Educators

A Purim Lesson: Courage in the Face of Anti-Semitism

Abby Mudd walked nervously to the front of the class, her heart beating so fast and loud that it felt as if the other students could hear it pounding in her chest. The Massachusetts tenth-grader feared speaking out, but after seven months of enduring antisemitic slurs, she knew she couldn't stay silent. Abby took a deep breath. "I never understood how difficult it could be to be a minority until I came to school here," Abby said, addressing a group of 11th and 12th graders.

Get Everyone Involved with Your Own Purim Play

It's easy to feel overwhelmed around the holidays but not to worry - we've done some of the work for you. 

Using Color to Show Emotion: An Illustrator Q&A

Maddie the Mitzvah Clown, a new story from Apples & Honey Press, uses cheerful illustrations that evolve from black and white to full, exuberant color.    Maddie discovers her confidence when she decides to become a mitzvah clown to bring smiles to the faces of Grandma and her friends.

Keep Hebrew Skills Sharp in Ten Minutes

Before diving into prayer work with your students, where the Hebrew can be challenging, try some warm-ups. Not necessarily jumping jacks, but exercises for their simple Hebrew muscles.   At Rye Community Synagogue in New York, Rick Abrams, director of Jewish family life, is a big fan of using the Ten-Minute Hebrew Reader with older students to refresh their reading skills. 

Move From Oy to Joy: Parenting through Listening

Let’s face it: the day-to-day realities of parenting can be messy. Fortunately, Jewish tradition offers timeless wisdom, values, and guidance to help parents of all faiths and backgrounds. In The Joys & Oys of Parenting: Insight and Wisdom from the Jewish Tradition, learn about the concept of shalom bayit (a peaceful home) and thoughtful ideas, advice, and inspiration for raising children into confident, kind, responsible adults.

Get Ready! The First Hebrew in Harmony Webinar is February 23rd

If you're thinking about using Hebrew in Harmony with your students, or just want more information, register now to join us for the webinar "Basic Introduction to Hebrew in Harmony." The first in a three-part series, this webinar is perfect for those who want to learn more about the program. Participants will learn:

Six Tips to Help You Start a Parenting Group Using The Joys and Oys of Parenting

Lifelong relationships often begin among parents who meet up first because of their children. Synagogue-based parenting groups can provide a compelling and satisfying way to help parents (and grandparents, foster parents, step parents, and others raising children) deepen their relationships to one another and to your Jewish community.

How to Choose A Haggadah for Your Seder

The calendar may still say winter, but don't let Passover sneak up on you. Whether you're hosting seder for the first time or you’ve lost count, the key to a perfect holiday lies in the planning. The first seder is April 10, and it's not too early to start thinking about which haggadah to use this year. Start by considering your guest list. Who’s coming dictates what kind of haggadah to use. If you have guests with special needs or who are non-readers

Hebrew in Harmony Spring Webinars

Register now for our three spring webinars to help you best use Hebrew in Harmony. 1.    Basic Introduction to Hebrew in Harmony For educators considering the Hebrew in Harmony program Thursday, February 23, 20171:00-1:40 pm ESTPresenter: Terry Kaye

Hebrew in Harmony How-To: Accessing the Digital Component

The next generation of Hebrew learning has arrived -- the music-based Hebrew in Harmony program that invites students to learn to sing and pray in Hebrew, as well as read, explore, and interpret prayer text. Each individual prayer module comes with its own videos, downloadable music, Hebrew reading and recording options, games, and more, to give students a fun way to practice and deepen their learning. 

Plant One Tree

It’s nearly Tu BiShevat—the birthday for trees.

Meet Hebrew in Harmony Musician Josh Breitzer

Hebrew in Harmony—the new prayer curriculum for 4th-6th graders—features music from today's top Jewish musicians. This is part of a series profiling some of these talented artists.

Revised Edition of Ten-Minute Hebrew Reader Coming Soon

Keep Hebrew skills sharp all year long with the newly revised edition of the Ten-Minute Hebrew Reader, which will be available April 5th.

Reviews are In for Upcoming Passover Books

Two of our upcoming Passover releases, How It's Made: Matzah and The Passover Cowboy, have been read and warmly received by the reviewers at Kirkus Reviews. Considering these books for use in your classroom or home? Read on to see what the reviewers at Kirkus Reviews had to say.

New Hebrew in Harmony Prayers Released

Seven new prayers are now available as part of the Hebrew in Harmony series. This next phase of the groundbreaking music-based program for 4th-6th graders includes new student and teacher materials - both print and digital - with dozens of inspirational activities to help students engage with the words and meaning of prayers. Choose from individual prayer modules and teach them in any order. Each prayer contains three essential elements that all work together to create a rich learning experience for students: 1. A 16-page student journal

The Jewish Home is Now Available

Explore Jewish observance in the newly released edition of the classic book The Jewish Home, by Rabbi Daniel B. Syme, with all new images and updated content.

New Direct Access to Hebrew in Harmony Music

Rooted in music, Hebrew in Harmony encourages students to create meaning from prayer. Each of the prayers in the program features music from today's top Jewish musicians - along with arts, movement, mindfulness, videos, and a full digitial learning experience.  The music forms an ESSENTIAL element of Hebrew in Harmony, and you can now enjoy direct access to the music - free for a limited time. Stream the music right from the web or download it to your ipod or ipad.

How Judaism Makes Parents' Lives Work Better

Parents are worried. Parents get frustrated. Parents are tired. Parents often feel inadequate in the face of tremendous responsibility and are just trying to do the right thing. Judaism can help.

Foodie Connection: The Way to Our Kids’ Jewish Hearts May Be through Their Stomachs

Food has always held significance for Jews beyond the basics of sustenance. Spiritually, ritually, and culturally, the foods we eat (and those we choose not to) as well as the way we acquire them, cook them, serve them, and share them help define us, distinguish us, connect us.

Addressing Social Justice with Students

“Justice, justice shall you pursue,” the Torah insists.  This notion of social justice and pursuing fairness is a central tenet of Judaism, rooted in both text and halacha. How can you teach this to your students?  Here are some ideas to incorporate social justice into your classes or courses:

Teach Israel

 Experience Modern Israel

New from Behrman House. Fly to Israel without a plane ticket.

Discover Israel

 Let's Discover Israel

Offer younger children an exciting and age-appropriate introduction to the Jewish homeland