Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on January 28, 2021

CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio -- Under the theme Dont Judge a Book by Its Cover, Orange Community Education & Recreation is hosting a reading initiative for families with children through fifth grade. The program, running Feb. 1 through April 4, focuses on the subjects of inclusion, equity and social justice.

Geared to help parents initiate conversations with their children about challenging topics in the news and to understand current events, it includes a list of curated books to read with the kids, along with parent resources to use as a guide.

At the end of the challenge, children are encouraged to draw, creating their own book based on what they and their parents have read.

One page from each childs book will be displayed on a yard sign during a family walk planned for May 1. Two young participants will have their full books displayed at the Orange Branch Library in June.

The program is funded by a grant from the Orange Schools Foundation. To register or learn more about it, visit orangerec.ce.eleyo.com.

The color of love: Temple Emanu Els advocacy committee is hosting a discussion on Marra B. Gads book, The Color of Love: A Story of a Mixed-race Jewish Girl, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, via the Zoom online platform.

The book is described as a memoir about an adopted mixed-race Jewish woman who, after 15 years of estrangement from her racist great-aunt, helps bring her home after Alzheimers disease erases her prejudices.

It won a 2020 Midwest Book Award for an autobiography/memoir. Contact Renee Higer at rhiger@teeclevel.org for the Zoom login.

The colors of religion: Three Jewish organizations are co-sponsoring an online program at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, sharing the voices of local Jews of color and multi-heritage to gain a better understanding of their perspective on religious practices, identity and experiences of discrimination.

The purpose is to help congregations implement changes to make all Jews feel welcome in area Reform Jewish congregations.

The presenter is Yoshi Silverstein, a Chinese-Ashkenazi Jew and founder and executive director of Mitsui Collective and organizer for Edot.

Panelists include Danielle Eisenberg who is raising her white and Black children in the Jewish faith with her husband; and Prasad Bodas, an Indian American raised in the Hindu faith, whose wife, Alina, is an Ashkenai Jew who immigrated from the Soviet Union.

Sponsoring organizations include Temple Emanu El, The Temple-Tifereth Israel and Edot: The Midwest Regional Jewish Diversity Collaborative. This is the second of a three-part series offered. For more information, contact teecleveel.org.

Warm up to a hot chocolate: Valley Art Center is holding its annual HotChocolate@Home fundraiser in the form of a month-long virtual event. In past years, supporters were encouraged to hold small at-home parties and share pictures and videos with the larger VAC organization.

This year, the event is totally virtual. You can purchase a hot ticket online or at the VAC facility, which enters you into a drawing for prizes including Nestle chocolate gift baskets and a gift certificate for one free class at the art center.

If tickets are purchased by Feb. 5, you can attend the virtual 50th anniversary celebration hosted by TV personality Jan Jones and John Gadd of Hotcards. The event includes a Valentine art project, the premiere of a film about VACs 50th anniversary and other goodies.

Donations to VAC will be matched up to $25,000 by an unnamed donor throughout February. Contact valleyartcenter.org/hotchocolate or visit the center at 155 Bell St. in Chagrin Falls.

Woodland Wednesday: Take a virtual walk through Working Woods, the demonstration forest at the Holden Arboretum, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, and learn how decisions about land management are made when you have not seen what the results will look like, including conservation, timber harvesting and managing invasive species.

Jessica Miller, a community forester with Holden, will guide you through 360 photos, videos and maps for an interesting experience, even if you do not own your own forest.

The online program is free, but registration is required by Feb. 16 through the Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District. Contact gprunty@geaugaswcd.com or 440-834-1122.

To post your news and events, contact Rusek at jcooperrusek@gmail.com.

Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun.

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Programs focus on inclusion and social justice: Valley Views - cleveland.com

Category: Jewish American Heritage Month
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