Call for Submissions. GBLTQ, immigration, special needs, interracial, interfaith, & progressive gender roles are gaps in coverage for our next juried volume of creative short stories which incorporate mitzvot. Reclaiming Judaism Press seeks previously unpublished tales with characters whose lives or relationships include at least one of the above attributes. Our jury has already selected many excellent tales written for family audiences from those submitted by a wide array of highly talented authors.

Just posted a review on the Philadelphia Jewish Voice of a worthy teen scifi/fantasy that is great for provoking discussion of the applications and limitations of several mitzvah including kibud av v'em, honoring father and mother, or more apt for these diverse gender times, kibud horim, honoring parents.

Have accepted invitation from the Jewish Futures Conference to facilitate a session on spirituality re b'nei mitzvah families and students. Here is the registration link for this Feb 27 day-long gathering of funders and seekers of new approaches, methods and models. I really enjoyed speaking with the organizer, David Bryfman, he gets it and I'm excited to hear what points Rabbi Daniel Brenner from Moving Traditions will address, as well.

I've been invited to write for the CCAR on the spiritual needs of b'nei mitzvah students and their families. Our research here at Reclaiming Judaism shows this to be a very important topic. Bar/Bat Mitzvah is a time when the whole family is tuned into the possibilities for meaning embedded within Judaism. It has been said the spirituality creates space and religion takes up space. Both are actually good things, IMHO.   

Our newest resource has just been given a wonderful review by Jewish Book World.

Peninnah Schram is honored by Cherie Koller-Fox (left), Cherie Karo-Schwartz (far right), Rabbi Janie Grackin (2nd from right)

So much was exciting, valuable and new at the NewCaje conference -- so happy to be there teaching, storytelling and learning. The sessions and attendees I encountered were most often filled with experienced principals and educators who themselves are innovators of new approaches to meaningful Jewish learning and living.