DebbieL's blog

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More than 2000 years ago Israel was ruled by the Greeks, who wanted everyone to worship the Greek gods. The Jewish people wanted to worship in their own way, and so when the Greek army desecrated the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, a small band of Jewish rebel soldiers called the Maccabees fought the Greeks and defeated their mighty army. The Maccabees – whose name means “hammer” – reclaimed the Temple. They then searched for oil to light Temple’s menorah, but only found a small amount. Although there was only enough oil to last for one day, miraculously the menorah stayed lit for eight days. The festival of Hanukkah commemorates the victory over the Greek army, the rededication of the Holy Temple and the miracle of the oil.

Have you ever heard of a dog who loves books?  Who loves to be read to?  Who would love to listen to your favorite story?

Vegetarian Awareness Month takes place in October. Its goal is "to promote the joy, compassion and life-enhancing possibilities of vegetarianism." This month long celebration, established by the North American Vegetarian Society, kicks off with World Vegetarian Day on October 1^st, and culminates with World Vegan Day on November 1^st. 

A vegetarian is someone who doesn't eat meat, and mostly eats foods that come from plants, like grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Some people eat vegetarian food for health reasons – plant-based foods have no cholesterol, are lower in saturated fat, and higher in fiber. Others eat vegetarian because of their concern for animals and the environment.   

Did you know that:

Baby yoga is a wonderful interaction between parents and babies. It provides the opportunity for gentle exercise that aids in relaxation for the mother and helps baby develop gross and fine motor skills. Baby yoga has also been shown to improve baby’s sleep patterns and aid in infant digestion. Namaste.

Learn more:

Have you ever noticed swarms of insects buzzing around your front porch light? Well, it’s not because they are waiting for you to come home. Night flying insects evolved to navigate by keeping the moonlight at a constant angle to their paths. In doing so they are able to fly a straight course. The artificial light produced by light bulbs confuses the insects because it appears brighter than moonlight and gives off light in multiple directions. Once an insect flies close to the light source, it tries to fly in a straight path by keeping the light at a constant angle. But because the light shines in all directions, the insect gets caught in an endless spiral going around and around and around the light.

May is National Bike Month, an occasion to celebrate the bicycle and the many reasons people ride. Some ride to save on gas money, others for exercise, to help preserve the environment, or just for fun.  Whatever the reason, the bicycle is something worth celebrating!

Did you know?

Did you know that there is a Star of David on the back of the U.S. one-dollar bill? Take a look. It’s in the Great Seal, above the eagle: thirteen five-pointed stars arranged in the Star of David. The Great Seal of the United States was commissioned at the end of the Revolutionary War, and many people believe that this part of the seal’s design is in recognition of the essential financial contribution that Jewish financier Haym Solomon made towards colonial America’s war effort.

Jewish Americans have made important contributions to the United States since the country’s founding, but it wasn’t until 2006 that May was proclaimed as Jewish American Heritage Month. How many of these famous American Jews do you know about? 

Source: Flickr

In 2009, the United Nations designated April 22nd International Mother Earth Day. The purpose of Earth Day is to promote awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. The first Earth Day, which took place in 1970, focused on the United States. Today Earth Day is coordinated by the Earth Day Network, and is celebrated in more than 175 countries.

Check out these local Earth Day Activities:

School bullying has reached epidemic proportions, and has now moved beyond the lunch rooms and locker rooms and expanded into cyberspace with cruel instant messages and cutting texts. Bullying affects everyone. Research has shown that both the children who are victimized and the bullies themselves experience academic decline. Children who witness bullying suffer low self-esteem and experience anxiety over the fear of becoming the next target. According to studies at Yale University, bully victims are two to nine times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims, and statistics show that 160,000 kids stay home from school every day because of fear of bullying.

More than 2000 years ago Israel was ruled by the Greeks, who wanted everyone to worship the Greek gods. The Jewish people wanted to worship in their own way, and so when the Greek army desecrated the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, a small band of Jewish rebel soldiers called the Maccabees fought the Greeks and defeated their mighty army. The Maccabees – whose name means “hammer” – reclaimed the Temple. They then searched for oil to light Temple’s menorah, but only found a small amount. Although there was only enough oil to last for one day, miraculously the menorah stayed lit for eight days. The festival of Hanukkah commemorates the victory over the Greek army, the rededication of the Holy Temple and the miracle of the oil.

Imagine how wonderful it would be if your baby could tell you when she was hungry, thirsty, needed a fresh diaper... or a cuddle. Babies begin to utter their first words around 12 months of age, but possess the gross motor skills needed for sign language as early as 5-6 months of age. The potential benefits of teaching babies to sign are huge. Babies who sign experience the joy of being able to communicate with their parents, and experience less frustration over not being understood. 

With the start of a new school year comes anticipation, wonder, maybe a case of the jitters… and the exposure to a whole host of infectious germs. Each year children in the US miss 22 million days of school due to colds, flu and other illness.

Here are some tips to help you to have a healthier school year.

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially after sneezing, coughing, or using the bathroom. Lather for at least 20 seconds, about the length of time it takes to sing “The Alphabet Song.”

Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

First you hear the whining buzz around your ears, then you feel the sharp proboscis pierce your skin, and before you know it, you have a red itchy, annoying bump. Soon you realize there are more of these creatures lurking in the shadows just waiting to ruin your outdoor summer fun. It’s the summertime nemesis: the mosquito. You can’t really blame the mosquitoes; it’s just what they are programmed to do. The female mosquitoes – the only ones that bite – need blood for their eggs to develop. But don’t despair; there are a few things you can try to keep mosquitoes from spoiling your fun.

Julia Alvarez, author of the Tía Lola stories, grew up in the Dominican Republic. When she was ten years old, her family came to the United States. Although she knew some English, moving to New York City felt very strange. Because she was different from the other kids, they would make fun of her and call her names. Books became an escape for her, and led her down the path towards becoming a writer. Julia’s years in the Dominican Republic were spent surrounded by a very large extended family. Her father had 24 brothers and sisters! So it comes as no surprise that Julia’s books are brimming with vibrant family characters, and rich in Dominican culture.