News From The PJ Library in Silicon Valley

Masthead 2012

April 2012

In This Issue

A Pesach Teaching Moment

Dinosaur Goes to Israel

Creek Cleanup with JCRC

The Ten Commandments Movie

Activities for Children

Resources for Passover

Our Constitutent Partners

More Information

Thanks to our Funders

Books for April

Each PJ Library book has a dedicated page on the new PJ website. On each book page, you will find a short synopsis, information about the authors and illustrators, the parent reading guide, and related links.

AGES 6 MONTHS TO 2 YRS

Good Night, Israel

AGES 2 TO 3 YEARS

Ella's Trip to Israel

AGES 3 TO 4 YEARS

Noah's Bark

AGES 3 TO 4 YEARS

Old Noah's Elephants

AGES 4 TO 5 YEARS

Chicken Man

Chicken Man

AGES 5 TO 6 YEARS

The Castle on Hester Street

AGES 6 TO 7 YEARS

Can Hens Give Milk?

AGES 7 TO 8 YEARS

The Wooden Sword

Check out the reading guides for these books.

Share the joys of PJ Library with your friends!

Visit Our Website

Greetings!

Many of us can remember the special family customs we enjoyed during Passover when we were children. But how much did we really understand of this amazing family ritual when we were young?

Watching young children at a Passover seder was one of the moments that inspired Harold Grinspoon to envision the PJ Library. He noticed that the children seated around the table were more engaged in what was going on because they had read about Passover in age-appropriate books. Harold remembered this when he decided to create the PJ Library program.

Don't forget to put the Passover PJ Library books your children have already received on the dinner table this year, along with the family Haggadah. Young and old alike can enjoy them together as the seder progresses.

B'Shalom,

Rabbi Leslie and Eleanor

Passover Supplement from the Federation

The Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley will be sending out a special supplement for Passover. It contains background information about the holiday, songs, games, recipes, haggadah recommendations, and a list of timely children's books -- most of which are PJ Library publications, of course! If you don't receive a copy, let us know immediately at pjlibrary@jvalley.org.

Creating Your Own Pesach Customs

A Teaching Moment from Rabbi Leslie Alexander

Judaism is a religion that values and celebrates tradition. Some of our traditions are established through Jewish law, such as the removal of leaven from our homes and the eating of matzah on Passover. Some of our traditions are established through minhag (custom). Those traditions that don't emerge from law sometimes become just as powerful as those that do, or more so.

What Passover Seder does not include a children's hunt for the afikoman, the hidden Matza, without which, the Seder cannot be concluded? Who doesn't take 10 drops of wine out of their cup in deference to the plagues suffered by the Egyptians? These are customs that have become a required part of a Seder.

It is important to remind ourselves of how much customs matter -- all the time, but particularly at Pesach. All customs that have taken on the force of law in Judaism started at someone's table, in some Jewish community. They just happened a long time ago.

In some homes today, families re-enact the exodus by putting the afikoman in a backpack before it is hidden, and walk around the house, "leaving Egypt."

In some homes, including my parent's home, the recounting of the ten plagues is acted out with rubber frogs, ping pong balls for hail, plastic flies, toy animals and other symbols. Imagine the enjoyable chaos of bouncing balls and leaping frogs all over a Passover table.

In the home of the Wolf family in Monte Sereno, where we share Seder, the Seder takes place in several rooms at coffee tables and dining tables. Participants move, as the Jews did during the Exodus, in order to retain the involvement of participants as discussion continues. After the dipping of the karpas (parsley) in the salt water, strawberries on skewers come to the tables and are dipped in melted chocolate along with other veggies in kosher-for-Passover dips.

What are the special customs your family has created at Passover?

One day, a thousand years from now, families may be sitting at Seder tables observing customs that emerged from our generation. and have taken on the force of law that.

Enjoy your Passover, make new traditions, make new memories in your families. May this be a happy and healthy Chag ( holiday) for you.

PJ Library Charoset Making, Storytime, and Craft Activity Event

In Cooperation With the APJCC Charoset Tasting Contest

Levy Family Campus Lobby

Wednesday, April 4, 2012 -- 3:00 to 5:00 pm

PJ Library joins with the APJCC's Center for Jewish Life and Learning in sponsoring a fun and tasty pre-Passover event to which you and your family are invited! Children will make charoset and a Passover craft during the afternoon.

More info here.

RSVP to www.jvalley.org/pjlibrary right away!

"Dinosaur Goes to Israel" and We're Having a Birthday Party!

