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Looking for meaningful and fun Jewish experiences to share with your kids around Milwaukee? From learning about Jewish history to celebrating holidays together, there are so many ways to connect, explore, and make memories as a family.
This family-friendly guide includes year-round activities and special events hosted by local organizations like the Milwaukee Jewish Day School, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Museum Milwaukee, and more.
All events are open to the community—many are even free! Bookmark this page and check back often for updates.
1. Visit the Jewish Museum Milwaukee
1360 N. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee
Discover Milwaukee’s Jewish history through hands-on exhibits, personal stories, and artifacts that bring Jewish culture to life at the Jewish Museum Milwaukee. Check the museum’s website for rotating exhibits and Free Community Mondays throughout the year.
2. Visit Residents at Ovation Jewish Home & Sarah Chudnow
Volunteering as a family is a wonderful way to teach kids about kindness and community. The Ovation Jewish Home (Milwaukee) and Sarah Chudnow Campus (Mequon) welcome visitors to play bingo, make crafts, or deliver handmade cards and decorations. Contact either location to get involved.
3. Tour the Milwaukee Jewish Day School
Families of all faith backgrounds are invited to tour the Milwaukee Jewish Day School (MJDS) and learn about their inclusive approach to education rooted in Jewish values. You can schedule a visit anytime.
4. Visit the Friendship Circle Bakery & Café
8649 N. Port Washington Rd., Fox Point
Stop by the Friendship Circle Café, a warm and welcoming spot where individuals of all abilities work together to serve delicious coffee, pastries, and baked goods. Kids can see inclusion and kindness in action while enjoying a treat. There’s even an art studio in the back for birthday parties and community events.
5. Attend a Family Event at the JCC
From Family Fun Nights to seasonal festivals, the Harry & Rose Samson Jewish Community Center (JCC) hosts events open to everyone in the community. Check their calendar for upcoming programs, swimming nights, and community celebrations.
6. Grow Something in the JCC Community Garden
Families can help plant, water, and harvest fresh produce at the Jewish Community Garden, which provides food for local pantries and teaches the value of tikkun olam (repairing the world). Kids love digging in the dirt and learning how their work helps others.
7. Celebrate Hanukkah Together
Light the menorah, spin the dreidel, and share sufganiyot (jelly donuts) at one of the many community Hanukkah events around Milwaukee. Check our Milwaukee Hanukkah Events Guide for parades, lightings, and family celebrations across the city.
8. Walk for Israel in May
Each spring, celebrate Israel’s independence at Walk for Israel, a joyful community gathering that includes music, kids’ activities, and a two-mile walk. It’s Milwaukee’s largest Jewish celebration and a great way for families to connect.
9. Attend the Milwaukee Jewish Film Festival
Held every fall, this long-running festival showcases Jewish films from around the world—documentaries, dramas, comedies, and more. Older kids and teens can enjoy powerful stories that spark conversation about culture and identity.
10. Get Involved with PJ Library
Through PJ Library, families receive free Jewish children’s books each month, plus invitations to story times, craft events, and community gatherings. It’s a simple, joyful way to bring Jewish learning into your home. Learn more at pjlibrary.org.
11. Eat Your Way Through the Annual Jewish Food Festival (August, Mequon)
Hosted by The Peltz Center for Jewish Life, this festival features traditional Jewish favorites, live music, kids’ activities, and local vendors. Follow the Jewish Food Festival Mequon Facebook page for details and updates.
12. Volunteer at the Jewish Community Pantry
2900 W. Center St., Milwaukee
Teach your kids the importance of giving back by volunteering at the Jewish Community Pantry, which provides emergency food to local families in need. Families can help sort donations, pack food boxes, or restock shelves. Volunteer opportunities are available year-round.
Keep Exploring
Milwaukee’s Jewish community offers countless opportunities to learn, give back, and celebrate together. Whether you’re visiting the museum, attending a festival, or simply reading a PJ Library story before bed, each moment helps your kids feel connected to something bigger.
Bookmark this guide and check back for new events and updates throughout the year.
Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
