Summer Project Idea: Family Roots Tour

Looking for an unusual summer assignment? Even better -- something special for the family to do? My heirloom presentations have proven to me how much children want to connect with their ancestors and their heritage. So why not take the next step -- a family roots trip that brings heirlooms alive; a journey that will remind the younger generation that American Jews have a rich and fascinating history. A nation within a nation, they struggled, succeeded and made their mark. Many did so while making sure to preserve their Jewish identity. That's the message we want to bring home and what better time than during a summer vacation!

I bring this up because now I can speak from experience. Meet the descendants of Fannie and Charlie Sneider -- at least most of them.

As you can see, I am part of that tribe. Since my husband and I are in the States and soon on our way back to Israel, one of my cousins suggested a family reunion. The idea quickly evolved into a family roots tour, fittingly held Memorial Day weekend. It collectively transported us from Texas, Florida, Maryland, New York and New Jersey to Asbury Park. Yes it's Bruce Springstein's hometown, but our ancestors got there first. More importantly, they laid the foundation for Jewish life in this popular seashore resort.

Of course, nothing stays the same. The original building housing the synagogue Sons of Israel, founded by our great/grandfather no longer stands. But its second location -- circa 1949 -- remains an active part of a different stripe of the city's religious life. Today it's a Haitian church. Still, the stained glass windows with Jewish symbols remain in place.

The cemetery Great/Grandpa founded is beautifully kept up. Going to the family plot and viewing the tombstones of relatives long gone gave all of us pause.

As did the house where our grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles grew up.

And for those relatives who couldn't make it, but wanted to be part of this memorable family event, we Skyped them in and provided an update along with lots of laughs.

At the end of the weekend we all agreed that this was a trip well worth making. While most of the 20+ and 30+ generation couldn't  make it, a few did, including one set of young parents. A lot wiser about our family heritage, they now have the tools to pass the story down to the next generation. 

Now that's something to look forward to!

Special Offer for the Coming School Year

15% Discount on all Virtual Visits Booked by June 15

The school year is winding down and pretty soon you'll be planning next year's activities.

How about inviting me into your classroom via skype?

My virtual author visits engage students while at the same time reduce costs for you. Have a look at my extensive book repertoire.

There's a book and matching program for Hanukkah, Tu B'Shvat, Passover,Yom Hashoah and Yom Ha'Atzmaut, PLUS two wonderful books and a program on family heirlooms that help students connect with their ancestors and heritage.

Click here for more information on my virtual visits 

or contact me

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Tami

Turn the Shavuot Custom of Greenery Decorations into an Ecology Lesson

I couldn't help but see the constant green connection to Shavuot in my latest search for new customs. So many revolve around first fruits, greenery decorations, even paper cuts with  images of leaves and flowers surrounding the Torah and other Jewish symbols.

An aha moment? You bet. Especially when I connected the fact that the children of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years and several millenia later their descendants took that same desert, tamed it and turned it into verdant fields.

Israel's modern agricultural miracle is a continuation of the rules the Torah taught us about protecting the environment -- and like Tu B'Shvat, Shavuot is a timely holiday for rejoicing over the environmental protection blueprint which the Torah has provided.

Have a look at two of the many environmental lessons from the Torah that we can share with our children:

1. Orlah: Connect celebrating the appearance of first fruits with this law teaching us that nature needs time to mature. While we rejoice over seeing the first fruits of a tree (usually in the third year), to truly savor its taste we must wait one more year before taking our first bite.

2. Bal Tash'khit: This Biblical law teaches us how to preserve the land. Over the centuries the rabbis expanded on it to include the concept of using only what is necessary.

Looking for another green connection with Shavuot? Try this out for size: The story of Ruth incorporates the world's first food drive. After all, didn't Boaz tell Ruth she could reap from the leftover bounty in his fields?

A different slant for this year's Shavuot lesson? Continue your green lesson plan by leafing through the pages of my book, Green Bible Stories for Children for more eco-lesson ideas.

Photo Credit

The Custom of Shabbat Heirlooms

Today I had the privilege of appearing at the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy in Rockville, Maryland. Using my book Lotty's Lace Tablecloth, we focused on the importance of family heirlooms -- how they connect us to our ancestors and our Jewish way of life. For starters, before reading the book I showed 4th grade students the lace doily for placing Sabbath candlesticks on, that my grandmother made as a wedding gift for my mother.

Afterwards, I asked the students to show their heirlooms and tell the tale behind them. Some wonderful stories emerged, including tales of bravery and service in the American army.

I was particularly taken by how many children brought in ritual objects related to Shabbat. It was amazing hearing about ancestors fleeing Russia (I assume pogroms) and making sure they had their precious candlesticks with them.  Some brought in the actual candlesticks, others brought photos.























