Issue 05 | March 2014 by jCreate Magazine

Issue 05 | March 2014

jCreateMagazine celebrating jewish creativity

Passover set for a king

Make It

upcycled seder Chargers

Afikoman Bag passover bingo finger puppets

Contents

4 Readers Submission

38 Kid Friendly Passover Prep

6 Travel Notepad

44 Edible Ten Plagues

7 Afikoman Bag

48 Passover Bingo!

9 Passover Envy

51 Math Madness

12 Manischewitz Recipes

53 Word Find

16 4 Questions for Ann Koffsky

54 Not 2 Shabbey Tablescape

19 Passover Finger Puppets

56 Seder Place Settings

20 Hidden Pictures

58 Upcycled chargers

21 Fit For A King Tablescape

60 DIY Washing Station

26 House of Skills

62 Splitting of the Sea Craft

29 Passover Cleaning List Craft 30 Passover Mitzvah Notes 33 Great Products 36 A Taste of PESACH Recipes

Email us: jcreatemag@gmail.com | Call us: (973) 572-0124

teMpLates. By Dena Ackerman

LETTER FROM the EDITOR

www.denaackerman.com CLICK HERE TO PRINT

Dear Reader,

As I write this, Passover is a just over 4 weeks away. Hebrew teachers all over the world are starting to pull out their Passover lesson plans and past projects, jotting down and planning out their curricula. This is the first year that I won’t be in a classroom, teaching those precious children, and of course, I’m a bit sad. There’s nothing better than crafting with little hands and watching the magic of creativity come alive within my students. It's supremely beautiful to pass on our rich Jewish traditions through hands-on activities. This year, I am looking forward to seeing the wonderful projects my own children will bring home and hearing the incredible ideas and lessons they will share at the seder table. Passover is a time to celebrate Jewish creativity. jCreate Magazine is the perfect way to share projects and ideas for the Passover season. The magazine has grown tremendously in the past 8 months. With over 180,000 readers worldwide, we are fulfilling our mission of spreading Jewish creativity, inspiring moms and teachers to share the joy of crafting with children. Rather than occupy kids with video games and iPads, we hope to restore wholesome activities and old fashioned fun. Our Passover issue is generously filled with crafting ideas and hands on projects. The DIYers will love the upcycled seder chargers and we know our teachers will absolutely LOVE our Afikoman Bag project! Get ready for our best tablescape yet with Papaya Events, "Fit for a King," with dripping tulips and glittery chargers. Need some more recipe ideas? Check out some of our favorites from Manischewitz and “A Taste of Pesach” a new cookbook published by Artscroll. Don’t forget to print out our Passover mitzvah notes! They are the perfect tool for giving positive reinforcement to young children. Have your kids help you prepare for Passover with Sara Younger's "House of Skills." Play some holiday games with Dena Ackerman’s bingo boards and Ann Koffsky’s hidden pictures and finger puppets. Traveling this Passover? Don’t forget to pack your trip bag and notebook! I hope you enjoy reading this issue and make time for wholesome fun with your family! From the jCreate family to yours, Happy Passover! Abbey Abbey Wolin Chief Creative Officer

Abbey is the Chief Creative Officer for jCreate Magazine. As a serial crafter and educator Abbey realized the need for Jewish crafting content for moms and teachers alike. She is the mother of 5 children and when she is not painting her Not 2 Shabbey pieces you can find her crafting with her kids or students. Abbey is always armed with painters’ tape and hates glitter with a passion.

Mirel Goldwasser Creative Director

Mirel's company Oomph creative successfully helps brands, both big and small, with creative marketing solutions and a full line of graphic design services on a budget. Her tireless efforts have made jCreate a reality -- with artistic flair and a bit of snark!

Estee Lavitt Executive Director

Estee manages and edits jCreate because she is passionate about spreading Jewish creative content with professionalism. As a mom, she tries to stay on top of simple craft trends with a Jewish twist to educate and entertain her young children. Estee makes things happen by being attached to her Android, iPad and other pinging, tweeting devices.

Gittie Atlas Web Designer

Armed with a computer and a mouse, Gittie enjoys using her artistic talents and technological expertise to create a pleasant online environment where Jewish artists and the crafters can easily share their passions and ideas.

