May 8 2012
By Jordana Horn at 12:48 pm
There are so many things to say about Maurice Sendak, the incredible children’s writer and illustrator who died today at 83 years old. In the famous book The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales, child psychologist Bruno Bettelheim wrote that the most truly magical works of children’s literature were the ones that allowed children to face their terrors and fears through symbolism. Sendak was a master of this–and not only for children.
Facebook feeds will surely be full up today with status message tributes to Sendak’s legacy. Read the rest of this entry →
Apr 27 2012
By Logan Ritchie at 10:08 am
Though I want my kids to learn ancient texts, I don't want the learning to feel boring and antiquated.
Flashback to 2008: It is Friday night. My husband and I, along with one hundred parents of small children, are packed in like sardines for Tot Shabbat. Children run the aisles. I find myself feeling obligated and uncomfortable. After, we attend a kosher dinner in which we sit with three couples who already know each other and spend the dinner comparing diamonds, cars, and private school educations.
This would never be my synagogue. My kid will not go to Hebrew school here. What happened to the Reform synagogues of yesteryear? I want my rabbi bearded, wearing a tie-dye tallit, and playing guitar. I want my son to grow up to be a thoughtful, spiritual, civic-minded, Jewish man. How will he get to these milestones if I don’t start educating him now? Read the rest of this entry →
Apr 23 2012
By Amy Deutsch at 4:33 pm
It’s no coincidence that Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, occurs just shortly after Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day. After all, we Jews are a people who deeply understand that the cycle of life brings both sadness and happiness. Naomi Shemer, an Israeli poet and composer, wrote a song called Al Kol Eileh about how we learn to taste both the bitter and the sweet.
And so it’s time to move from sadness to happiness. What better way to celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut than with a whole bunch of your closest friends at a huge party? Israelis in Brooklyn is putting together a celebration on Thursday, April 26 at 6:00 pm at Congregation Beth Elohim. There will be music, singing, delicious food from the Hummus Place (if you live in NYC and have never been there, drop everything and GO NOW, it’s that good), and a DJ at the end of the night for a serious Israeli-style dance party.
And after all of the interesting press that Brooklyn has gotten recently (did you see The Daily Show?), the idea of coming together as a community to celebrate seems even more wonderful. RSVP to info@israelisinbrooklyn.org, and there’s more info here.
Did I mention that it’s free? See you there!
If you can’t make it to Brooklyn, bring a little bit of Israel to your home with our favorite Israeli recipes…yum!
Apr 11 2012
By Tanya Tolchin at 9:33 am
A preschooler snagging thirds!
Last week, my sweet boy turned 5 and we celebrated by hosting his preschool class at our farm for a treasure hunt, pony rides with a neighbor, and lunch. He originally requested a party at one of those indoor bouncy centers, so I was very happy that we were able to coax, sell, and redirect him toward a homespun farm party.
The day before the party, my husband brought in a large bag of tender baby kale from the farm–the first of the spring new growth. When I asked my son what we should serve as a snack for the party, he completely surprised me by suggesting kale chips. I laughed and wondered how they would go over with his class that is used to much more standard preschool fare. Read the rest of this entry →
Apr 9 2012
By Monica Gebell at 9:37 am
Because if your kids eat this much matzah you're going to have some serious bathroom issues.
Now that my kids are old enough to refuse food—the elder, with her words, the younger, by throwing it at me or on the floor—I’m going to need some kid-friendly Passover food.
The meals they actually sit and finish during the rest of the year are tortellini, mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, falafel, and PB&J. That is their palettes’ limit. Read the rest of this entry →
Apr 3 2012
By Jordana Horn at 3:02 pm
You want to engage your kids in the seder. But it’s almost here and you haven’t quite figured out how to make that happen yet. Never fear. Here are a few easy, low-effort ways to make the seder more entertaining for the preschool/younger kid set.
1. EVERY YEAR, I WRITE THE BOOK! Sit your kids down and ask them to dictate the story of Passover to you. Write what they say down word for word, including ‘um’ and ‘you know’ and run-on sentences. DO NOT HELP THEM: the ‘blooper’ characteristic of this is what makes it so wonderful. Once they have done so, pick out a few elements of their stories out and ask them to make a drawing to match (“Can you draw the Red Sea splitting in half for me?”). Then put the text you’ve written together with their drawings, and make a cover saying, “Kid 1 and Kid 2 Passover Story, 2012.” If you are really ambitious, you can make color copies to hand out at the seder. If not, just pass this one around. Trust me, it will be a keepsake.
