and Wornick Jewish Day School.