Reader Submissions Project: Glitter Bottles

much en had so "My childr ter g the glit fun makin issue. rom last f s le t ot b he pics of t Here are ed ty I host Purim par bottles!" using the

-Esther lev

Coming Soon to a store near you!

like us on facebook for great recipes and menu tips

to learn more click here for wholesale orders click here

Buy your own copy of Crafting Jewish by Rivky Koenig HERE: www.artscroll.com

travel notepad For many people, celebrating Passover means getting together with family  that lives far away. If you’re traveling or visiting relatives, put together this travel pack to make the car ride or plane trip more enjoyable. Kids will be so busy using the stuff in the pack, they won’t have time to bicker or to keep saying, “Are we there yet?” Estimated time: 15 minutes

What you will need:

- medium-sized spiral-bound pad of paper - 1 (8.5”x11”) sheet cardstock - pencil - scissors or paper cutter - glue stick or tape runner - large paper tag - alphabet stickers

How to do it:

1. Trace the front of the pad onto the back of the cardstock and cut out. 2. Glue the cardstock rectangle to the cover of the notepad 3. Cut a 3” piece of ribbon and knot through the tag’s hole. Stick letters spelling “Trip Notes” onto the tag. Use the glue stick or tape runner to glue the tag to the center of the notepad. 4. Tie one end of the remaining ribbon to a pen or pencil and the other end to the spiral binding of the notepad.

- 15” length of .5”-wide ribbon

Reproduced from Crafting Jewish by Rivky Koenig with permission from the copyright holders ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications, LTD.

t I t f a r C

n a m o k i f a bag

This project is perfect for crafters of all ages. You can make it simpler or more intricate by choosing appropriate stencils. We specifically designed this craft to be strong enough to last! The poly folder is strong enough to hold the matzah and to withstand almost any hiding spot! We recommend BIC permanent markers for this project because they use archival ink which means that you can reuse this project from year to year!

SUPPLIES:

BIC permanent markers Clear plastic/poly folder Passover coloring sheets as stencils

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Print out Passover coloring sheets from your computer. Google is a great place to search for them. You can make it simple for beginner crafters or you can choose really intricate deigns for more experienced crafters! 2. Place the stencil inside of the clear folder and color the image onto the plastic. Once you are done, use a black marker to outline the whole image. 3. Admire your work!

the for name ah, set matz is the of middle portion afikoman z" the of the The hide yachat half " the brokenduring the . Childrenafter seder until and seek aside assover folder of hide as this the P in eaten in game ah n a fu zah is then freedom matz of when meal es. The matthe taste . ensu leaving uths mo ," our "dessert

FYI BIC Mark-Itâ&#x201E;˘ Permanent Markers were designed for adult craft enthusiasts and are not intended for children to use as coloring markers.

www.junees.com

Passover Envy Keeping Up With The Goldbergs By Abbey Wolin

Last Passover, I had an idea swimming around in my head for a blog post. I intended to write and post it when my friend posted a comment on a popular Facebook group, which seemed like she had been reading my thoughts exactly. Of course her comment caused an uproar... “I spent 40 minutes talking a friend off the ledge. She’s having major anxiety about Passover. Her husband is working again (thank G-d) and she’s home with three kids under the age of five. Facebook has gotten to her: the fancy tablescapes, intricate Kosher for Passover recipes, pressure to push herself and their budget in order to feel like it’s enough. “I love seeing what others do for Shabbat and Holidays. For all of you who are easily overwhelmed, please know that many of us have weeks where we just piece together meals. It’s also quite easy to make things glamorous when you have an unlimited budget. Chill.” I think it is time that we

start an honest conversation about what is real. So here’s my confession..... I often post inspirational table settings and craft ideas for children and adults. It may seem that I have it all together and my life is super grand. BUT I literally almost did not make it to last Passover. If it had not been for my mother swooping in at the very last second, we would never have been ready in time. “What do you mean?” “How could this be?” “Don’t you have it all together Abbey??” I hear your thoughts in my head...... I always say that, in my family, we all stick to what we are good at. I don’t know how to clean. I’m not really good at it, so I tend to stay out of my husband’s way when it comes to Passover cleaning. The pressure of

it is time that we start an honest conversation about what is real.

cleaning is so great because Passover cleaning means removing every last vestige of bread and any leavened foods to clear way for our traditional Passover matzah. Last year was no exception, but I really, really couldn’t have helped him even if I wanted to. Thank God, I have a job I love, painting and crafting handmade glassware and gifts. However, it is a seasonal job, and Passover is my busiest time of the year! I worked myself to the bone, getting an average of 3 hours of sleep for 2 weeks in a row, taking my only breaks for Shabbat. The week that all the items were ready to ship, my assistant got sick and I was left to do everything on my own. Painting, cleaning, and shipping. When Thursday came and all the gift items were out of my house, I gave an audible sigh of relief and slept for the first time in weeks. When I woke up, I realized that I had to make Passover. The way I saw it, I had two problems that I needed to figure out. 1. Cleaning - We needed to get the house completely clean for Passover in minus 2 days. 2. Preparing - I needed all the stuff to cook with including pots, pans, and FOOD! We use all new pots and pans that never touched bread and buy only Kosher for Passover food products. Remember people; this was already the Friday BEFORE Passover. I already hear my husband yelling at me for telling you all this. OY VEY! So here’s what I did to solve problem #1: I called my mother. Fine. You can all laugh at me. Totally fine, I’m ok with that!! She came for Shabbat and spent Saturday night and Sunday helping my husband get the house cleaned and ready.

