Archive for the ‘Jewish Holidays’ Category
Book Review | Celebrate Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur
by Deborah Heiligman
Score: 3
© 2007, National Geographic Books.
Part of the National Geographic Holidays Around the World Series, this is an excellent introduction to the High Holidays for young children and their families. Pages filled with colorful pictures of Jews around the world celebrating Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur accompany simple explanatory text describing these holidays. At the back [...]
Book Review | The Secret Shofar of Barcelona
by Jacqueline Dembar Greene
Score: 4
Illustrated by Doug Chayka.
© 2009, KarBen Publishing.
The author looks to a Sephardic legend for this well-written story about a Spanish converso (secret Jew) who cleverly enables his secret community of Jews to hear the sound of the shofar at Rosh Hashanah. Set in Barcelona, during the Spanish Inquisition, Ms. Greene creates a story that [...]
Summertime and the Livin’ is Easy?
08/10/10
DuBose Heyward wrote the lyrics to, “Summertime”, with George and Ira Gershwin providing the melody: “Summertime and the livin’ is easy…”
They lied.
There has been no easy livin’ in my home this summer. I have been working two jobs, toiling over “staging” my house for sale, trying to keep up with my reading and worrying over the fact that I have not posted a blog since May. MAY!
I view summer as a time when I can accomplish all the things I could not do during the school year. Unfortunately, I fail to realize that I still have to do all the tasks I am responsible for during the school year. I somehow forget I am not a student. I do not get a summer vacation. I still have to work, take care of the house and the family. All of those accomplishments I put off until summer, thinking I would have more time, are still sitting in a pile waiting for me – staring at me.
So here I sit, on erev Elul, knowing the shofar is going to blow tomorrow morning to signal me to begin considering my accomplishments of the past year while looking to perhaps change my behavior for the upcoming year. My pile of “to-do’s” may still be sitting there when the Rosh Hashanah shofar blows signaling the New Year has arrived…but at least I will have written a blog or two.
Happy Reading,
Kathy B.
Book Review | This Tree Counts
by Alison Formento
Score: 3.5
Illustrated by Sarah Snow
© 2010, Albert Whitman & Company.
One large oak tree stood at the back of Oak Lane School. Mr. Tate wants his class to plant some more oak trees, but before they do, he asks them to listen to the big tree’s story. As they stop and hug the tree, the class [...]
Earth Day – Then and Now
04/22/10
We have been cleaning out our basement, not a fun thing. Especially when one of you is a hoarder (that would be me) and the other is – what’s the opposite of hoarder – a declutterer? (that would be my husband.) I am proud of myself, however, I am managing to send many of my “precious” items to the give away, sell or trash piles. My “keep” pile is much smaller.
Among the many items I have uncovered/discovered in the basement, were my high school scrapbooks (My collecting habits run deep.) I grew up in California and graduated from San Gabriel Mission High School in 1972 (a Catholic School. Read “About Me”) . I appropriately refer to these materials as “vintage-collectibles.”
Anyway, in my scrapbook from my sophomore year (yes, there is one – or more – for each year including one for my first year of college. Step 1: I admit I have a problem!), I found my page for Earth Day 1970! Proof…I was on the cutting edge of environmental awareness. I celebrated the very first Earth Day 40 years ago. My notes say that we prepared these beautiful (now environmentally wasteful) “tallies” to hand out to everyone:
We also handed out “Stop Smog” bumper stickers
and brochures from “The People’s Lobby” with this marvelous Henry Gibson (z’l) quote on the cover:
In addition, we sang, “This Land is Your Land” at a school assembly at which I note, “I was a Pollution” (I have absolutely no clue, nor any memory, of what that means.) I grew up in the San Gabriel Valley. I distinctly remember never being able to see the San Gabriel Mountains during my youthful summers as smog would block the view. Today, thankfully, that has changed, but perhaps my “role” was a tribute to that then menacing presence.
Earth Day has changed as well, what started as a simple grass roots call for individuals to “put your money where your lungs are,” has turned into a global cry to “Save Our Planet!” On that day 40 years ago, a group of Mission High School students planted some small trees across the street on what was then the school’s track. I recently saw a picture of those trees – they are huge! It reminded me, in a very real way, of the story of Honi and the Carob trees. It also reminded me that while so much has changed in me and around me over these past 40 years – FORTY YEARS! – the core values I learned growing up have evolved, but not changed so very much. Looking back, I have so very much to be thankful for. I hope my children feel the same 40 years from now.
Happy reading,
Kathy B.
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