Barbara Bietz

It's like a Jewish creativity mentor in a book Learn from Jewish creativity mentors & use your own Jewish creativity in areas ranging from Jewish cooking to Jewish filmmaking.

"Reminds us to be grate­ful for the bread we eat every day—to appre­ci­ate the sat­is­fac­tion of sit­ting around the table and shar­ing chal­lah with fam­i­ly on any occa­sion at all."—Jewish Book CouncilChallah can warm a table with love, whether it's a part of a Shabbat meal or Sunday morning French toast or shared with friends on a picnic. This rhyming sequel to Apples, Apples All Year Round! introduces young children to the many ways challah is an important cultural element in everyday Jewish life.

"A welcome addition" --School Library Journal"This rollicking, perfectly rhymed journey through the Jewish year . . . [is]a wonderful introduction to Jewish holidays for children of all backgrounds" --The Sydney Taylor ShmoozeA colorful year of Jewish holidays with apples as the central theme.

Many Jewish families helped settle, diverse communities in the desolate, desert terrain of the Wild West. Although Sweet Tamales for Purim is a work of fiction, it is inspired by a true event. In 1886, the Hebrew Ladies Benevolent Society of Tucson planned a Purim Ball for the entire community. Barbara tells the story from the perspective of a young girl, who along with her new friend, Luis plan to create a Purim festival for their town. Their plans for the celebration were well underway until the family goat, Kitzel, ate all of the traditional holiday pastries, Hamantashen. Fortunately, they find another way to celebrate Purim and the family is able to share their cultural traditions with their new neighbors. Purim celebrates the courageous stand that Queen Esther made to save the Jewish people from being banished by the king. The young girl's determination to create a spirited Purim celebration in her western town, provides a unique insight into how children can creatively overcome challenges when life doesn't go as planned. Her quick thinking, persistence and resourceful actions give their first Purim festival added significance.