Parenting

This weekend, my girls received special gifts from The PJ Library. A box came for each of them in the mail,...

The Shabbat Excuse

By Wendy Armon

Several years ago, my son’s 4-year-old classmate Sara was diagnosed with cancer. All of the families at our...

Parenting, Parenting Stories, Shabbat

A Halloween Postscript: Why Opposition to Trick-or-Treating Won’t Strengthen Jewish Identity

I didn’t intend to write a post-Hallowen blog. To be honest, Halloween isn’t something that is big in my family....

Ruthie Loves Sunday School

Parenting, Parenting Stories, Religious Education, Young Kids

My memories of religious school are pretty varied. I remember visiting the sanctuary in first or second grade,...

Do Parents Need To Present A United Front About God?

Mychal's kids playing at the beach Many parents avoid being divided on issues big and small with our kids. We...

Parenting, Parenting Stories, Religion, Religious Education

Don’t let the Weather Fool You, It’s Time to Think Camp

Registration for many Jewish overnight camps began in Oct. Don't wait until the spring to sign-up your camper. While...

Family, Parenting

Cinnamon Toast and Mazel Toast!

By Anne Goodman

Sam and Anne are hoisted on chairs Sam and I were sitting at breakfast this morning reflecting on our wedding,...

Why are We Terrified to Teach Our Kids about Religion?

New Parents, Parenting, Parenting Tips and Advice, Religion & Spirituality, Religious Education, Young Kids

When it comes to religion, many parents don’t want to choose for their kids. Their hesitation isn’t just about...

An Inter-Faith Yom Kippur in a Time of Weddings

By Ryan Mount

This year may have been the perfect snapshot for our inter-faith life together. As Friday settled in and the...

Parenting, Parenting Stories, Yom Kippur

My New Year’s Resolution: Improvement Not Perfection

High Holy Days for Parents, Parenting, Parenting Stories

A lesson on caring for our world before a park cleanup made me realize I wasn’t doing all I could to fulfill...

The Evolution of an Awesome Rosh Hashanah Observance

Parenting, Parenting Rosh Hashanah, Parenting Stories

A game at our first Rosh Hashanah party When Sammy was little, everything about being Jewish and celebrating...

Mourning, Consolation and Joy

The night before I left for my family vacation, I paid a shiva call to a friend who had just lost her sister....

Mourning, Parenting, Parenting Stories, Young Kids

Jewish Genes: Are They in Our DNA or in Our Stories?

Where are you from? It seems an innocent enough question. But as our families become more and more diverse,...

Identity, Parenting, Race, Religion

Amidst Fighting…Intermarried Jews and Muslims Express Their Hopes for Peace

Do you need a little lift amidst the conflict in the Middle East? A growing movement of Tweeters are telling...

Marriage, Parenting, Professionals Stories, Relationships

Sticking with Israel During Violent Times

By Marsha S.

*Names have been changed My husband Charlie is a non-practicing Catholic and I am Jewish. From the get-go, we...

Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Israel, Parenting

Do I Need to Censor the Word “Jeez?”

My 9-year-old son, Sammy, was bursting to tell me something after his robotics class the other day. I assumed...

I'm doing it for me.

By Anne Goodman

In the middle of the grueling Intro to Judaism class, I decided to devote yet more time to the synagogue and...

Baby Planning, Baby Toolbox, Parenting, Parenting Stories

We’re Mostly Jewish

Photo courtesy of Camp Tawonga I spent last week at California’s Camp Tawonga as the rabbi on staff for their...

Camp, Growing Up Interfaith, Parenting, Young Kids

I Stand with Israel

Parenting, Parenting Passover, Parenting Stories

As I left the gym early this morning, I walked past a TV showing an MSNBC interview with the Israeli Counsel...

A Reminder to Diligently Teach Our Children

Sammy's first letter from camp simply fulfilled his promise to my husband. Before my son, Sammy, left for...

Camp, Parenting, Parenting Stories

Relief in the Summer Months

By Wendy Armon

I am trying to raise my kids to think more about the world than their next playdate, TV show or snack. Recently...

Parenting

Community: It’s What Makes Camp Special

My feeling that the community is what makes camp special was reinforced when we dropped-off our son. Last summer...

A Meditation on Rules: My Shavuot Postscript

Parenting, Parenting Other Holidays, Parenting Stories, Shavuot

Shavuot came at an interesting time in our parenting journey this year. In addition to cheese blintzes, the...

Make Jewish Behavior Contagious, Hire Jewish Babysitters