Monthly Archives: October 2021
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Read more »Candy and costumes are fun for children this time of year, and you too can tap into this energy as an opportunity to learn about Judaism's rich history of mysticism and folklore. Think golems, dybbuks, angels, and the like.
Here are a few of our favorite storybooks for ages 5-8 that feature (non-scary) spirits and creatures:
The Goblins of Knottingham
By Zoë Klein
Long ago, in the town of Knottingham, there were three little goblins.
Knotty was naughty, Knotsalot was no good, and Notnow was no good, no how, not then and not how!
More than anything else, these mischievous goblins liked to tangle children's hair! Find out how the children fought
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Read more »Just before the very first Hanukkah, Greeks and Jews were living in an uneasy peace in ancient Judea.
Jonathan, a Jewish boy, sees a Greek boy being attacked by bullies and stands up to defend him. They become best friends.
But when war comes to their land, Jonathan joins the Maccabees while his friend Jason joins the Greek army. They seem destined to fight one another. How will their friendship survive?
Shield of the Maccabees is a new story by award-winning author Eric Kimmel and illustrated by Dov Smiley.
The graphic novel format focuses on the history of Hanukkah, and the context of the times.
"A fun and clever twist on the story of the Maccabees."- Steve Sheinkin, author and illustrator of The Adventures of
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Read more »Inspired by a groundbreaking exhibition at ANU - Museum of the Jewish People (formerly Beit Hatfutsot) in Tel Aviv and published by Behrman House, The Hero in Me is a series of short biographies to help students learn about themselves an their global Jewish community through five traits:
- courage
- kindness
- creativity
- curiosity
- fairness
Storytelling is perhaps the most effective way to convey meaning to children,” said David Behrman, publisher. “These biographies offer bite-size insights into what makes a hero, and how our young readers can build those qualities into their own
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Read more »The pandemic has been challenging for all of us, and even as we remain creative and resilient and dedicated, these uncertain times can make us - and our students - feel mentally and physically worn out.
Learning to practice self-care as a habit can help improve coping skills and mental health.
Here are a few techniques to try as we settle into another atypical school year.
Practice being present
Mindfulness is a catch word these days, and with good reason. It’s a way of being in the world, the ability to pay attention to the present moment, the here and now. There’s a growing body of research pointing to the effectiveness of mindful practices on our ability— both adults and children—to pay better attention, make thoughtful decisions and calm ourselves down. Our ability to be in the moment requires opportunities to pause and slow down together and individually.
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Read more »Community thrives on diversity. The Jewish community includes diversity of all kinds - geography, opinion, gender, religious practice, ability, family makeup, race, and more. All of these differences make the community stronger, more exciting, and more creative.
In fact, the population of Jews of color has been increasing in United States. In a report by the Jews of Color Field-Building Initiative, researchers estimate that Jews of color represent at least 12-15% of American Jews. More younger people identify as nonwhite than older people do. Learn more here.
We recognize how important it is for Jewish children and families to see this diversity reflected in images as well as content, especially as they are creating and building their personal Jewish identities. Even young