would be impossible to pick up the stuff until after the traditional burning of the Chametz (leavened bread) on Monday. My mother’s home is in Long Island and I live in Passaic, NJ - a slight situation. How was I going to cook?? So what did we do? Well, by some miracle, we had one box of Passover pots and pans in my attic and, while my husband and mother went to retrieve the rest of her Passover items in Long Island, I was able to cook what I could with those pots. A friend lent me a knife and a peeler, and I used a plastic plate as a cutting board. By the time my mother and husband were back, it was 4 o’clock: about two and a half hours before candle lighting. Most of the food was cooking and we began to sort through the boxes, washing dishes and getting the table set for the seder. Right before candle lighting I snapped this picture of my table. Notice that there is no silverware, no Haggadot, and no napkins anywhere to be seen. So, why am I telling you this story? Am I proud of the fact that I wasn’t ready in time? No. I’m actually embarrassed. Am I happy that my mother had to come rescue me? Well yes, and grateful, too! So what’s the point??? GUESS WHAT, PEOPLE?

The grass isn’t greener on the other side.

Problem #2 was slightly trickier and will make you all extremely nervous, but I will tell you anyway. Because my mother is single now, and was spending Passover with all her grandchildren, she graciously offered her Passover dishes, pots, and pans to me. The problem was that our schedule was so tight, that it

I don’t have it all together and I’m sure there are many other people out there who don’t either! It’s ok to not have a perfect table setting. It’s ok to not have a fancy home. It’s ok to cook on the holiday and not have it prepared in advance. It’s ok to be late. It’s ok to run out to the store 3 hours before the holiday for new pants for your son because you realized all the ones he has are ruined with holes and stains. I really believe that this is a universal message that applies to more than Passover preparation. I think that in life, and especially via social media outlets, we’ve

got to be careful of what we say and what we post. It’s important to be sensitive to others. We are not supposed to see everyone’s lives like an open book. Vacations, new homes, new cars, children, spouses, and table-settings. All of a sudden, these things are all brought into your life for your viewing pleasure. Yet you never asked to see them.

Like us on facebook for great crafting ideas and holiday tips

click here

Who wants to feel that they aren’t good enough?? “The grass isn’t greener on the other side.” You may think that the other person has it all together, but we all have our own pekelach (packages)!

jCreateMagazine celebrating jewish creativity

Ingredients: Cooking spray 2 tablespoons Manischewitz® Honey ¼ cup olive oil 2 teaspoons ground turmeric ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 4 garlic cloves, chopped One 3 ½ pound chicken, cut into 8 pieces 2 medium red onions, quartered 1 pound small red-skin potatoes,

Moroccan Roasted Chicken

scrubbed and halved 1 cup dried apricots ½ cup golden raisins ½ cup coarsely chopped pistachios 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil; spray the foil with cooking spray. 2. Mix together the honey, olive oil, turmeric, cinnamon, and garlic in a small bowl. Place the chicken, onions, and potatoes in a large bowl. Toss with three-quarters of the honey mixture and arrange in a single layer on the prepared pan. Toss the apricots and raisins with the remaining honey mixture and set aside. 3. Bake the chicken, onions, and potatoes for 35 minutes. Add the apricots and raisins and bake until the chicken is cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes more. Garnish with the pistachios and cilantro.

great passover RECIPEs Ingredients:

1 cup Manischewitz® Honey ½ cup Kosher for Passover Mustard 8 garlic cloves, minced ¼ cup fresh orange juice 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes ½ teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper One 4-pound brisket 2 tablespoons olive oil ½ teaspoon Manischewitz® Potato Starch

Directions: 1. Combine the honey, mustard, garlic, orange and lemon juices, red pepper flakes, thyme, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl, whisking to blend well. Place the brisket in a resealable plastic bag. Add the marinade, seal, and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.

Garlic Honey Brisket

2. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Remove the brisket from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking to allow it to come to room temperature. 3. Heat the olive oil in an ovenproof Dutch oven over medium heat. Remove the brisket from the marinade, reserving the marinade. Add the brisket to the oil and sear it until nicely browned, about 5 minutes per side. Pour the reserved marinade over the brisket, cover, place it in the oven, and bake for 2 hours. Remove the lid and continue to cook until tender, 30 minutes to 1 hour more. Transfer the brisket to a cutting board and let rest at least 15 minutes before slicing against the grain. 4. Return the Dutch oven to the stove-top and bring the pan juices to a simmer. (Skim off some fat if there’s more than 1 to 2 tablespoons in the pan.) Whisk in the flour and simmer until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Pour the gravy over the sliced brisket and serve.

