Passover

The Jewish holiday of Passover begins tonight at sundown and will continue for the next week. Here are some great books for Jews and Gentiles to share with their families about this tradition.

The Story of Passover by Norma Simon
This book is great for elementary aged children. It explains the story of the Passover, Exodus and Diaspora as well as all the different parts of the seder. Though it is intended more for gentiles and converts who have not grown up with the tradition, Jewish families might find it helpful in explaining the importance of the holiday to younger children. The book even includes recipes and craft ideas!

The Magician's Visit retold by Barbara Diamond Goldin
This is a fun story of a Passover miracle granted to a poor but faithful couple.

Miriam's Cup by Fran Manushkin
This story is another good one for elementary aged children. It tells the story of slavery in Egypt, Passover and the Exodus from the perspective of Moses' older sister Miriam. An empowering story for girls of all faiths.

Dinosaur on Hanukkah

Today's highlighted book is: Dinosaur on Hanukkah by Diane Levin Rauchwerger

This books tells the story of a little boy and a dinosaur friend who comes to celebrate Hanukkah. The dino is no native to the traditions, but he tries with his best intents to celebrate, though he is not always successful and sometimes makes a rude and messy house guest. Still, boy and dino have a good time and the little boy even invites Dinosaur back for Shabbat! All in all a cute story and one children of all faiths can enjoy.





Similar Titles:

• Dinosaur on Shabbat by Diane Levin Rauchwerger
• Dinosaur on Passover by Diane Levin Rauchwerger
• The Kvetch Who Stole Hanukkah by Bill Berlin
• Maccabee!: The Story of Hanukkah by Tilda Balsley

Tonight is the eighth and final night of Hanukkah. If you have Jewish friends, why not make them a Happy Hanukkah card? You can incorporate the traditional colors of Hanukkah, and the flag of Isreal: Blue and White, into your card as well as the symbols of the Menorah, Dreidle and Star of David.

If you don't have any Jewish friends, then check out your local Jewish Community Center to see if they do a public menorah lighting that you can attend! Hanukkah is all about sharing the miracle light with the world and many JCCs welcome the opportunity to share their faith traditions with others.

The Days of Awe

Shalom!

Today is Yom Kippur, which our Jewish readers already know is the culmination of the Days of Awe which stretch a span of 10 days from Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) to today, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

For those of you not familiar with the Jewish high holidays, now would be a great time to introduce yourself and your family to them - especially if your child has friends who practice the Jewish faith.

Sound the Shofar! by Leslie Kimmelman

and

Celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur by National Geographic

Are two great resources. For those Jewish readers already familiar with the high holidays these are still great books, especially the later, as it shows how Jewish cultures all around the world celebrate the holidays. It is interesting to compare what is the same, and what is different between their celebrations and your own.

Now I am only part Jewish, and my family no longer practices - so I, unfortuantely, do not have a handed down family recipe for the Challah (the bread eatten at meals during the Days of Awe) - but Here Is A Good One - I hope you'll give it a try!