Hanukkah Reads

photo credit: Juniper Books As the flickering lights of Hanukkah invite us into their warmth and holiness, it feels like the most natural thing in the world to cuddle up with a good book together with those we love. Reading together

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CHICKEN MAN

I wrote Chicken Man after living and working on Kibbutz Mizra. I had a friend who worked in the ‘lul’ [lool] – the chicken coop. His charming stories of the chickens and the fun he had in the lul convinced

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THE SECRET SHOFAR OF BARCELONA

THE SECRET SHOFAR OF BARCELONA Jacqueline Dembar Greene Illustrated by Doug Chayka The Secret Shofar Of Barcelona takes place in Spain during the late 1400’s and early 1500’s. This was a time of intense Antisemitism and severe persecution of the

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A Mountain of Blintzes

A mountain of blintzes to make us think of the mountain Moses climbed. Up and down he went, to bring us the Torah, the Laws of G-d’s Kingdom. A MOUNTAIN OF BLINTZES Barbara Diamond illustrated by Anik McGrory “Such an

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Purimshpiel

“Everything is foreseen, yet free will is granted.” Nevertheless, every event on the “stage of life” occurs exactly according to the script written by the “Director” – He Who created the characters, watches over them, – assigns the roles, and

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WHEN I FIRST HELD YOU

היום בו נולדת הוא היום בו החליט הקב”ה שהעולם אינו יכול להתקיים בלעדיך The day you were born is the day God decided that the world could not exist without you. ~ Rabbi Nachman of Breslov* WHEN I FIRST HELD

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More Hanukkah Reads

photo credit – Juniper Books The world says stories are meant to help you sleep. But I say; stories are meant to wake you up.* As a homeschool mom I remember well that glazed look that would tell me I

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CHALLOS IN THE ARON HAKODESH

Over 500 years ago, the King and Queen of Spain decreed a harsh law on the Jews and expelled them from their homes. The Jews wandered from country to country and looked for another place to live. Some of the

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THE MYSTERIOUS GUESTS

 THE MYSTERIOUS GUESTS A Sukkot Story by Eric A. Kimmel Illustrated by Katya Krenina Eric Kimmel weaves an intriguing tale of two brothers. Ezra, the younger brother, was kind and generous. Ezra means ‘help’ and he lived up to his

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A TALE OF SEVEN SHEEP

What happens when six adventure-seeking sheep–plus one reluctant and “wooly wart” sheep– decide to leave the protection of their shepherd and head out into the big, wide world? A Tale Of Seven Sheep by Gadi Pollack This treasure of a book

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Bagels from Benny

“And these are the offspring of Aaron and Moshe on the day Hashem spoke with Moshe at Mount Sinai… ” Numbers 3:1 As we continue reading the third chapter of Numbers, we see that the only children listed are those

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MODEH ANI and THE BEDTIME SH’MA

You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.* One of the most precious privileges,

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THE MATZAH THAT PAPA BROUGHT HOME

This is THE FEAST that Mama made with the matzah that Papa brought home. This is THE PASSOVER SEDER we shared to eat the feast that Mama made with the matzah that Papa brought home. This is ME standing tall

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TIKVAH MEANS HOPE

Tikvah watched the jay as it fluttered onto the railing. It was a bright October morning, dry and warm. Mr. Roth stood deep in thought, gazing out at his back yard. Justine, his next-door neighbor, watched his face. She knew

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