Jane Zalben

Jan 22, 2024 | jewishbookcouncil.org | Jane Zalben |Yevgenia Nayberg

In the Bible, the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowl­edge were plant­ed in the Gar­den of Eden. (Gen­e­sis 2: 9)Tu B’Shevat, the New Year of Trees, falls dur­ing win­ter, often in late Jan­u­ary or ear­ly Feb­ru­ary, when trees form buds. In Jew­ish cus­tom, a tree is plant­ed when a baby is born. Both are cared for as they grow. The branch­es of a tree can be used as poles to hold up a chup­pa (canopy) under which the grown child is mar­ried. This con­tin­ues the cycle of life.

May 24, 2023 | kirkusreviews.com | Jane Zalben |Tami Charles |Jacqueline Alcántara |Steve Henry

Family, food, and festivities—what more could readers want? Join Beni the bear and his family as they celebrate a full year of Jewish holidays. On the first night of Hanukkah, Beni and his observant Jewish family share food, remembrances, and presents for all the young ones. Beni gives each cub a calendar highlighting the Jewish holidays.