creative jewish mom

Oatmeal Can Tzedaka Box Craft

A tzedaka box (charity box) made from an oatmeal can is just as cute as can be, and quite useful right now! As you may know, due to the Corona virus all the synagogues are currently closed, though prayer groups of up to 20 with proper distancing is permitted. While many neighbors have formed prayer groups from their balconies, we have formed one with the neighbors, which consists of my husband and my 2 teen boys from within our house (via a huge window that opens fully) and the neighbors gathered in a courtyard and on the stairs just outside this window. There is a custom to give charity before praying, and when I spotted my handmade ceramic tzedaka box sitting on a table out in the prayer area I of course freaked out and ran to rescue it. I quickly made a replacement, inspired by my walk to photograph the red poppies in bloom, and voila. True, not nearly as lovely as the ceramic hand-built version, but it was made with love, so there you have it!

Oatmeal can tzedaka boxes are likely made by kids in kindergarten every year, but that doesn't mean that one can't make versions that are something you would use! There are so many ways to decorate an oatmeal can, so have fun with this one! Just one word of advice, take into consideration the color of the plastic top and make that part of the overall color scheme. Okay, let's get crafting!

Wild Red Poppies In Bloom In Northern Israel!

At long last, after a thankfully very very wet winter, the beloved red poppies are in full bloom! Truthfully, they are about a month or so late, and not nearly as prolific as usual, but lovely nonetheless. After a long walk in the area and only spotting sparse areas of poppies here and there, I came across a hillside, just a minute from my house, full of vibrant red poppies in bloom! Wow, so beautiful, and so of course I just had to take lots of photos to share with you!

These red poppies, are natives to Northern Israel, though it turns out that there are several species of red flowers that look very similar, and I'll admit, even I've been confused, as everyone calls all the red flowers one name, poppies in English, and calanit in Hebrew. These species do not bloom coincidentially but sequentially, beginning with the Anemones, and followed by the tulips, Asiatic ranunculi, and poppies, spanning the spring months with red showy flowers, the floral glories in fact, of Israel. These flowers have a similar appearance in shape and color and from a distance they may easily be confused. Now that I've done a tiny bit of research to clarify, it turns out that the flowers here are poppies, though in the past I have certainly photographed red flowers that are anemones, and who, I now know, have a much larger black center with a  white ring around that center. Phew, that poppy/anemone issue has really been bugging me! Okay, lets take a closer look at the red dotted hillside, come along now........

Today Is Memorial Day For Israel's Fallen Soldiers

Today is Memorial Day for Israel's fallen soldiers, and this year it is quite different indeed. My heart goes out to all those who treasure the memorial ceremonies and the once yearly get together at the grave of their loved one(s), and who this year will be remembering their son/daughter/mother/father/aunt/uncle/brother/sister quietly. In large military cemeteries I believe entrance is not permitted today, and families were asked to visit the graves over the past few days. The military did put flowers or floral wreaths as well as flags on each grave, and today in every military cemetery several soldiers are standing on guard in respect, in front of a large customary flare. Our local military cemetery's gates were wide open however, as it is much smaller than others. How do I know this? Because I live just down the street from the cemetery and decided to go pay my respects (and take some photos) without actually entering the cemetery proper, since unlike previous years the place was virtually empty, well except for the 3 soldiers, 1 man, and 2 women and me. So, out of respect for those who gave their lives to protect our tiny country, from the ruthless enemies on all sides (except for the Mediterranean Sea) I decided to go for a visit and say thanks. Sigh, sigh, sigh.

Truthfully, the good news is, and with all due respect, the most important day to visit the grave, according to Jewish law is on the anniversary of the passing, namely the date on the Jewish calendar. So while visiting the grave on Memorial Day certainly has great meaning for many, maybe this year more families will actually visit the grave on the day that make the most difference for the deceased, which is on the date of their passing.

