Families

The Stories We Tell About Ourselves

This week marks Lag Ba’Omer, a joyful holiday celebrated with bonfires and telling stories about ancient scholars who kept alive the light of learning during times of oppression. There’s much more to storytelling though than simply listening to or reading about other people. Personal storytelling can help us understand ourselves better. 

Get Ready for Summer

As summer fast approaches, children may be gearing up for camp, swimming, and a change of scenery. 

Connect Children to Israel this Lag Ba'Omer with A Holiday for Ari Ant

Israelis mark Lag Ba'Omer with a day off school and giant bonfires, usually made from scrap wood gathered by children weeks in advance. It's a big holiday there, and Israelis living in the United States are often surprised at how little we know about Lag Ba'omer, which this year begins the evening of May 25.

Resources to Celebrate Lag Ba'Omer

Looking for some educational and fun ideas to celebrate Lag Ba'Omer with your students?   Lag Ba'Omer, which this year falls on May 25-26, is usually celebrated with campfires and field games, such as archery. In Israel, giant public celebrations are held throughout the country, celebrating the light of learning that was brought into the world during the times of Roman oppression. 

Meet Noah Aronson: A Featured Hebrew in Harmony Musician

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.

Confronting Ageism by Aging Wisely Together, in Community

Baby boomers have been changing life in the U.S. since they were born. And now this year, as they begin turning 70, the generation that began not trusting anyone over 30 now has the opportunity to confront ageism in our society and possibly reverse some of the negative stereotypes about getting old.

Food for Thought: Making Mindful Connections to Our Passover Meals

A well-known New York chef recently embarked on a mission to explore why some matzah—at least in his opinion—tastes better than others. He had enjoyed shmura matzah, which means "guarded” or “watched,” and in tracing the matzah back from the bakery to the field where the wheat grew, found a new appreciation for the entire matzah-making process.

Meet Lisa Levine: A Featured Hebrew in Harmony Musician

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

A New View on the Four Children

The Gateways Haggadah welcomes families with children of all abilities to a Passover celebration that is accessible for the whole family.

Choose the Perfect Haggadah

How is this haggadah different from all others?

The Kids Books You Want for Passover

Whether you want to create anticipation for Passover among your youngest family members and friends or you're looking for just the right afikomen gift, here are some terrific ideas for you.

There's Still Time to Save on Haggadot

There's just one week left to save on Passover haggadot! Now through March 31, take an extra five percent off on haggadot, on top of your regular discounts, and get free shipping* on orders of 50 books or more! You can mix and match any of the titles below to get to 50 books.  Haggadah Sale Titles Include:

Apples & Honey Press Spring Titles Featuring New Characters and Returning Favorites!

It's almost time to add new holiday stories and old favorites from Apples & Honey Press to your shelves!

Encourage Young Children to Participate in Your Passover Seder

In recent years, we have released three essential titles to help create new ways for families with young children to participate in their Passover seder.  With help from The Gateways Haggadah, Frogs in the Bed, and Kayla and Kugel's Almost-Perfect Passover, your children will be interested and engaged during the seder. 

Get Your Haggadot From Bed Bath and Beyond this Passover

This Passover, visit your closest Bed Bath & Beyond* to get copies of Simply Seder and Family Haggadah: A Seder for All Generations. The Passover titles will be available for purchase at more than 100 Bed Bath & Beyond locations in early March. 

In Memory of Ruby Strauss z’l

By David Behrman Many who read this will not have known our former colleague Ruby Strauss, but you are reading her words in your books, and using her books in your classrooms. She was a powerhouse—our vice president and the editor of the vast bulk of what we published for almost 20 years before she retired in 1998.  Her work had remarkable range—she spanned Hebrew and Judaica, was an editor and an art director—and she had a good eye, a keen visual sense, and a good ear—a feel for words and verbal expression.

Mindfulness and the Brain

People who practice meditation and mindfulness have long reported health benefits, from lower blood pressure to reduced anxiety. New research released this week shows that such practices can actually change your brain. "To meditate mindfully demands 'an open and receptive, nonjudgmental awareness of your present-moment experience,'"says J. David Creswell, who led the study and is an associate professor of psychology and the director of the Health and Human Performance Laboratory at Carnegie Mellon University in this week's announcement.

How to Host an Inclusive Passover Seder

Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM)may be coming to an end, but with help from Gateways: Access to Jewish Education, we can continue our inclusive mindset through the year.  Last year we introduced The Gateways Haggadah: A Seder for the Whole Family, which offers something truly amazing - a place for all at the Passover table. 

Save on Your Passover Haggadot Today!

It's time for the annual Haggadah sale at Behrman House!  Starting February 24, and continuing through March 30th, take an extra five percent off on Passover haggadot, on top of your regular discounts, and get free shipping* on orders of 50 books or more! You can mix and match any of the titles below to get to 50 books.  Haggadah Sale Titles Include:

Crazy Weather Got You Anxious? Try Coloring!

Adult coloring books are all the rage these days, and for many reasons.  Coloring for adults offers mental benefits. In 2005, research proved that anxiety levels dropped when subjects colored mandalas.  We took this into consideration when we published Shalom Coloring: Jewish Designs for Contemplation and Calm in 2015. 

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