Teachers & Educators

Behrman House on the Road

Behrman House staff makes a practice of getting out of the office regularly, all the better to meet our educator colleagues and gain a deeper understanding of the present and the future of Jewish education. We attend conferences, run workshops, speak to groups, visit educators, and seek opportunities to learn about trends and issues that affect our customers and our work. Here’s where we're off to in the next couple of months, and what we've been up to this past fall. Are we going to be in your area? Let us know--we'd love to see you while we're there!

Free Hanukkah Resources for Students, Educators, and Families

Instructional Guides How do you light the candles? What is the “helper” candle called? How do you play dreidel? To introduce the holiday to young children or families, Celebrating Hanukkah from the For the Family series provides the perfect entry. This 4-page laminated folder includes the story of Hanukkah, explanation of why and how the holiday is celebrated,  instructions for how dreidel is played, and all the blessings – in Hebrew, transliteration, and English. Click the images below for some sample lessons.

Authors of Farmer Kobi's Hanukkah Match to Sign Books at New Jersey Barnes and Noble

Warm up for the holiday season with the award-winning authors of Farmer Kobi’s Hanukkah Match, Karen Rostoker-Gruber and Rabbi Ron Isaacs.

Peaceful Gifts for the Busy Educator

The first semester nears its end and teachers are starting to feel the bustle of the season setting in. With the busy swirl of grading, lesson planning, and holiday preparation, why not gift your educators with an opportunity for meditative practice?

New Prayer Modules in Hebrew in Harmony Coming Soon!

Coming mid-January: seven new modules in the Hebrew in Harmony series. This next phase of the groundbreaking music-based program for 4th-6th graders includes seven new prayers and dozens of inspirational activities to help students engage with the words and meaning of prayer. The new prayers are: *Avot V’imahot*Birchot Shalom*G’vurot*L’chah Dodi*K’dushah*Mi Chamocha*V’ahavta What materials will be available? Beginning January 15, you’ll have access to:

Webinar: For Teachers - How to Use Hebrew in Harmony

Whether you’re a teacher currently using Hebrew in Harmony, or just considering it, we've got a webinar for you. "For Teachers: How to Use Hebrew in Harmony" Tuesday, December 6, 1 pm EST Presenter: Terry Kaye In 40 minutes, you’ll learn:

Hanukkah Gift Ideas

Thanksgiving is done, and it's time to start thinking about Hanukkah gift lists. We are the people of the Book, and so we've rounded up some great gift books for the people in your life.

A Few Mindful Minutes: Reclaiming Attention and Getting Going Again

In conversation, in social media, in a dozen daily interactions I notice that many of us are having a tough time focusing right now. Yet daily life calls out for attention. We emerge as though from deep sleep, and begin again to answer emails, set meetings, rework plans for projects, for get-togethers both personal and professional.

Jewish Wisdom For Today's Parents

Of all the child-raising challenges Dr. Maurice Elias has counseled parents on in his long career, anger tops the list. Not childhood aggression, however, but parental tempers. "Anger is corrosive," he says, "Children don't hear the words you're using, they just feel your anger in their core." 

Tools to Assess and Strengthen Students' Hebrew Skills

You survived the fall holiday marathon. Now it's time to use your uninterrupted schedule to focus on your students' Hebrew skills. Our resources can help you meet students where they are in their Hebrew, and ensure they succeed in reaching the next level of your program.

Choosing Your Colors

Artist Freddie Levin demonstrates how to think about choosing your palette.

Your Hebrew in Harmony Community

Dear Educators, As you get underway with the new school year, we wanted to let you know about two valuable resources that will help you make full use of the new Hebrew in Harmony materials.  

How Much Did Golem Subscribers Save in 2016?

September marked the last month of 2016 Golem box shipments from Behrman House. Golem and Golem Express subscribers received early releases this year of such titles as:

Move From Oy to Joy: Parenting Tips to Foster Resilience

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. The new book The Joys & Oys of Parenting: Insight and Wisdom from the Jewish Tradition begins with the concept of shalom bayit (a peaceful home) and offers practical ideas, advice, and inspiration for raising children into confident, kind, responsible adults.

Free Hebrew Practice Links for Student Success

Make the most of the next eight weeks of school (before winter break)! We know you want to ensure your learners get good opportunities to learn and practice Hebrew. We know that when kids practice Hebrew for just five minutes a day, they get better more quickly. That's why we offer lots of free digital resources for students to practice Hebrew - on their time, on their devices. You can send links to your families and recommend our free apps for quick and fun ways to enhance their learning.

Free Resource to Explore What Judaism Says About Presidential Elections

What qualities should voters should look for in our leaders? That's the question you can help teens explore through a Jewish lens as the general election fast approaches.

Simchat Torah Time: Show Students How It's Made

With Simchat Torah just around the corner, we've put together a free educator's guide for using How It's Made: Torah Scroll - the vibrant new resource that enhances the learning of the holiest object in Judaism.

Third Hebrew in Harmony Cohort Begins November 15

By popular demand, we have opened up a third cohort of teacher training for Hebrew in Harmony, the groundbreaking new music-based curriculum for 4th-6th graders that offers an engaging and musical Hebrew experience for your students.

The Changing Landscape of Jewish Education: An Interview with the Covenant Foundation

The newest issue of The Covenant Foundation magazine - Sight Line - focuses entirely on Jewish supplementary schools, and features an interview with David Behrman, Behrman House publisher, and Vicki Weber, director of communications and customer support. Here's an excerpt from the piece, "A View From the Stacks: Behrman House Reflects on the Changing Landscape of Jewish Education." 

New Sam Glaser Album Celebrates 25 Years of Music

Musician Sam Glaser has traveled the world in concert many times over, performing the music from his two dozen albums to audiences of all denominations, equally comfortable playing a solo at the grand piano, leading his 8-piece band, or backed by a full orchestra. After 25 years in the Jewish music business, we think it’s fitting that he chose to celebrate the anniversary with music.

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