Featuring Local Author Diane Rauschwerger

Tuesday, May 1, 2012 -- 4:00 to 5:30pm

Alef Bet Judaica

14103 Winchester Blvd # D, Los Gatos, CA 95032

Dinosaur goes to Israel

Popular local author Diane Rauschwerger will introduce her brand new book in her well-known series of "Dinosaur" children's books at a lively reading at Alef Bet Judaica.

Diane will bring her puppet friends to help tell the story. Kids will be encouraged to participate in acting out Dino's adventures.

Co-sponsored with Sharone Hadassah, the event will also be a birthday party! We'll be celerating the 100th anniversary of the founding of Hadassah in Israel -- by decorating birthday cupcakes for our craft activity!

Hadassah is an amazing international award-winning organization that has been, for 100 years, providing medical care, education programs, and helping children and families begin healthy and happy new lives in Israel.

More info here.

Creek Cleanup with JCRC

Sunday, May 20, 2012

9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Vasona Lake County Park

Los Gatos

Join us for an exciting opportunity to enjoy nature, other families, and PJ stories and crafts as we spend a morning outdoors with the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley.

More info here.

The Ten Commandments Screens at The Retro Dome

The Retro Dome

1694 Saratoga Avenue, San Jose

Saturday, March 31, 7:15 pm

Saturday, April 1, 1:15 pm

Isn't everybody's image of Moses that of Charlton Heston enveloped in thunder and lightning to bring the Ten Commandments to The People Israel? Well, now's your chance to see it "on the big screen" -- at the Retro Dome. Get ready to enjoy some last minute hametz while watching one of the greatest stories ever told in ...one of the greatest films ever made. Mention "gefilte fish" and receive a free popcorn or a free fountain drink by visiting the box office prior to a screening of the Ten Commandments this weekend at the Retro Dome...a perfect treat just before Pesach.

Children's Activities in Our Community

Events listed here are open to the entire community.

Call the organization for more information.

(Membership in the organization/synagogue is not required.)

COMMUNITY PASSOVER SEDERS

Second Night Seder April 07, 2012 from 5:00 PM. Join Temple Emanu-El for a Passover Seder filled with music, food, and ritual. Seating is limited, so online at templesanjose.org . Adult $45; Seniors (65 & over) and Students w/ID $ 36; Children 5-10 years are $18; Children under 4 are free.
2nd Night Community Seder April 07, 2012 from 7:30 PM to 11:00 PM. Congregation Sinai of San Jose presents its annual second night Seder, led by Rabbi Josh Berkenwald. Catered, kosher-for-Passover meal. Subsidized Cost: $44 for adults, $20 for children 5 to 12, free for children age 4 and under. Register at 408-264-8542 or website www.sinai-sj.org. RSVP by Friday, March 30. Sponsored by Rina Katzen.
Congregation Emeth, Gilroy. Second Night Community Potluck Passover Seder April 7 and Women's Seder, April 12. For more information, call (408) 778-8200.

APRIL EVENTS

PASSOVER EVENTS HIGHLIGHTED

Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center, Center for Jewish Life and Learning
Los Gatos - (408) 357-7492

Charoset Tasting Contest April 04, 2012 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Charoset is a special Passover food that symbolizes the mortar that the enslaved Israelites used to build cities for Pharaoh in ancient Egypt. Enter the APJCC's second annual Charoset Tasting Contest. Bring a big bowl of your charoset to the JCC lobby. Visitors to the JCC will vote for their favorite. For complete rules of participation, contact the APJCC Center for Jewish Life and Learning at 408.357.7411 or cjll@svjcc.org.

Congregation Beth David
Saratoga - (408) 257-3333

CBD Tot Shabbat April 14 and 28, 2012 from 11:15 AM to 12:00 PM. For kids ages 0-5. Join us for a fun and interactive parent-led service for babies, toddlers, and preschool kids. Open to the whole community. Tot Shabbat includes singing, storytelling, and a Kiddush snack.
CBD PJ Shabbat April 20, 2012 from 6:00 PM. This mini Kabbalat Shabbat service is geared towards tots (ages 0-5) and will feature songs, puppets, felt, story time, plus a kid-friendly Shabbat dinner! Come as you are with kids in PJ's! $10.00 per adult; $ 2.00 per child (over 3); kids under 3 eat free! RSVPs are requested! RSVP at 408-257-3333.
CBD Haverim Services April 21, 2012 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Haverim means "friends" in Hebrew, and Haverim services is all about getting K-3rd grade friends together to celebrate Shabbat. We celebrate with lively songs, movement, stories, and values discussion which parallel the order of the 'real' service. A treat-filled Kiddush. Parents always welcome to join in.
Passover Service Schedule: Friday, April 6, 2012, Candle lighting at 7:17 p.m. No Friday night service Passover Services: Saturday, April 7. 9:30 am, Sunday, April 8, 9:30 a.m. Friday, April 13 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 14 - Yizkor Service, 9:30 a.m.