Need a BraNd Makeover?

732.942.3675

This is possibly one of the most gorgeous, refreshing desserts on the planet. Anyone can do this and make it look amazing. No special skills, no food styling secrets, no oven—you’re gonna love it!

Ingredients: 4 medium oranges, such as navel, tangelo, or Cara Cara, rinsed ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 pint sorbet, your favorite flavor 1 cup hulled, diced strawberries ½ cup peeled, diced kiwi (about 2) Grated zest and juice of 1 lime ½ teaspoon coconut extract (optional) 1 cup nondairy whipped “cream” (see Quick Tip)

Directions:

sorbet cups

1. Slice ½ inch off the top of each orange and reserve for garnish, if desired. Cut a thin slice off the bottom of each orange just so that the oranges can stand steady and upright. Carefully cut around the flesh and scoop out the insides of the oranges with a small sharp knife or grapefruit spoon (save the orange segments for fruit salad or smoothies). Moisten the outside of the orange shells with a little water and roll them in ¼ cup sugar to lightly coat. Fill the shells with the sorbet and level off the tops so you have a flat surface. Freeze until solid, 2 to 3 hours. 2. Make the salsa: Combine the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar with the strawberries in a small bowl and let sit until juicy, about 15 minutes. Add the kiwi and lime juice and stir well. 3. Gently fold the lime zest and coconut extract, if using, into the whipped “cream” in a large bowl. 4. Before serving, remove the oranges from the freezer and let them soften for 5 minutes. Plate the oranges and top them with the fruit salsa, sprinkling extra salsa around the orange. Garnish with a dollop of the flavored whipped “cream.” Quick Tip: Nondairy whipped “cream” is available in tubs in the freezer section of your supermarket; it is usually called “whipped topping.” If you prefer to make your own, try this recipe. Nondairy Coconut Whipped Cream: Chill two 13-ounce cans full-fat coconut milk, a mixing bowl, and beaters overnight in the fridge. Turn the cans of chilled coconut milk upside down. Open the cans from the bottom and drain off the clear liquid; reserve it for other uses, such as smoothies or homemade popsicles. Using a rubber spatula, transfer the chilled coconut “cream” left in the can to the chilled bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until thick, creamy, and fluffy. Beat in ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract, then confectioners’ sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, to taste. Do not over-beat. If preparing the coconut cream in advance, remove it from the fridge 1 hour before serving because it will harden a bit when refrigerated.

Questions for Ann Koffsky

click here to purchase Frogs in the Bed

We love the new Passover book, Frogs in the Bed, A Seder Activity by Ann Koffsky. We've tracked Ann down and asked her 4 questions about Passover and her new book.

What is your main inspiration for this book? Well, of course the song Frogs in the Bed is an inspirationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; my kids brought it home from nursery a while back, and I always knew it would be fun to draw pictures for it. I was also really influenced by David Wiesnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book, Tuesday, which shows frogs doing all sort of fun things.

Ann D. Koffsky is the author/ illustrator of more than 30 Jewish books for Jewish children. Her most recent is Frogs in the Bed: A Seder Activity book. Ann celebrates Seder every year with her husband Mark, and their three children Aaron, Jeremy and Adira. You can see more of her work, and sign up for her free monthly coloring pages at www.annkoffsky.com.

What is your favorite part of the Passover seder?

I am really 5 years oldâ&#x20AC;Ś the afikoman hunt, of course. Watching my kids run around the house is so much fun.

How do you engage your children on Passover? Songs. Props. Encouraging them to share their haggadot. Anything and everything!

Tell us one really special Passover family ritual. How did it start?

During Chad Gadya we make all the animal sounds. The first seder that my husband came to before we were even married, he introduced my family to the animal sound versionâ&#x20AC;Śand now it's a standard part of our seder. It was quite an interesting way for him to introduce himself to my extended family!

Passover Puppets

click here to print

hidden pictures

CLICK TO PRINT

fit for a

king Photos by: Chana Blumes Photography www.chanablumesphoto.com Tablescape Design by: Tablecape design by Devorah Deutsch, Papaya Events, www.papayaevents.com Tabletop Flatware, China, And Glassware by: Trendsettings of Lakewood (732) 987-4020 trendsettings@yahoo.com. Thank you to Fashion-isha Sharon Langert for graciously opening her home to our crew. It was the perfect space for our photoshoot. www.fashion-isha.com Pillowcases and placecards by: Esther O. of www.estherodesign.com

Let each guest know where they're sitting right away with these pretty and useful seating cards. These acrylic frames are economical and can be reused over and over. All you need are some rhinestones and glue! Courtesy of Esther Ottensosser, Estherodesign.com

the Seder table... before...

after...