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! I hope everyone is well, and using this time to: delve deeper into working on relationships, get your parenting game in top shape, concentrate on self care, or spend time on creativity! Personally it feels like we are on a never-ending vacation, and while we have not even begun to do all the things on my to-do list, we are keeping busy as always. At long last I sprouted a bunch of beans this week (adjuki, mung, lentils and quinoa to boot) and husband even loved a stir fry I made with the adjuki beans last night, big win! I hope to post about my sprouting adventures, so if that interests you, stay tuned! (No glass jars used for sprouting......)

Another first was just before Passover after we cleaned out the container garden I planted some seeds in bare spots, and while I don't know if these seeds, purchased in the Ukraine for pennies will bring flowers, some of the morning glory seeds have sprouted, yippee! The wall once covered by beautiful climbing pink roses (the roses all had to be removed as the built in huge trough planter was possibly leaking into our storage room below) may just be the new home to blooming morning glory? The good news is that two of the white rose standards that I had been growing in that spot for 10 plus years have now been returned, and they look just as happy as can be, phew! I think keeping busy by checking off little tasks we'd always dreamed of doing is great, I have also started an art journaling project, which is taking me into new arenas altogether, and led me to using some bottles of colored permanent ink that I've had for a good 25 years! (You see, sometimes being a pack rat does pay off, my local art supply store only has blue and black ink. And I told my husband there may be hope as far as making a dent in all my art supplies.......though we'll have to start some silk painting as well!)

Okay, I am writing this on Friday morning and the kitchen is calling me to finish the shabbat cooking, so stay well, and keep those creative gears turning, because that is our secret for a joyful life, right? And now for the features from last week's party, enjoy.

IQ Tests For Kids?

Above: Creative activities such as turning a random paint blob into something are great for children's development.

As parents we want the very best for our precious children, and that certainly includes making sure our kids are hitting their developmental milestones, as well as eating a healthy diet, getting exercise and the right amount of sleep. Of course those are just the basics, and the parent who truly wants to help their child have a joyful and productive life should be very on top of how their child is doing in school and know when certain situations may be red lights that need attention. It is never about "is my child smart?" but rather is my child able to make the most of his particular abilities, and is his schooling suited to his needs? A "genius" child can be a terrible student and vice versa a child who isn't the smartest kid on the block can be an amazing student and even in the long run much more successful and well adjusted than the "genius."

So yes indeed, educating our children and raising them to be the very best they can be isn't simple and can require lots of patience and hard work for parents, as well as children. One really important factor to remember is that as a parent you should (and hopefully do) have the very best idea of your child's talents and shortcomings. YOU are the one that has been given this precious soul to raise, and you are the one that, under all circumstances, needs to have your child's best interests at heart. Follow your gut instincts and don't ever let a teacher or school authority figure put your child down, or traumatize him/her with labels of any kind. Professionals, such as school counselors, teachers, therapists etc. do of course generally give very relevant and important assessments of your child, but don't assume that they know everything, or that their evaluation is the end all. Believe in your child, make sure he/she is flourishing and developing as a person, and everything will work out, it just has to, after all of your hard work!

Expert Tips To Keep Your Crafty Family Home Clean & Orderly

Above: Perfect craft for spring, tutorial here.

Kids who participate in arts and crafts have better motor skills, more confidence, math skills and self-esteem than those who don’t, according to studies. As such, creating a crafty family home environment is crucial for your child’s development. As we all know, craft activities can be messy, however, that should not deter you from giving your kids every opportunity for creative growth. Follow these tips, and your crafty home can be a clean and orderly home as well!

It’s all about proper storage

69% of people say that they do creative activities to build their self-esteem and inner strength. If you regularly do arts and crafts to improve your family’s mood, you’ll likely have piles of paper, paint, ribbon, markers and more hanging around your house. This clutter can make your home look untidy, and drive you a bit crazy, so it’s worth investing in multiple storage boxes, drawers or bins so that you can easily put everything away. These boxes can range from large floor containers to pretty tabletop boxes for storing small, delicate items. You could even get your kids to decorate their own for some extra creative fun. Another idea is to simply use cardboard boxes that are all the same size and have a convenient storage spot. And of course a rolling metal cart with three tiers to hold all the basics like paints, markers, scissors, paper, etc is a must!

