Talmud Torah of Minneapolis celebrates National Jewish Book Month October 30-December 8. The theme is "Jewish Authors Among Us." 

Although any books with Jewish content, characters, or a Jewish author can be read for Jewish Book Month, this year we are highlighting books written by authors who are either from Minnesota or have visited here - some of whom autographed books for the students!  

On Sunday, October 30, students and families had the opportunity to meet an illustrator, Carrie Hartman (Izzy the Whiz and Passover McClean) and three of the featured authors: Amy Ariel (Friends Forever), Deborah Lakritz (Say Hello, Lily), and Dory Weinstein (YaYa and YoYo: Sliding Into the New Year) at an event co-sponsored by Talmud Torah at the St. Paul JCC as part of the Twin Cities Jewish Book Fair. 

Mekhina through Dalet visited the library the first week in November to start reading books and recording them on a book log - with fun incentives, such as bookmarks, stickers, and bubblegum with Hebrew comics.  Every year, classes with full participation earn parties in January, and the students who read the most books each win a book they choose from a Jewish book store to keep, and another donated to the Talmud Torah library in the student's honor. Students can read at home, or in the library before or after Talmud Torah or during break.

Students can be authors too!

This year, the Eileen and Jerry Siegel, creators of Keren Or, are sponsoring a writing contest for Talmud Torah students in grades Mekhina through Dalet. 

During Jewish Book Month, students may write and submit a story to Librarian Cathi Oskow.  The story may be fiction or nonfiction, but needs to have some Jewish content. It should be typed, double-spaced, in easy-to-read 12-point font. First, second and third place winners will recieve cash awards.

Every year, the Siegels sponsor the Keren Or Contest in memory of their beloved daughter, Karen.    To honor her memory, her parents started a contest for Jewish students in grades 7th-12th grade where students may submit entries in prose, poetry or photography. 

The deadline for that contest is December 5. For more information go to  www.kerenorcontest.org     

The Jewish Book Month activities at Talmud Torah were initiated years ago by longtime Talmud Torah librarian Marilyn Burstein.   We will continue this tradition in her memory for years to come.

Adopt a Survivor 2011-12 
 

Imagine a television series that portrays young people searching for love, who wish to marry but have yet to find that special someone. They are attractive, educated professionals. Sound familiar? 

Now imagine that these young people are observant Jews who live in Jerusalem. Intrigued? 

So are the students of CIS 1002, who are learning a great deal about the complexities and challenges faced by the fictional characters of the hit Israeli television series, "S'rugim".

Each Sunday, we watch a short subtitled segment of the series and then discuss it in Hebrew. The students are using their growing Hebrew skills to grapple with the many interesting dilemmas that the characters face. Filled with scenes of authentic streets and locales in Jerusalem, the show offers students a window into Israeli society. It portrays relatable characters that find both deep meaning in Judaism and some struggles too. "S'rugim" is a wonderful vehicle for encouraging students to speak Hebrew, as each student has strong opinions about what s/he is seeing.

The SmartBoard makes viewing the show most enjoyable. After working hard in class for 1-1/2 hours each Sunday, it is the students much anticipated "dessert"!