The Seder table is set beautifully, with your most exquisite china. The silver glistens, and the glass sparkles. A table fit for a king... Except for the pillowcases. They contrast is stark. The mismatched pillowcases appear incongruent with the ambience of the table. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when EstherO pillowcases can step in and complete the picture of magnificence:

Elegant MATCHING Seder Pillowcases Perfect for ALL Seder participants Two designs available Machine washable

10% off for jcreate readers

Coupon code: jc10off

732.757.9340 | www.estherodesign.com | info@estherodesign.com

House of Skills By Sara Younger

The sun sets on the 14th day of Nissan and Passover arrives. Weeks of preparation culminate in a night filled with symbolism and tradition. It is a night of telling. We tell our children about the miraculous rescue of the Jews from Egypt. We tell the story of miracles as we sit around a table filled with symbols. Symbols that will cause our children to ask, symbols that will prompt us to tell.

Getting to that seder table may require miracles too, if a toddler serves as your general assistant in areas of housekeeping and food preparation. Here are some creative and fun ways to put your assistant to work. All the activities suggested here will help a child develop skills and will allow you to go about your household duties in a (semi) undisturbed manner.

Let’s begin in the PLAYROOM: No matter how often you clean it, playrooms always look “played in.” As you sort, organize and toss the toys that are no longer usable, your assistant can engage in some meaningful water play. Fill a large bin with water. Allow your child to add a bit of soap. A few strategically placed signs

will make a fabulous toy washing station. Hand over all the toys in need of a cleaning and watch the dirt magically disappear. Your child gets some sensory stimulation, sees cause and effect in action, and experiences a touch of science…. So many benefits aside from clean toys.

On to the BATHROOM: No better space than the restroom to practice building! Those unopened rolls of toilet paper and the stash of tissue boxes make great building material. Allow your child to build towers to practice his building skills and then increase spatial awareness by having him fit them

all on a shelf. It may not be picture perfect, but his smile will be.

or hooks. This helps develop fine motor skills and teaches them how to balance weight on an object.

Now it’s bedroom time: Are there things stuck under your Let’s start in your bed? First check that the bed is CHILD’S ROOM: It’s high enough off the floor to be safe, time to tackle the socks! Take all then invite your child to crawl into those unmatched ones, and hand the “special tunnel” and rescue all them over. They make great mitten the lost “treasures.” Squirming and puppets for small hands to play with. crawling helps develop muscles and (This is a perfect opportunity to gross motor skills. develop your child’s imagination.) Once the puppet show ends, the It’s time to tackle socks also serve as a great sorting the DINING ROOM: activity. Have your child divide Have your little helper don a pair them into groups by color to of gloves and get ready to polish. practice colors and sorting skills. A touch of silver polish and your child’s arm muscles can deliver MOMMY’S ROOM: shiny silver and strong arms. Added There are so many great things your benefit: bragging rights! She’ll be child can do to help in here! Start delighted to let everyone know with your jewelry collection. Let who made the things so shiny! your child hang all your necklaces, (This activity is only recommended bracelets and rings on a for children 3 years or older.) jewelry hanger

It’s time to cook, so let’s hit the KITCHEN! Scan your recipes

Don’t forget to give your child Sara Younger is the owner of Funtique sincere, specific compliments Events, a party planning and entertainment along the way. Not only will you company that specializes in creating unique to see which ones have steps a be building her skills, you will be Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, and children’s events and child can do. It’s never too early boosting her confidence. Want to entertainment. Plan your next party and to develop kitchen skills. Since provide an extra incentive? Print check out her site at funtiqueevents.com it’s Passover time, potatoes are a these badges and award your child and her blog www.summerplaylandblog. wordpress.com for great party ideas and perfect way to begin. Any recipe as she finishes each task. fun activities for children. that calls for mashing them is fair play for this training. Lay the Now that you’ve got a helper, potatoes on a large plate with a cleaning the house is child’s play, raised rim and hand your child a right? fork. I’m guessing you won’t have to give him instructions… click here to print passover medals

Mommy's helper

shining star

I cleaned my room

sock matcher

gold member

the clean team

passover master

Passover Cleaning List

What you will need:

Estimated time: 10 minutes

- 1 (8.5”x11”) sheet cardstock or heavy paper - markers, optional - scissors and glue - ruler and pencil - 1 (12”x12”) sheet patterned scrapbook paper - peel-and-stick magnetic tape

How to do it: 1. Photocopy the Passover checklist template (page 263) onto cardstock or heavy paper. Or, create your own checklist. Decorate with markers if you wish. 2. Use the ruler and pencil to measure and draw a 9”x11.5” rectangle on the scrapbook paper. With scissors, cut out the rectangle. Glue the checklist to the scrapbook paper. 3. Cut two pieces of magnetic tape and attach them to the top and bottom of the back of the scrapbook paper.

