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Why does Hebrew matter? 

"Language is a key to identity and culture, and Hebrew is a key to Jewish identity and Jewish culture. We just have to approach it as such." So writes Jeremy Benstein, the linguist and author of Hebrew Roots, Jewish Routes: A Tribal Language in a Global World.

Engaging with Hebrew is a vehicle to enrich our connection to Judaism and its values. It is a real, living, dynamic language full of energy, Benstein says. You can teach it that way and help students connect with the language in authentic ways - whether or not your school focuses on prayer learning.

If

French Toast Sundays can jumpstart a conversation with children who may be experiencing the overwhelming emotions of losing someone they know.

"Children learn about the world through a variety of means, one of which is through stories. How can we, as educators, harness the power of stories and pictures to teach children about Israel?" writes Dr. Ofra Backenroth in an article about American Jewish education. One way, she writes, is through picture books.

"Picture books can serve as a powerful resource for teaching children in a meaningful way about Israel and can help children understand core concepts and what they mean. Most of all, stories serve as a jumping-off point for sincere and open conversation."

Here are some story books set in Israel to help bridge connections between the state and young children, perfect for discussions and activities around Yom Ha'atzma'ut

Now Available: A new batch of free, ready-to-go lessons and activities for Yom Ha'atzma'ut from the Behrman House collection.

Our free Educator Resource page is chock-full of Judaics and Hebrew lessons and activities for learners of all ages. The collection includes the following lessons to celebrate Israel's Independence Day (coming up on April 17):

• K-2 - Through discussion and creative activities, learn why Israel’s Independence Day is a joyful, important occasion. 
• 3-6 - Explore how Yom Ha'atzma'ut started, how we celebrate it, and why it’s important to the Jewish people.
• 7+ -  Learn how and why we celebrate Israel’s Independence Day, and find personal connections to the holiday.

This new release is part of our commitment to help you provide a meaningful learning experience for y

And this year, we may also need ways to do so remotely. 

Light from the Darkness: A Ritual for Holocaust

Once again, many of us will be celebrating Passover differently.  

Here are some tips for actively engaging remote participants:

• Decide on a seder leader. Even when you're not all together in person, a seder still needs a leader or team to facilitate. Figure this out in advance. Assign roles to make sure that participants in all locations are included. Plan out who will do which reading roles. Make sure each reader is visible to those who are not in the same location. Try to ensure that your camera shows most of the seder items. Hold things up to the camera as you use them.
• Will everyone use the same haggadah? Some families prefer that all participants read from the same book, while others enjoy mixing it up. There are pros and cons to both. If you're all using the same haggadah, make sure each participant

Teachers have stepped up in a big way this year. 

How will you show gratitude to your teachers as the year comes to a close? Even in a virtual world, it's nice to get something real.

Here are some ideas for gifts and awards:

Gift Cards

Give the gift of Jewish learning. Good toward any purchase on the Behrman House website. E-cards are available in multiples of $18, up to $180. 

Card games are time-tested sources of fun for both children and adults. They are also full of both social and academic benefits - AND get kids off screens. 

When used to supplement learning, card games engage both family members and other students in the learning process, making for a collaborative experience. 

Hooked on Hebrew is a new series of card games for practicing Hebrew alphabet and prayers - whether in school or at home or over the summer. Golem program members just received a set this month. 

The cards are designed for ages 8 and up, and are also well suited for intergenerational activity. Play up to 15 different games with each deck. (Cards were developed by Strong Learning and are available in three different packs.) 

The more fun you're having, the more you practice. And the more you practice, the more

Once again, many of us will be celebrating Passover differently.  

Here are some tips for actively engaging remote participants: 

• Decide on a seder leader. Even when you're not all together in person, a seder still needs a leader or team to facilitate. Figure this out in advance. Assign roles to make sure that participants in all locations are included. Plan out who will do which reading roles. Make sure each reader is visible to those who are not in the same location. Try to ensure that your camera shows most of the seder items. Hold things up to
  the camera as you use them.
• Will everyone use the same haggadah? Some families prefer that all participants read from the same book, while others enjoy mixing it up. There are pros and cons to both. If you're all using the same haggadah, make sure each participant

We have added access to online turn-page versions of many of our most popular Hebrew and Judaics materials to ensure continuity in your school programming next year and support learning even if you're not sure whether you’ll be remote, hybrid, or in-person.

What’s Available with Turn-Page Access 

There are more than 50 different Hebrew and Judaics student materials now available with turn-page access, including:

• Beginning Hebrew – pre-primers and primers such as Alef Bet Quest; Let’s Discover the Alef Bet; Shalom Hebrew; Shalom Uvrachah; Shalom, Reader; and the Ten-Minute Hebrew Reader.
• Prayer Hebrew –Hebrew in Harmony and Hineni
• Modern Hebrew – Chaverim B’Ivrit and Let’s Talk Modern Hebrew for Teens
• Judaics – various titles in subject areas of Bible, holidays, Israel, and values 

A detailed li