Sharing Blessings: Children's Stories for Exploring the Spirit of the Jewish Holidays [Hardcover]

Rahel Musleah (Author), Michael Klayman (Author), Mary O'Keefe Young (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1937

What is the spiritual message of each of the Jewish holidays? How do we teach it to our children? Many books tell children about the historical significance and customs of the holidays. Now, through engaging, creative stories about one family s spiritual preparation, Sharing Blessings explores ways to get into the spirit of the holidays all year long.

Musleah, mother and journalist, and Klayman, father and rabbi, gently give our children the spiritual message and help adult and child explore it together. For 13 different holidays and festivals, there is a story about David and Ilana and their parents a story focusing on the spiritual value embodied in each holiday. Being afraid of the dark, taking a walk in the woods with Grandpa, arguments between David and Ilana, sharing family photos, helping the community; all become opportunities for learning about how holidays meanings are related to our daily life. Each story concludes with a special prayer, a blessing that child and adult can share to bring the spiritual meaning of the holiday into their own lives.

Selected Contents:

Shabbat: Sharing Blessings
Family

Rosh Hashanah: Being Able to Say I Did It
Responsibility

Yom Kippur: Talking to God
Prayer

Sukkot: Accepting Differences
Peace

Purim: Giving Instead of Taking
Gratitude

Yom HaShoah: Why Doesn't God Stop the Bad Guys?
Free Will

and more...

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5. This chapter book of realistic fiction (or "faction") is designed to teach the Jewish holidays and the values associated with them by tradition and as interpreted by the authors, one of whom is a rabbi. A paragraph describing the holiday introduces the Kedner family (mother, father, son, and daughter) and assorted relatives celebrating or observing it. Despite efforts at informal and lively banter, the narrative tends to be stiff due to the didactic nature of the book. Holidays and values include Shabbat: Sharing Blessings (family); Rosh Hashanah: Being Able to Say "I Did It" (responsibility); Yom Kippur: Talking to God (prayer); Sukkot: Accepting Differences (peace); Simchat Torah: It's Good to Be a Jew (joyousness); Hanukkah: Standing Up for Your Beliefs (conviction); Tu B'Shevat: Caring for Nature (wonder); Purim: Giving Instead of Taking (gratitude); Pesach: "I Was at Sinai" (continuity); Yom Ha-shoah: Why Doesn't God Stop the Bad Guys? (free will); Yom Ha-atzma'ut: We Care About One Another (community); Shavuot: Learning Is Not Just for School (education); and Tisha B'Av: Creating Hope from Despair (rebuilding). Young's bright, realistic watercolors complement the handsome, well-designed volume. It succeeds in effectively teaching Jewish holidays and stresses that values are to live by all year round.?Marcia W. Posner, Holocaust Memorial and Educational Center of Nassau County, Glen Cove, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A beguiling introduction to important Jewish values by way of the holidays." -- Rabbi Harold S. Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to

"A delightful series of stories that empower parents to share Jewish values and spirituality with their children.... A great read-aloud book!" -- Dr. Ron Wolfson, Director, Whizin Institute for Jewish Family Life, Univ. of Judaism; author of "The Art of Jewish Living" Series

"Brings the history and spirit behind the Jewish holidays into a contemporary realm." -- Jane Breskin Zalben, author of Beni's First Chanukah and other books

"Lighthearted, and yet thorough--allows all Jewish parents (even those with very little Jewish education) to introduce the spirit of our cherished holiday traditions." -- Shari Lewis, creator and star of PBS' "Lamb Chop's Play-Along"

"There are so many books which tell children the 'what' and 'how' of holiday observance. Here, at last, are stories of the spirit that teach the 'why' and 'what for' behind the celebration." -- Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, author of For Heaven's Sake, Waht Is God's Name and other books

"This is the book parents and teachers have been waiting for-finally a book about the spiritual dimensions of the Jewish holidays for children, told in a voice that all can understand and enjoy." -- Rabbi Kerry M. Olitzky, author of Sacred Intentions: Daily Inspirations to Strengthen the Spirit and other books

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing (December 1937)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879045710
• ISBN-13: 978-1879045712
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,113,144 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)