I know you're going to chuckle and think yeah, yeah when I say Jews have been trailblazers from the word go, but think about it. Long before environmental protection topped the world agenda it was an issue embedded in the bible; long before the “mosaic society” became part-and-parcel of 21^st century life, Jews were a multi-cultural people by virtue of the diaspora. Then seventy years ago, a Jewish state with an entrepreneurial spirit was born embracing both.  By the end of its first decade the country had become a collage of cultures, its scientists exploring ways to harness solar power and create technology for maximizing limited water resources.

Tucked into a hard-to-find patch of wilderness, where the trees are not trimmed and the plants grow wild, is Jerusalem's Bird Observatory. This patch of urban nature allows the birds to find places to hide from the sun, rain, and other animals.

Most often, despite the seeming collaboration, authors and illustrators of children’s books never meet or work directly with each other. Even so, results that seem almost magical can be achieved in the final product. One very special book is An Unlikely Ballerina by Krystyna Poray Goddu (who is based in New York) and illustrated by Cosei Kawa (who is based in Japan), a great example of the interplay between story and image. Krystyna was curious about a unique element of Cosei’s art, and wrote to him to ask about it:

Rabbi Kerry Olitzky has held many leadership positions in Jewish organizations.

Mazel tov on the rescue of the young soccer players, and thanks to their intrepid team of divers! The world breathes a collective sigh of relief this morning as the twelfth boy and their coach have been safely rescued from a Thai cave after more than two weeks of being trapped. 

Given to fifteen books that represent excellence in the field of children’s literature, the Crystal Kites Awards are peer-selected, voted on by SCBWI members from local regions. Jennifer Tzivia MacLeod was recognized by her fellow authors in the Middle East/India/Asia region with the award. Read about the awards here.

It was a strange experience writing and researching a book about my own grandmother, and I wondered what it was like for members of my family to read it. This month, when The Family with Two Front Doors was published in the United States, I asked my cousin, Adina (who lives in New York), what she thought. 

As an author, one of the questions I’m frequently asked is, “Where do you get your ideas from?”

The answer is easy, “Everywhere.”

Have you ever seen a koala celebrate Shabbat?