| Behrman House Publishing

Explore & Shop

Hot Topics: Homosexuality and the Jewish Community

How do we help students understand the nature of a Biblical to-evah (taboo) and how it influences our thinking about homosexuality? With the newest Hot Topics article and lesson plan, students will explore the nature of the Leviticus 18:22 text (which is often cited as a proof text for exclusion of homosexuals in religious communities,) and compare it to other to-evah in the Bible, and to our contemporary understanding of a taboo.

Educator Gets Results by Encouraging Hebrew Practice at Home with the Online Learning Center

We know that students are more successful learning Hebrew when they also practice a little at home. Here's how one educator encourages them, using the Online Learning Center. Lynn Calnek, Principal and Director of Life Long Learning at Temple Kol Tikvah in Davidson, NC, teaches 6-10 students who are new to Hebrew, learning the Alef Bet. "It's hard for me to have tutors for each individual student," Calnek said. "The Online Learning Center gives me a better way to teach these students all together."

Available Now! The Gateways Haggadah: A Seder for the Whole Family

We celebrate Passover with family and friends, singing songs, saying prayers, and eating holiday foods that help us remember the Passover story. This is a special time of year that all should enjoy.

You Too Can Preview the Newest Materials in Jewish Education with Golem Express

When you join Golem Express you will automatically receive a review copy of all the new educational materials we publish as soon as they are released. This upcoming year we are releasing 15 titles that will be included in Golem packages. With the Golem Express plan we will bill you ONCE per year, at the time of your first shipment. The additional Golem Express shipments will arrive automatically at NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE.

The Best of 2014

2014 brought so many great things to Behrman House this year. As the year is winding down we wanted to take another look at our favorite additions and what's to come for 2015.

4 Ways to Encourage Students' Learning This Winter Break

It's important to help students maintain their Hebrew progress while they are on winter break. In a recent article from The Washington Post, they presented 4 tips for students during break. We were inspired and put a Jewish touch on their suggestions for a more Jewish focus. Here is how families can prevent educational atrophy:

Check Out Deborah Grayson Riegel in Next Month's Oprah Magazine!

Hebrew Through Play: Apps and Games

Keep students focused during winter break with fun, family friendly Hebrew apps and games. Children won't get rusty with Hebrew letter recognition with the Unlimited Alef Bet interactive mobile app. Families can use their iPhone, iPad, and Android devices to successfully learn to decode the Alef Bet with animated Hebrew words that talk!

New Haggadah Welcomes All to Passover Table

Children of all abilities and disabilities can participate fully in your seder this year with the new Gateways Haggadah. This easy-to-hold, concise Haggadah is respectful to all participants, whatever their abilities, to ensure that all can take part meaningfully in a complete Passover seder.

What is Experiential Education and How Does Behrman House Support it?

We keep going back to this article by Carole Gerecht that appeared early this year as part of a series on experiential education, the process of teaching Jewish life, and Jewish values, by building meaningful Jewish experiences - creating learning opportunities through lessons and programs that combine traditional methods of text study, learning, and service, with physical and emotional interaction between learners.&nbsp

Create Family Memories this Hanukkah

Stories offer bonding time with families and create opportunities to share and discuss understanding. What better way to celebrate this Hanukkah with some of our favorite Hanukkah stories and learning materials.

Hebrew Through Play: Days of the Week

You shoot, you score, you learn! Introduce students to the new Basketball Hebrew Days of the Week game, from the popular Alef Bet Quest. This new game allows students to shoot basketballs in a three-point shooting contest. Students will learn to recognize the days of the week in Hebrew and work towards a high score!

Hot Topics: Whose Kotel is it?

What is the nature of the Kotel, and what laws should govern the use of it for religious and secular purposes? Hot Topics: Whose Kotel is it? helps students understand that although the Kotel is a sacred site for all Jews, the rules governing its use are currently dictated by Orthodox authorities, but make their own decisions about what the rules should be.

Is Thanksgiving a Jewish Holiday?

Many gather together with friends and family to enjoy turkey and stuffing every Thanksgiving, but have you ever thought of it as a Jewish holiday? Rabbi Jessica Locketz, writing at ReformJudaism.org, says Thanksgiving can be a Jewish holiday.

Hot Topics: What Does it Mean to Not be Cruel to Animals and Still Eat Meat?

Humans are omnivores, and historically people around the world have consumed both plants and animals. What does Jewish tradition have to say about our relationship with animals? In order for us to be able to eat our favorite hamburger and chicken dinners, farmers need to raise and care for the animals that we eat. Jewish tradition clearly teaches us that we cannot be cruel to animals, but it is also clear that it is acceptable to eat meat, kill animals, and/or have them to perform farm work.

You're Invited: As a Driven Leaf Play Reading December 18th in New York City

Thursday, December 18th the Jewish Publication Society and Rabbi Barry Schwartz are celebrating the 75th anniversary of As a Driven Leaf's publication. Make your reservations now! Renowned actors of the Instant Shakespeare Players will be presenting a full-length play written by Rabbi Schwartz based on the novel by Rabbi Milton Steinberg.

Put a Little Jewish Spin on Your Thanksgiving Feast

This Thanksgiving your guests will be thankful for these mini sweet potato knishes and you will be thankful for this FREE recipe from Get Cooking! A Jewish American Cookbook. These simple to follow directions makes 45-50 mini knishes and adds a Jewish spin to your Thanksgiving tish.

Shoot Some Hoops and Tell Us: What's Your High Score?

We've refreshed your favorite primer, Alef Bet Quest, with a few new games for the school year-- how well have you done? After completing each lesson, a matching interactive game will be available to help students learn how to decode Hebrew. One of the new games allows students to shoot basketballs in a three-point shooting contest. Students will learn to recognize Hebrew letters and vowels as they play through both Jewish cultural words and everyday Hebrew words.

Everyone Has a Place at the Passover Table

This Passover we are bringing a very special haggadah to your seder tables. The Gateways Haggadah welcomes families with children of all abilities and disabilities to your Passover seder with step-by-step directions for every element of the Passover seder. Each prayer's meaning is illuminated by more than 70 vibrant photographs and 150 picture communication symbols developed by Mayer-Johnson™.