I Was Juggling Too Much–So the Dog Had to Go

By Naomi Elana Zener for Raising Kvell

After nearly a decade of practicing law, I embarked on a journey to become a writer, causing a 180-degree shift in my life. I had to juggle being a mom to two little humans and a canine, a wife, a lawyer, a daughter, a friend, and now, a writer.

Having no clone to delegate to and not being an octopus myself, something had to give. I’m good at multi-tasking, but I’m no superhero. And, I don’t have a nanny. My husband and my body were telling me to slow down. So, I sat down and looked at the sobering reality of my existence:

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Have you checked out the Jvillage Network High Holiday Spotlight Kit?  It is a wealth of information for all the fall holidays -- when they occur, what they are, customs, blessings, special foods, recipes, books, videos and a whole lotta challah!

This week we want to highlight Gateways High Holiday Resources, which can be found here or on the Spotlight Kit under 'the yamim nora'im."  At Gateways you can browse and download free High Holiday resources for kids, prepared by Gateways' experienced special education teachers: High Holiday Blessings with Visual Supports, High Holiday Social Stories (including customizable Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur social stories), High Holiday Related Social Skills Support, Make Your Own High Holiday File Folder Activity Kits, and High Holiday Crafts with creative ideas for adapting for different types of learners.

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But why stop there?  Check out all the many resources we have on the High Holiday Spotlight kit.  It's your one-stop for everything you need to know on how to celebrate, from Slichot through Simchat Torah.


 

Check out Jvillage’s High Holiday+    page.

After 10 Years, Finally a Diagnosis For My Son

By Samantha Taylor for Raising Kvell

My son Joey is turning 10 this fall. His development has been anything but normal.

Since Joey was 18 months old, we have seen countless professionals who have attempted to evaluate and diagnose him. None of the doctors, therapists, psychologists, or teachers were ever able to satisfactorily define Joey’s behavior. I often wondered if he was autistic, but that didn’t totally fit. He also exhibits a lot of Asperger’s characteristics, but again, not a complete match.

Allow me a moment to give you an idea of what I’m talking about:

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The Risks of Being an Interracial Family

By Alina Adams for Raising Kvell

Less than a year ago, two blond children in Ireland were taken from their Roma parents because the police decided they didn’t look related, even though legal documents, including passports, were produced. Meanwhile, the same thing happened to a blond girl in Greece. Even though her DNA didn’t match anything on record in the Missing Child database, and even though her biological mother was found and insisted she had voluntarily left her daughter with a Roma couple, the State decided that little Maria should not be returned to her foster parents, but placed in an orphanage, instead.

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Your Kids Are Ready to Talk About Israel. Are You?

By Sivan Zakai & Miriam Heller Stern for Raising Kvell

Our children are listening. When we pore over news sources and incessantly check our Facebook feeds to find out the latest from Israel and Gaza, our children are watching. When we whisper in muted voices or cry out in protest about the situation in the Middle East and the resurgence of anti-Semitism around the world, our children are hearing.

How do we talk to young children living far away from Israel about the current situation when they are not yet old enough to understand terms like “Zionism” or “anti-Semitism” or “terrorism” or “occupation”?

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Living the Value of Hiddur P’nei Zaken (Honoring the Elderly)

By Brandi Lerner, jkidphilly parent

My own, personal connection started with the Abramson Center for Jewish Life when, in the mid-90’s I began going to the Philadelphia Geriatric Center (the former Abramson located next to Einstein Hospital) monthly to celebrate Shabbat. This mitzvah was something that I looked forward to, and continued for six years before leaving for college. Now, as a parent, it is amazing to give my son the same experiences that I cherished.

I began bringing my son Ethan, now 2, to Abramson when he was about 4 months old through a jkidphilly program that was held there. His face lit up when entering the sun-filled atrium to the residents being serenaded by Cantor Buzzy Walters. The warm welcome of the residents and the immediate smile on my son’s face confirmed that this was the right decision. I am glad that I have this wonderful environment to teach my son Hiddur Penei Zaken, honoring the elderly – a mitzvah dear to my heart.

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Talking with Zach Braff, Kate Hudson & Mandy Patinkin of “Wish I Was Here”

By Molly Tolsky for Raising Kvell

As we’ve mentioned before, Zach Braff’s new movie “Wish I Was Here” gives us plenty to talk about here at Kveller. I sat down with three of the film’s stars, Zach Braff, Kate Hudson, and Mandy Patinkin, to talk about their Jewish connection to the movie, being a child no matter how old you are, and the hardest part about playing the role of a dying man.

On the role Judaism plays in the film:

Zach Braff:

My brother Adam and I wrote this, and he’s 10 years older than me. When he was a kid, my parents put him in Yeshiva. By the time they got to me, they downshifted to Conservative and kosher. Both of us have grown up to be adults who organized religion does not work for. We love the jokes, we love the humor, we love the culture, we love the fun of the family gathering.

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