Reproduced from Crafting Jewish by Rivky Koenig with permission from the copyright holders ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications, LTD. 29

Passover Mitzvah Notes

Kids love bringing mitzvah notes to morah. print for exciting mitzvah not templates. by dena ackerman

click to print www.denaackerman.com

YOU ARE READING

THIS AD

SO ARE 150,000

T es b e

T ke R a ls em

ITevIce n e o sh seR T n ReaT e g fIces // I gnPRIc a T m Th

ea gR

OTHER

PEOPLE click to learn

about a d v e rt i s i n g

Gas & Tolls Promo

worth the

TRIP

we’ll even pay your tolls!*

wash ‘n seTs qualITy cuTs 1 yeaR gauRanTee *with purchase of wig *from monsey, brooklyn or five towns only

HAIR DESIGNS

6697 US HigHway 9, Howell, NJ | 732.363.HaiR 4247

jCreateMagazine celebrating jewish creativity

HoURS: SUN-THURS 10aM - 6PM | FRi 10aM-call

OAK CHALLAH CUTTING BOARD ATTRACTIVE, MODERN DESIGN TERRIFIC GIFT IDEA INCLUDES SPECIAL AREA FOR SALT DIPPING DOME DOUBLES AS CHALLAH SERVER

UNIQUE STAYFRESH DOME PROLONGS THE FRESHNESS OF YOUR CHALLAH NOW AVAILABLE: FLATBUSH: EICHLER'S, HECHT'S JUDAICA, HEICHAL JUDAICA, THE JUDAICA PLACE LAKEWOOD: JUDAICA PLAZA, Z. BERMAN WESTGATE MONSEY: TUVIA'S JUDAICA PASSAIC: Z. BERMAN TEANECK: JUDAICA HOUSE, TEANECK GENERAL STORE

Visit www.challaboards.com Wh ole sale or de r s e m a i l ; o r de r s @b eck ovati ons .com

Ingenious reations!

great

Products Oak Challah Board with unique stayfresh dome www.challaboards.com

$69

New! Great Gift!

from

$16

Make your Shabbos more enjoyable with ParshaPacks! It's the bag that keeps notes neat until you need them. Beautiful leatherette material, two zippered pockets and easily attaches to your dining room chairs. Never lose your child's Parsha Sheets again! www.not2shabbey.com

Shopping

Picks

Plastic Blowup Seder Pillow Passover Coasters

Passover Book Passover Masks

Round Wine Goblet

passover specials Online Shopping made easy for you Passover Go Fish

KidKraft Passover Set

Melamine Passover Seder Plate

LEGO PHARAOH

Artscroll Children's Haggadah

rabbit corkscrew 35

These are so good that we wanted to name them “I Can’t Believe It’s Passover Crinkle Cookies,” but the title was too long!

chocolate crinkle cookies

PAREVE . YIELDS ABOUT 50 COOKIES

¾ cup oil 1¼ cups cocoa plus 1 Tablespoon 2 cups sugar 4 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla 2 cups potato starch 2 teaspoons baking powder confectioners’ sugar, for rolling

Using an electric mixer, beat together oil, cocoa, and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating to combine. Add vanilla, potato starch, and baking powder. Beat until batter reaches peanut butter consistency). Refrigerate batter, covered, for 1-2 days. Preheat oven to 350°F. Use a small cookie scoop to form balls. Roll each ball in confectioners’ sugar. Place onto cookie sheets, 1 inch apart. Bake for 8 minutes — don’t over-bake, as cookies will harden as they cool. Cool on cookie sheets for 10 minutes before removing.

A Taste of Pesach presents an amazingly diverse set of recipes, from elegant starters like Chicken-Wrapped Asparagus Spears to kid-friendly favorites such as Chicken Nuggets. Featuring everything from traditional recipes like Gefilte Fish and Matzah Balls to modern dishes such as Seared Tuna andChocolate Molten Cake, A Taste of Pesach has the recipe to fit every cook’s needs and make Passover cooking easier — and more delicious — than ever. Recipes from A Taste of Pesach, click here to purchase

Reprinted with permission from the copyright holders: ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications

Passover is a busy time for all. As moms, we spend most of the time prior to the holiday in the kitchen: scrubbing, cleaning, preparing, and ultimately cooking and baking. We found some delicious recipes from the new Passover cookbook, A Taste of Pesach. The cookbook's tagline boasts: Trusted Favorites. Simple Preparation. Magnificent Results. We decided to share two recipes that really fit the bill. They are favorites for Passover and all year round, simple enough for your children to prepare (ages 8+) and yield magnificent results. Both of these recipes should take about 10-15 minutes prep time. Please note that the cookie dough needs to be refrigerated for 1-2 days prior to baking.