A wood Havdalah spice box made in Israel during the early years of statehood was also proudly exhibited. Since I am always looking for unconventional heirlooms, I especially appreciated the Shabbat gefilte fish cleaver the girl below brought in -- and her reenactment of how her grandmother chopped the fish.

Talk about unconventional -- how about this Cantor's robe?!

Yes -- kids love heirlooms and learning the stories behind them. If you're a teacher, a Shabbat heirloom show & tell is an enriching program. If you're a parent, what better way to connect your children with their ancestors?! What's that -- you don't have a Shabbat related heirloom? It's never too late.  Start the tradition now.

Shabbat Shalom.

A Shabbat Custom from China that Connects to Shavuot

Centuries ago The Wandering Jew made tracks to the Far East, establishing a presence in China. Happily, I've discovered some of their customs and recently found a Shabbat tradition dating back to the 18th century that could easily be applied to a 21st century Shavuot celebration.

Before the Torah reading began, Chinese Jews removed the Torah from the Ahron Kodesh (Holy Ark) and put it on a special seat called the chair of Moses. From there it was carried to the Bima for the Torah reading. A small gesture but an important one, for where would we be without Moses and the Torah given to him on Mt. Sinai?

This of course is the segue to Shavuot, a holiday also referred to as Zman Matan Torateinu -- the time we received the Torah. So here's my suggestion: This Shavuot, how about designating a special chair for Moses? We already learned about a North African custom of placing an Elijah Chair in the Sukkah. Why not give Moses his due credit? Even better, how about creating your own Moses chair? You don't need wood. It seems a simple large carton will do, and you, your students and your children can write messages to Moses on it. Even better, how about the 10 Commandments? Get your creative juices going and enjoy!

 Shabbat Shalom...and Chag Sameach!


Velvet Chair Photo Credit
Carton Chair Photo Credit

Connecting Ilan Ramon with Yom Hashoa

I'm beginning to wonder -- is the social media age distancing kids from the past? It seems that today's life is only about the here and now. During my recent trip to Houston I found out that my 22 year-old Texas cousin had no idea who were Wyatt Earp or Wild Bill Hickok. I was astounded, but he had a good answer: "Our generation is part of the space frontier." 

I shrugged my shoulders, thinking it's all part of a changing America. However, at a family seder in Long Island I met a young married woman -- a college graduate -- who never heard of Ilan Ramon and gave me a quizzical look when I mentioned the Columbia space shuttle.

She may be an isolated case; nonetheless....We are a people that believes in collective memory. It's part of our Jewish identity and should remain firmly in place. Purim teaches us to remember Amalek. Unfortunately, we've had numerous variations on that theme. Yom Hashoah is part of the pantheon. 

How does this tie in with Ilan Ramon? This year marked the 10th anniversary of the space shuttle Columbia's crash. PBS recently aired a documentary entitled "Mission of Hope". Lo and behold they brought up the remarkable story of the tiny Torah scroll which Ilan Ramon brought with him into outer space. The story of the Bar Mitzvah in the Bergen Belsen concentration camp using this Torah scroll is the tale that I researched and retold in my award-winning book "Keeping the Promise. It is the right story for this year's Yom Hashoa commemoration. It is a homage to the Jewish spirit and pays tribute to Ilan Ramon -- a hero in Israel long before his space adventure, the son of Holocaust survivors and a proud Jew who took additional Jewish and Holocaust memorabilia on board the shuttle. "Keeping the Promise" has also been translated into Hebrew and both are available through Kar-Ben. Reading the two side-by-side will enhance your Hebrew lessons, and your students' reading and speaking skills.

Wishing you a meaningful Yom Hashoah.

Tunisian Jews Remember Moses through an Unusual Seder Plate Custom

How many times have we heard that Moses -- the hero of our Passover story -- is never mentioned in the Hagaddah? Apparently Tunisian Jews try to rectify this situation through an unusual Seder plate custom. Instead of adorning their table with a variation of the Seder plate familiar to all of us, they use a reed basket (since I'm not sure of the size, I'll let you pick). They put all the Seder plate symbols inside the basket. Before reciting Ha Lachma Anya -- "this is the bread of affliction" --  the woman of the house takes the basket, and circles it over the head of each Seder participant while saying "we quickly left Egypt." The participants answer by reciting these words: "Yesterday we were slaves. Today we are free. This year we are here. Next year we will be free people in the land of Israel."

I think this subtle remembrance of Moses as a baby in a reed basket is brilliant. Similarly, so is the subtle reference to his mother Yocheved and sister Miriam by having the woman of the house take on this role. Finally, doesn't this custom complement the Bukharan Seder overture that I discussed two weeks ago? Start putting all the customs together that I have brought up and you have the makings of a Passover play.

Enjoy your Seder and Bravo to all the actors!

חג שמח

Photo credit