Congregation Shir Hadash
Los Gatos - (408) 358-1751

Shir Hadash Passover Community Shabbat April 07 and 14, 2012 from 10:30 AM. Passover Community Shabbat with Rabbi Fleekop and Cantor Felder-Levy.
Seventh Night of Passover Service and Program April 12, 2012 from 7:30 PM. The Gerer Hasidim would gather in their shtibl [small synagogue] on the seventh night of Pesach; drink wine and dance. Since the holiday celebrates the ancient Israelites being delivered at the shores of the sea, they would pour a barrel of water on the floor, lift up their long cloaks, and "cross the sea." The seventh night of Passover falls this year on Thursday evening April 12th. Join us for a short holiday service and a celebration of water in the Jewish tradition.
Tot Shabbat April 14, 2012 from 9:30 AM. Join Rabbi Levenberg and other families with young children for Tot Shabbat. Songs and simple prayers. Story time. Hands-on music. Cuddly Torahs. Fun. Friends. Oneg Snack. Tot Shabbat is free and is open to the community - tell your friends! Contact: Lisa Levenberg, rabbilevenberg@shirhadash.org, 408-358-1751 x3.
Being a Jewish Dad April 22, 2012 from 6:00 PM. Since Abraham took his son Isaac hiking on Mt. Moriah, a debate has raged about what it means to be a good Jewish father. Join Rabbi Joel Fleekop and Dr. Jason Laker for an open conversation about what it means to be a Jewish dad, how we relate to our children, and how we share the values and traditions we hold dear. The discussion begins on Sunday, April 22nd at 6:00 pm. This program is open to all dads (and expectant dads). Dinner will be provided. RSVP at nadine@shirhadash.org or 408-358-1751 ext. 5.

Congregation Sinai
San José - (408) 264-8542

Ima and Me Playgroup 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM. IMA AND ME ("mommy and me") Meets every Wednesday morning from 9:00-10:15 am in the Nursery School Red Room. Abba, Savta, Saba, and Nanny are all welcome, too (daddy and grandparents). Children three and under are invited to come and play. Open to the entire Jewish community. Bring friends. FREE. For more information email Miki Gurantz at:director@sinainurseryschool.org.
Torah For Tots April 07, 2012 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the Social Hall. Torah for Tots is fun, interactive, educational and inspirational. This delightful children's service is professionally led and designed specifically to accommodate young children age 0-5. Plenty of singing, movement, and stories, and your entire family can play a part. We meet once a month from 11 am to 12 pm. For more information, email torahfortots@sinai-sj.org.
Siyym Bechorim: Thursday, April 5, 7 am. Shacharit-Siyyum for the Fast of the First Born. Erev Passover - Burn your Chametz: Friday, April 6 in the Sinai Parking lot from 8:30 to 10:30 am.
Passover Services Schedule: Saturday, April 7 at 9 am., Sunday, April 8 at 9 am, Friday, April 13 at 9 am, Saturday, April 14 at 9 am (Yiskor).
Family Service for K-2nd Graders April 21, 2012 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Participatory, friendly service for families designed to introduce kids and their parents to the Shabbat service and the siddur. Hebrew knowledge not required. Join us in the Mirkin Chapel.
Shabbat Storytime April 21, 2012 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Join us for a fun, educational session of Jewish storytelling. For ages 0 - 5.

Temple Emanu-El
San José - (408) 292-0939

Spring Dilemma April 01, 2012 from 11:30 AM. We've talked about Christmas and Chanukah in December; now let's talk Easter and Pesach!!! Join Rabbi Magat to discuss the challenges so often faced by parents (particularly in interfaith families) in connection with the spring holidays.
Sisterhood Women's Seder, April 11, 2012. Reservations (418) 778-8200.
Passover Services Schedule: 1st day Morning Minyan, Saturday, April 7, 9 am
2nd Night: Saturday, April 7 at 7:30 pm.
Tot Shabbat and Potluck April 20, 2012 from 6:00 PM. Join us for a warm and friendly service geared toward children between the ages of 2 and 6. Sing, pray, and listen to kid-friendly stories! Potluck Dinner immediately following at 6:30PM. Sign up for our monthly Tot Shabbat email reminder, at (408)292-0939 or admin@templesanjose.

For Parents: Fun and Meaningful Resources for Passover

The website for The PJ Library® (the national organization), offers a variety of helpful resources for Jewish families to enjoy and pursue. There are pages exploring our Jewish holidays, and suggestions for positive parenting.

Please check out the following: Seder Plate