My cousin, who is very innovative in the kitchen, recommended this brisket recipe. Our photographer asked to take a break after photographing it, because it looked so good, he wanted to try some. He gave it two enthusiastic thumbs up!

Baby Bella and Cranberry Brisket

1 (4-pound) brisket 1 cup chicken broth Yields 10 servings 1 cup jellied cranberry sauce ¼ cup potato starch 1 large onion, sliced 4 cloves garlic, chopped ¾ Tablespoon dried rosemary salt, to taste pepper, to taste 12 ounces baby Portobello mushrooms, cleaned and halved

Preheat oven to 400°F. Whisk together broth, cranberry sauce, and potato starch. Pour mixture into a large roasting pan. Add onions, garlic, and rosemary. Season roast with salt and pepper. Place over onions in roasting pan. Spoon cranberry mixture in the pan over the meat. Cover. Bake for 2½ hours. Add mushrooms and bake, covered, for additional 45 minutes. Cool. Slice thinly across the grain. Reheat in sauce before serving.

Kid-Friendly

Passover Prep

By Adina Soclof

]Passover is right around the corner and I am just past the nail-biting phase. This is where I just worry about Passover. I walk from room to room in my house, feeling overwhelmed, not sure how I am going to do it all. After 13 years of making Passover, I know that this is an annoying, but necessary part of the whole cleaning process. The anxiety that I generate during this time actually propels me forward into the next stage where I finally organize, clean and cook. For those of you who subscribe to the “Passover cleaning is not Spring cleaning” bit, you might want to disregard the rest of the article. I am unmoving and quite stubborn about equating Passover cleaning with Spring cleaning. My feeling is that if I am cleaning already, then why not do a Spring Cleaning? Why should I clean twice? (I hope you heard the Talmudic singsong melody in the question and the movement of my thumbs as they went up and down in the air. Yes, I can do that even while typing!)

1) Inspire Cooperation When we ask our kids for help we want to avoid saying: “You are going to clean your room once and for all!” “That is it, you are going to help, no ifs, ands or buts.” This creates a “me against you” environment where the child wants to fight for control. With older kids, you want to invite them to help out with a positive tone and a neutral manner: “Guys, I am going to need extra help this year to clean for Passover. You have worked hard in the past and I know you can do it again. This week, your rooms need to be cleaned. I need to know before bedtime when you are going to be available to do that.” Similarly, with younger kids you might want to say: “You know how you learned in school a b o u t cleaning f o r Passover? Let’s pick some jobs for you so you can help clean for Passover!” When we speak to our kids in this way, they feel respected as if they are part of a team. They will be more likely to cooperate and help out.

Let’s pick some jobs for you so you can help clean for Passover!”

What I also feel strongly about is that my kids need to get in on the action. It is important that they actively participate in getting ready for the holiday. When kids are given jobs, they might complain but they sense that they are contributing something important to the family. Once Passover starts and is enjoyed (as of this writing, my kids love Passover), kids make the connection that they have played a significant role in preparing for the holiday. This helps build their self-esteem and confidence. Because there is so much work involved and things can get hairy, it is important to strike a balance. We want our kids to help, but if we push them to do too much they might dread, instead of happily anticipate, Passover. Here are some ways to help your kids get involved in Passover cleaning without going overboard:

2) Make A List It is hard to work for an employer who does not have a clear business plan and goals. The same goes for kids who have to work under a disorganized mom. You know what you need to do – but your kids don’t. They have to be at your beck and call. If you randomly hand out jobs, your kids can get confused and frustrated, and rightly so. It is best if you organize yourself before you ask your kids for help. You can make a list of everything that needs to be done. Find a calm time and share the list with your kids. You can then ask, “Who is available for what and when?”

3) Get Up Close and Personal All kids, especially younger ones, are able to listen if we give them lots of visual and tactile cues. They are better able to follow our directions if we touch them on the shoulder, get down to their level and make eye contact. It is hard for them to respond when we call them from a different room.

