#seewhatididthere

The original Decades Challenge rules are, from my perspective, quite goyische (Christian-centric), seem to be based on social mores of the middle to upper class and seem inspired by the aesthetics and life of the American frontier. That's not a criticism per se, as the fandom is US-centric by nature (and US is majority Christian religiously and/or culturally), so it makes sense that the rules and gameplay would be US and Christian-centric.

@strangetown-hotel made some really good points on how their family lived in a tenement (apartment building) when emigrating to the US. I'm not super familiar with the history of Jews in the US, but I do know most emigrated through Rhode Island beginning from the late 1800's - early 1900's, and that most were middle-class or working-class.

You could have a Jewish immigrant couple living in an apartment. If you wanted to do a 'rags to riches' type story, you could make them working-class and put them in the cheapest apartment, with lot traits like 'Creepy Crawlies', 'Filthy', 'Grody' etc, and have both work. The idea that all women were stay-at-home mums/homemakers is inaccurate; only upper-class or some middle-class women could afford to stay at home, and richer women could afford to have hired help. Poor women had no choice but to work in addition to taking care of the house and children.

There are a couple of issues with apartment living that might crop up if you're doing a historical gameplay. You might want to choose an apartment with a balcony so you can buy a clothesline, because dryers were not on the market until the late 1920's, off the top of my head. Or don't put the laundry basket in until you can work your Sims up to getting an apartment with a balcony.

@antiquatedplumbobs​ literally JUST released an awesome apartment build which you might want to check out!! HERE.

Many immigrant families did live in apartments, but it would also not be inaccurate to have Jewish families living in a rural setting. Historically, we are farmers - we have the holidays to prove it. Three of our main festivals are agricultural festivals - Pesach (Passover), Shavuot and Sukkot, celebrated in early spring when the crops begin to ripen, late spring during the harvest and autumn when crops are gathered, respectively.

(Living in the Southern Hemisphere, those festivals are reversed for me, but it's about the spirit of the holiday).

Basically, Am Yisrael (the nation of Israel, ie the Jewish people) live all over the world in all climates, all settings, so don't feel like you have to constrain yourself to a specific setting.

For CC, I suggest downloading pandorasimbox’s excellent Judaism Stuff pack, found here - especially the mezuzah, challah and dreidel. You can affix the mezuzah to your front and back doors (on the outside of the house) or if you’re in an apartment, on the inside. If your Sims are ultra-Orthodox, you can add one to each room, but usually just front and back is fine.

For the challah, it’s decorative only, but maybe could be made into a custom recipe if someone is willing to do that? (Note to self - check how difficult that is). You could set it in the middle of a table on Friday nights when your Sims have Shabbos dinner, along with a couple of candlesticks. I use the candlesticks here (plasticbox’s candlesticks updated by me, excuse my self-plug). When they’re not on the table, I put them on the mantle.

For holidays, I've set up my holidays as follows:

My Sims' families are traditionally Orthodox, but they themselves lean towards Conservative, so they celebrate most but not all holidays.Because each Sim "day" =/= a real world day, I've approximated the time between holidays, so feel free to adjust as you see fit.

Rosh HaShanah

Autumn - Day 5

Traditions: Grand Meal, Thankful Spirit, Attend Holiday Ceremony, Invite Guests

Yom Kippur Winter - Day 1

Traditions: Attend Holiday Ceremony, Fasting, Remembrance

Chanukah Winter - Day 6

Traditions: Grand Meal, Light Menorah, Open Presents, Tell Stories

Purim Spring - Day 2

Traditions: Baking, Drinking, Party Spirit, Wear Costumes

Pesach Spring - Day 4

Traditions: Grand Meal, Invite Guests, Tell Stories, Thankful Spirit, Cleaning

Shavuot Spring - Day 7

Traditions: Attend Holiday Ceremony, Tell Stories, Baking (suggestion: make something with dairy)

Sukkot Autumn - Day 2

Traditions: Grand Meal, Attend Holiday Ceremony, Gardening, Go On a Vacation (suggest going camping !)