tales from a far-land

In the past three months, our family enjoyed many Jewish holidays and events.  We have been lucky that our schedules allowed us to celebrate Shabbat at home most weekends.  We really have been trying to make this a priority in the upcoming year and it looks like we are achieving it.  January Shabbats Reading and enjoying the beautiful weather March Shabbats The kids have made some good friends through Temple Kol Ami's religious school and their KAJY (Kol Ami Junior Youth) program.  I had the opportunity to substitute teach this winter in Aiden's religious school classroom.  It was a hectic, but fun experience.  As the kids were learning about the Hebrew letter Bet, which means house (bayit), I taught the kids how to make card houses so they could make a correlation of the word/sound with an activity.  It was super fun.  Several of the kids didn't know how to make card houses, so it was fun introducing them to this new craf...

In mid-September, I was invited out for a girls' night out with some of my friends from Temple Kol Ami.  We spent a majority of our evening at Circus School of Arizona learning various circus skills and apparatuses including the trapeze, silks, and the lyra.  It was so much fun.  I really enjoyed the silks the most.  I definitely have a new found appreciation for circus artists.  These skills are not easy to do and they make them look seamless and painless.  After circus school, we all migrated over to the restaurant Parma for dinner.  It was a very different and fun night out! Fun learning silks skills Trying out the lyra Our group

This year in March, we celebrated Purim with our friends at Temple Kol Ami.  During Purim, we celebrate the Jewish people's survival from being massacred by ancient Persia and Haman.  This story is told through the annual reading of the Book of Esther (or also known as the Megillah).  The reading is a rowdy affair, punctuated by booing and noise-making when Haman's name is read aloud.  Our temple also performs a Purim Shpiel (play) in which members of our congregation re-enact the Purim story.  The shpiel is usually full of songs and witty humor.  As Purim is a celebratory holiday, the kids are encouraged to dress up as well.  I am really glad that we were finally able to attend this annual tradition.  It was a very fun night!  Plus, I was able to indulge in some very tasty chocolate filled hamantaschen for dessert.  Yum!