“do not dink or you will die”
In conjunction with our big, ongoing Marker Mitzvah program—where we collect the school’s dead markers and ship them for conversion into diesel fuel—we keep some dry markers for use in the art room.
What do we do with dead markers? We make mezuzah cases (which I’ve written about here) and we make FREE, gorgeous liquid watercolors. Even the driest of dry marker will leach plenty of color into a bottle of water. Continue reading
Marker Mitzvah display at school program
Here’s an easy mitzvah project I started with our 3rd graders, and it benefits the entire school. The mitzvah is B’al Tashcheet—”do not destroy”—and what we are trying to “not destroy” is the Earth: we’re saving oodles of markers from the landfill. Continue reading
Posted in Activity, Crafts, Nature
Tagged Bal Tashchit, mitzvah project, recycle, reuse, upcycle
soup containers from take-out menu
A post about repurposed soup containers as lampshades is not my usual fare. Let’s pretend it is not glaringly unlike the Earnest Sunday School Teacher posts adjacent. And let’s remember that up-cycled trash is part of my make-it-with-what-you’ve-got mantra. And let’s also note that this (or any) up-cycle project bags at least 3 mitzvot (see below). But the truth is, I have to post my discovery somewhere, and this is this my only somewhere. Continue reading
Photo: 322 acres of old-growth forest in Nashville. Friends of Warner Parks are trying to raise money to buy it, and are about 1.6 million short.
Tu B’Shevat is tomorrow: the Fifteenth of the month of Shevat.1 It is one of the harder Jewish holidays to pronounce, even for grown-ups. The Toddler blurbles something like “Shot.” Thanks to the PJ Library —long may it prosper— he’s been reading a board book about Tu B’Shevat, so he already knows it is a day to plant trees. He’s got a small acorn and a big acorn ready to go. Continue reading
Comments Off on Happy Birthday to the Trees, Goodbye to the Naps
Posted in Nature, Tu B'Shevat
Tagged Bal Tashchit, naptime, Shehechianyu, Tikkun Olam, Tu B'Shevat
Jewish recycling
Here’s our recycling bin. Crayon leaf rubbing and team effort on D’Nealian English and block Hebrew.
My friend had a brain aneurysm yesterday. Out of nowhere. Her boy called a friend—one of those Go-To Friends who is always There in a blink (the same friend I called when my water broke last year…she rushed over to take my daughter overnight)—and they called 911. She had surgery, and it looks like she’ll be okay if she can make it through the next 3 weeks. Continue reading
Comments Off on Living Jewishly: Values Everyday
Posted in Jewish Identity
Tagged Bal Tashchit, bar bat mitzvah, bikur holim, gemilut hasidim, hesed, middot
Swim Noodle Menorah
LEGO Gragger
Altoids tin travel menorah
Spin it, Eat it: The Caramel Dreidel
Edible dreidels, regular and mini
Jonah and the Whale Cracker
DIY Lego Mezuzah
PEZ + Mezuzah = PEZuzah
Menurkey (repurposed figurine)
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DIY LEGO dreidel
LEGO minifig Passover seder table
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