Jewish Mom Invents Holiday Board Games

This isn’t your grandmother’s holiday dinner. What started as a way to wake up her own family during a Passover Seder dinner three years ago has put Syndi Kercher, mother of two and former elementary school teacher, on the path to becoming the next Milton Bradley or Parker Brothers.

Kercher has developed three board games, two celebrating Jewish holidays and a third featuring American holidays, that she is looking to mass produce.

Holigames was formed to bring people together through the power of play, said Kercher, who has a son, 15, a daughter, 11, and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. It really was started as a way to keep my family interested in the Jewish holidays. With the growth of family game nights across the country, they will appeal to everyone.

Combining motherhood and 12 years as an elementary school teacher, Kercher created her first game, Exodus, the Game of Passover. A strong reception to her new concept led her out of the classroom and to the formation of her own company and game number two: The holigame, a Celebration of Jewish Holidays, which is designed for year-round family play.

The Holigames line of games is geared for families and for the classroom as a way to make exploring history and traditions of holidays a fun and interactive experience, said Kercher, who gave up teaching to pursue game-making full-time. They appeal to both the Jewish community as well as to non-Jewish retailers who are carrying them as one of their handful of Jewish items.

In addition to Exodus and The holigame, Kercher has developed Holiday USA, a celebration of American holidays which she hopes will have mass market appeal. Made in the United States, all of the games are designed to promote family play as well as lead to a more meaningful and educational experience.

Kercher will be expanding her presence in the family entertainment industry when she participates in her first American International Toy Fair in February 2002. She will have a booth in the International Toy Center’s Incubator Program, which was created to help up-and-coming companies such as Holigames showcase their products at the for-the-industry-only trade show.

In addition to exploring licensing, wholesale distribution and retail market potential, Holigames offers a complete fundraising program for schools and organizations. Holigames are available in specialty retail outlets, Judaic shops, and museum gift shops including major Jewish museums, across the country and through the internet.

Holiday dinners at Grandma’s won’t ever be the same.

Also see: mad gab game.

About The Author:

Ryan Hermeyer is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-games.com. Great games for the entire family for hours of fun or competition. We feature all your favorites.