Association of Jewish Libraries 2024 Conference San Diego

Rising to the Challenge: How Challah-Making and Storytelling in the Classroom Fosters Lasting Jewish Connections--Sidra Ludwig and Elysa Keshen
After October 7, Jewish communities hosted challah bakes to foster unity and support. For generations, challah baking has braided our identity together. Research compiled in Elysa Keshen's master's thesis shows the impact of the weekly ritual of challah baking on preschool students’ Jewish identity and their connection to community. Jewish librarians and educators can enhance the challah-making experience in their classrooms by pairing lessons with challah picture books. This presentation will examine the impact of challah storytelling on Jewish identity and community building, and as a window for non-Jewish audiences to see into Jewish joy and ritual. The presentation will use the author's newly published book RISING to illustrate these connections.

Using Graphic Literature to teach about the Holocaust--Susan Helen Dubin
Given the popularity of graphic literature about the Holocaust with students and publishers, this genre needs to be explored by teachers and librarians who teach Holocaust education. The goal of this presentation is to provide teachers and librarians with an understanding of graphic literature, how it can be used and how to evaluate it. The program will share a list of graphic fiction and nonfiction which are recommended titles for middle and high school.

Using Picture Books to Enhance a Religious School Curriculum--Judy Petersen
Our Religious School curriculum centers on Torah, Gmilut Hasadim & Avodah. Though Jewish history, Israel, & Jewish diversity are touched on, there is no through line for these subjects. With our Director, I've developed a three-year mini-curriculum that encapsulates Jewish Communities Around the World, The American Jewish Experience, and Israel.