2. WORK HARD, RELAX RIGHT. Get some pillowcases and markers, and let the kids go to town on them, with Passover-related or abstract art work. Then put pillows in them for people’s seats so they can chillax in freedom-lovin’ style. Offer the pillowcases as a ‘souvenir’ if you find them too, um, aesthetically challenging. Hint: Let these artworks dry before putting them on seder chairs.
Read the rest of this entry →
By Tamara Reese at 11:55 am
Tori Avey is a food blogger and culinary anthropologist and you would never guess she hasn’t been Jewish her entire life. Tori found that in many ways food brought her to Judaism and she has explored her spiritual path through immersing herself in traditional Jewish cooking which she shares at Shiksa in the Kitchen. She officially converted to Judaism in 2010 and regularly hosts over 40 people at her house for Seder.
1. Jewish holidays like Hanukkah and Purim are easy to share with non-Jewish family, but Passover, the seder in particular, can be intimidating and sometimes confusing. How do you share this traditional meal with your non-Jewish family?
One of my favorite things about food is that it breaks down all boundaries–a yummy meal is something we can all agree on, no matter where we come from or what our background is. Passover is such a food-oriented holiday, which makes it a great opportunity to bring people together. Taking a moment to explain the blessings–and why we’re doing strange things, like eating bitter herbs–helps everybody to enjoy the evening more. My non-Jewish family actually looks forward to the seder. My mom likes to help me cook. Usually I have 40-50 guests for my seder, and many of them aren’t Jewish, but everybody has fun… it’s a festive evening of storytelling, singing, tradition, and incredible food. As a Jewish family, it’s a way for us to welcome others in, to help them better understand our faith. What’s not to like? Read the rest of this entry →
Apr 2 2012
By Amy Deutsch at 9:45 am
Though I love to look at other people’s crafts, I myself am not exactly a crafty person. But I thought that perhaps you, like me, might want to check out some of the cool stuff that people are planning for Passover. (If you haven’t yet seen our Kveller Crafts Pinterest board, you might want to stop there too!)
First stop is the gorgeous afikomen cover here on Kveller. It’ll add a special twist to your matzah hunt.
We also think that this recycled seder plate is a great activity. Read the rest of this entry →
Mar 30 2012
By Jordana Horn at 1:24 pm
My son acting out his role as Pharaoh.
This past Sunday, I brought home six pizzas and enough Girl Scout cookies to supply a store (oh, Tagalongs and Thin Mints–is it not latent anti-Semitism that your annual sale always falls just before Passover?) No, I was not hosting a Mad Men party. Instead, seven children under 8-years-old, their parents (my sisters and their husbands), and my brother and his wife were coming over to prepare, perform, and film The Second Annual Family Passover Video.
Passover is my favorite Jewish holiday. Trust me, I have no fondness for pre-Passover cleaning (or cleaning generally – just ask my neat-freak husband). And no, I do not feel that cardboard, aka “matzah,” bears any resemblance whatsoever to food. Cooking with cottonseed oil for a week is insanity: cotton should be worn, not eaten. And don’t get me started on the whole corn oil/peanut bullshit. Really, just don’t go there. Read the rest of this entry →
Mar 29 2012
By Joanna Brichetto at 2:40 pm
This is me preparing for Passover.
My friend Marjorie recently wondered if there was such a thing as Passover cooking for slackers. I wish. I overdo Passover so hard I always wind up ill before, during, and after the seders. Right now, just the thought that I must find, unfold, starch and iron the Florentine tablecloths makes me sweat. Forget about creating the haggadah and sorting plague toys and designing elaborate afikomen treasure hunts and oh, the deep cleaning supposedly going on for weeks beforehand. I realize seder prep needn’t be all or nothing, but I would love to hear about any time and trouble-saving tips that will save ME.
And then there is the cooking. If all I had to do was cook, I’d cook happy and calm. I’d don a vintage apron and stroll through ancient Sisterhood cookbooks, Joan Nathan, a few online posts, and then get sidetracked in Gil Marks’ Encyclopedia of Jewish Food. I’d sketch a graphic organizer of elaborate dishes tailored to the ages and preferences of each guest. And then I’d cook. Read the rest of this entry →