Counting The Omer Craft To Make Now!

Now that we are on day 12 of 49 of counting the Omer, time is of the essence, so get to work on a fun Omer calendar, especially one that you can use again next year! I did plan on making a new Omer counting calendar, and I am in the middle of that, but it has become something rather complex involving some new techniques that I'm experimenting with so it won't be ready anytime soon, sorry about that. In the mean time, this calendar that I made with my kids quite a few years ago (ten actually!) is simple and can certainly be customized for your family. So give it a try, and enjoy!

You can find the link to the original tutorial here.  And use this time to get those creative gears whirring, I know mine are, just with the whole family home I actually have less time than usual to create, so it goes.

Wisteria Blooms In Northern Israel

During the Passover holiday my daughter was itching to just get outside, so I sent her down the street to the garden I designed a few years back, with the mission of photographing the glorious wisteria in bloom! Wisteria blooms before there are any leaves on the vine, so it is truly spectacular, the only downside being that it just doesn't last long enough! This year the usual tour groups that gather in this location will most certainly not be coming, so this may be my chance to start the wisteria filled pergola for creating a shaded area with vines! I have seen this before, and it actually works really well, just not sure how long it takes! So with businesses now opening up again in Israel, I think we need to order some wisteria vines ASAP, note to self. How they'll be actually be supported is actually secondary to getting the vines in the ground now that Spring is here! Enjoy these photos and consider giving wisteria a try, if your winters are cold enough that is!

Today Is Holocaust Rememberance Day

While International Holocaust Rememberance Day is in January, Israel's Holocaust Rememberance Day is observed today. This post is in loving memory of all those whose lives were cut short at the hand of evil, and whose suffering knew no bounds. There are quite simply no words that adequately express the tragedy in which people were quite literally tossed out like garbage, deprived of their basic human rights, and punished, all because of their genetic heritage. The holocaust is something that will never happen again, and yet the fact that it happened at all is so very shocking.

There is one major point however that the evil enemies didn't foresee, and can't begin to understand, and that is that the Jewish people have an innate desire for life, to give back to the world, and to flourish, even under the most difficult circumstances. Everything we do in this world gives meaning to the lives of those who are no longer in this world, and from the minute we wake up in the morning to the last moments before sleep, we express our gratitude for all the good we have been given, and we value every minute.

Despite it all, we march forward, heads held high but with broken hearts for all those who survided and yet lost their entire family, and those who were murdered and never had the chance to enjoy the births of children and grandchildren, or even something as simple as some beautiful flowers blooming in their kitchen window.

 

 

Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday, thanks so much for joining me here! Phew, we made it to the other side of the Red Sea, figuratively, and our Passover holiday zoomed by despite being the most relaxing holiday ever, as the cooking and general day to day food prep was so much simpler. Not to mention that the Corona quarantine has enabled us to do things we wouldn't do in the past, like get the teen boys to do the dishes!

Now that Passover is behind us, there is this strange feeling of now what? Prep for the holiday and the holiday itself kept us occupied for a good 3 weeks, and now it is time to delve into those other things I've been wanting to do with the kids, as well as things I've been wanting to do myself. First things first, I've got to start a creative practice, whether it is painting in my sketchbook, painting on paper, collaging, or any number of art activities that aren't crafts per se, in order to develop myself as an artist, a dream that just keeps returning! Truthfully I would be happy to be an illustrator as well, and that might be more realistic. Of course I mentioned earlier in the year that this year I need to finish a book, or rather a series of books, so that comes first, I just keep forgetting about it, sigh! So, here's to new beginnings and an enjoyable Spring.

I can't wait to take some hikes in the neighborhood just as soon as the no further than 100meters from home law is lifted......I know there must be some red poppies waiting to have their photos taken, and the fields in the Spring (with everything blooming on the late side this year due to a year with heavy rainfall) are so inspiring. Speaking of inspiring, lets take a look at the wonderful features from last week's party, and wishing everyone good health and lots and lots of patience!