5 Ways Cats Show Affection
Posted by on 12/31/2019 to
Israel
Cats are very communicative animals with many different ways to show a person how they are feeling. From meowing or purring to flicking of the ear or tail, cats will let you know what they need or how they feel about you. Here are five of the ways a cat displays affection towards a human.
Anticipate Spring with Kar-Ben
Posted by on 12/30/2019 to
With the coming of January is the piling of snow on the ground, warm nights inwith family and loved ones, and a new book season. Anticipate the coming of flowers and warm weather with us at Kar-Ben Publishing, an imprint of Lerner Publishing, proudly the largest publisher of exclusively Jewish-themed children’s books in the world!
Sea urchins: An Unlikely Menorah
Posted by on 12/20/2019 to
Hanukkah
What have you’ve used to make a Hanukkah menorah?
In Temple times, crafted from gold, the menorah had seven branches- instead of the nine used today - branching out from the Shamash to host eight shimmering lights. Our menorahs today traditionally sit in a window, lit at night, for those passing to see the celebration in progress.
A menorah can be made out of a variety of different materials. Some are crafted from metal or clay. Some are made with plastic and use lightbulbs as flames. Some are made as school art projects. And some are made from the most unlikely materials.
December comes during the summer in Antarctica. This means that it’s part of six months of constant sunlight. For those who celebrate Hanukkah, recreating the warm celebratory glow of the menorah becomes a concern...
SAVOR THE MOMENT: Light the Menorah: A Hanukkah Handbook
Posted by Jacqueline Jules on 12/13/2019 to
Hanukkah
Families lead busy lives, often running from one activity to another. It is not easy to fit in sports, play dates, music lessons, dinner, and homework in the few hours between school and bedtime. By December, young families may feel exhausted. Is it possible to pause for Hanukkah? Could eight days of candle-lighting become an opportunity to slow down, reflect, discuss, and share?
Unlike Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, Hanukkah is not observed in the synagogue through long religious services. Unlike Passover, it does not require extensive preparation. We don’t dress up in costume the way we do on Purim or build an outdoor structure the way we do on Sukkot.
By contrast, Hanukkah is simple: Candles, gifts, potato pancakes, and jelly doughnuts. What’s more, it is customary not to work while the candles in the menorah are burning. The average Hanukkah candle lasts less than an hour. This is the perfect amount of time to spin the dreidel or play a board game together as a family. The Hanukkah lights can help us be mindful of the ones we love and to appreciate each moment in their presence.