New Year for the Trees: A Chil­dren’s Read­ing List for Tu Bishvat

The con­crete­ness and sim­plic­i­ty of the tree theme makes Tu Bish­vat a won­der­ful hol­i­day to explore with chil­dren. For younger read­ers, try Sylvia Rouss’ Sam­my Spider’s First Tu B’Shevat (ages 3 – 8). Sam­my Spi­der observes a tree through the sea­sons, from plant­i­ng to flow­er­ing to los­ing its leaves. Sammy’s many ques­tions sug­gest to chil­dren that…

Read More

An Interview with Sylvia Rouss

Jewish preschools have a high turnover rate. How did you meet the demanding challenges of this important position and remain dedicated for decades? My commitment to Jewish education began with my own children when I was determined to create a Jewish home environment where we observed Shabbat and the holidays.…

Read More