gifts · holiday · writing

My Latest Writing Project: A Blessing

Yesterday I read an incredible blog post by Edgar M. Bronfman in The Washington Post's "On Faith" section.  I believe Bronfman's article, "Create a holy Hanukkah," was penned with the sole purpose to encourage North American Jews to think more deeply about the gifts we choose to give our children on Chanukah.  Rather than summarize… Continue reading My Latest Writing Project: A Blessing

holiday · Read Aloud · stories

Happy Chanukah + a Book Giveaway

There are no shortage of books on Chanukah.  Despite the fact that Chanukah is not one of the major Jewish holidays, there are lots of books, some of which aren't so good, written about the holiday.  I suppose it's because Chanukah almost always begins in December and sometimes overlaps with Christmas (like it does this… Continue reading Happy Chanukah + a Book Giveaway

author's note · holiday · mentor texts · new york city · Read Aloud

Baseball & Two December Holidays

Family.  Friendship.  Generosity.  The great American pastime.  Interracial and interfaith friendships.  All of these topics are woven together artfully by Sharon Robinson in a new book, Jackie's Gift.  This is a true story about Sharon Robinson's father, the great baseball player Jackie Robinson, and her family's first Christmas in Brooklyn, NY. The Satlows are a… Continue reading Baseball & Two December Holidays

holiday · mentor texts · poetry · reading

Chanukah Poems + A Book Giveaway

As a practicing Jew, I'm a little perplexed about the popularity of Chanukah.  Chanukah is a minor holiday.  It doesn't have the same religious significance as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Passover, and Shavuot.  Yet, Chanukah gets more attention than the other ones since it falls around Christmastime each year. I've been searching for holiday-related… Continue reading Chanukah Poems + A Book Giveaway

holiday · Read Aloud

Teaching About ALL of the December Holidays

My students know I celebrate Chanukah, not Christmas. That's all they know. I have never gone into greater detail about the Festival of Lights since I didn't want to seem as though I was endorsing my own religion. However, after a child asked me, "Aren't Chanukah and Christmas kind of the same thing?" this past… Continue reading Teaching About ALL of the December Holidays