This year, Rosh Hashanah is particularly meaningful. The holiday marks the beginning of a new year in the Jewish calendar. And beginnings are an opportunity to look toward the future while acknowledging the past which brought us here.

Rosh Hashanah is a time to reflect on family, happiness, and humility. During these times of the COVID-19 pandemic and political/social uncertainty, all of us at Catering by Michaels believe family, happiness, and humility are the perfect antidotes to the extraordinary circumstances of 2020.

We read an amazing article in The Jerusalem Post about celebrating Rosh Hashanah during COVID-19. Andy Slavitt, a former Obama administration official who ran Medicare and Medicaid, says, “This is a year for maximum creativity! When I say use creativity, don’t lose the spirit of what makes the holiday special!” We couldn’t agree more and can help be your creative partner.

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I don’t know about you, but I always like to have something to look forward to, especially now, during this global pandemic. I cannot even believe that September is almost here, and the end of summer is near. I always loved Labor Day weekend as a kid – it normally meant summer days full of pool swimming, lake house weekends, and delicious backyard barbecues with friends and family. As an adult, Labor Day weekend normally means a weekend full of events or on the rare occasion we have the weekend off, a road trip, or a short flight somewhere for a long weekend with adventures, great food, and time with my husband, friends, and family. This year definitely looks a little different, but that doesn’t mean it can’t still be full of your favorite things!

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It’s hard to think of celebrating when the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected so many.  But it’s important to continue to find joy in our lives — you only live once.

One excellent way to do that is by showing the people we love that we appreciate them.

Father’s Day is designated to show our gratitude for Dad — our first hero. Like other celebrations upended by COVID-19, Father’s Day 2020 will be different this year.

The good news is that it doesn’t take much to keep dads happy. Showing your love is as simple as a tasty, surprise meal and some quality time.

Here are a few ideas for celebrating Father’s Day in the time of COVID-19.

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Although you should always appreciate the maternal figures in your life, we designate a special day each year to show just them how much we care. Whoever you’re honoring on Mother’s Day 2020, celebrations will certainly look different in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The virus may have temporarily paralyzed the world and put people in quarantine, but it hasn’t affected people’s creativity or capacity to show love.

Find some inspiration with these innovative ways to celebrate Mother’s Day, even when you’re apart:

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As Passover approaches, you may be planning to host a Seder. It’s a great way to share the Jewish tradition with family and friends, both old and new.

The Seder is a religious feast observed during the first two days of Passover. The name means “order”, which is appropriate because the meal consists of particular rituals that pay homage to the history of Judaism.

During the Seder, each ritual corresponds to various aspects of the story of the Israelite’s liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt. This story is read aloud from the Haggadah.

The Haggadah, which is Hebrew for “telling”, is the religious text that guides the Seder. It explains the meaning of each food on the Seder plate, recounts the story of the exodus, and contains prayers, songs, questions, and vignettes about Passover.

If you’re hosting a Seder this year, it’s important to ensure your Seder is welcoming and hospitable.

Here are a few tips for being a great host:

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