4) Be Specific If your children are having a hard time cooperating, you might want to try to give them jobs that are more concrete or have a finite time frame. Instead of: “Clean the family room.” Try: “Everyone needs to pick up 10 toys in the family room.” Instead of: “Clean your closet” Try: “Hang up five shirts that are lying on the floor.” Instead of: “Help me put the laundry away.” Try: “I need your help for 10 minutes to take the laundry to everyone’s room. It is now 7:00. At 7:10 you will be free to play.”

5) Help Them Develop Good Middot aka Positive Character Traits Kids don’t know that they should offer to help. It is important to teach them this. Before any of the holidays I will say to my kids, “I would appreciate if you would pop your head into the kitchen every so often and just ask if I need some help.” My kids now do that and, to be honest, it warms my heart. It makes me feel like I have the best kids ever. If I need them, I will say: “I appreciate the offer. Yes, I can use some help peeling potatoes.” If I don’t need help, I say: “Thanks for looking in on me. I don’t need anything right now but I do appreciate you asking.” Getting kids to help can be a bit tricky. Having a plan in place can make a tremendous difference.

Have a wonderful Passover!

Adina Soclof is Founder and Owner of www.parentingsimply.com, a certified speech pathologist and Parent Educator.

Come Join Us for AnotherGa m e s Steasartci nh!g ft e r P A Exciting Season

noon r e t f yA Frida uctured Str

l l a b Basemes Gaor Boys ugh F o ry thar de a m i r r P 7th G

Leagues for Grades 4-7 Private and Small Group

Lessons Available

What a great activity for my boys on those long Friday Afternoons! My second grader really gained confidence in playing and felt great about himself. The program is organized and professional. Y.G.

For More Information & To Register Please Call 732-886-2081

Are You Looking to Buy a House in New Jersey?

c: 732.330.4033 | O: 732.363.0300 ext. 108

Oomph! 732.942.3675

an exciting new line of affordable custom made care Packages for your simcha guests.

no minimum required large quantities welcome

You 732.364.7617

Bar Mi t zvah • aufr uf • ShaBBo S Sheva Brac hoS • weeke nd re treatS • par t y planner S

SEDER PACKS hagaddahS, divrei torah

NEWSLETTERS notes & Projects

stay organized Keep it in

seder Packs and keep notes neat till you need them designed to enhance your Passover

cl i ck e her o t

Orde

with straps that attach

to every chair makes a

www.beckovations.com orders@beckovations.com

KEEP YOUR CHALLAH FRESH

ALL WEEKEND LONG with a custom designed oak domed challah board

Customize your Domed Challah Board only at www.not2shabbey.com 43

lice

boils

darkness

blood

Frogs

wild animals deceased livestock

hail

death of the firstborn

grasshoppers

makeup artist 347.702.1033 full line of makeup and skincare

Locations In Lakewood Flatbush Boro Park Five Towns Williamsburg Monroe Monsey brooklyN Walk-iN hours

Top QualiTy E-CigarETTE ModEls 10 lEvEls of NiCoTiNE availablE WiTh MENThol or WiThouT

Mon-Thurs10aM-2pM Evenings 7pM-10:30pM 1550 CoNEy islaNd avE. (bET l & M)

Call Now! 1-866-DROP-334 Visit www.dropsmoke.com 47

Print the boards by clicking here. Prepare the bingo game by cutting out the list of 60 items on the CALL LIST BY clicking here and placing them into a manila folder. To play: Pick one paper out of the folder and call out your item. Use mancala pieces available online as board markers. The player that fills up his/her board first is the winner!

Passover Picture Bingo Bingo

By: Dena Ackerman Art by Dena

I love the holiday of Passover: the great feeling of knowing your house is truly clean, unpacking the Passover dishes, setting the seder table, eating all that matzah! But I have to say it is a lot of work, both getting there and getting through it! The seder poses its own challenge of keeping everyone (kids and adults!) awake and involved. If you ask around, you’ll hear many great ways that families keep things fun and interactive. One friend of mine likes to play holidaythemed games at her family dinners, such as word searches, word scrambles, crossword puzzles and, the most popular one: bingo. The problem is, she has a large crowd of 30 people and she couldn’t find any Passover bingo games that would work for so many people! So she asked me to whip up some bingo cards so the family won’t have to go without their favorite game this Passover! What we end up with here are 30 different Bingo cards with a mix of 60 different pictures, including the ten plagues, items from the seder table, characters from the Haggadah and the Exodus story.They’re cute and colorful and will help bring the Haggadah to life!

Turn the page for the Bingo Call List! 48

If you have a color printer, you can print them yourself, or take them to the nearest print shop to to have them printed and laminated for future use. CLICK HERE to download the set. Dena is a representational artist who works in watercolor, acrylic, ink, and colored pencil. In addition to her fine art, she also teaches art and illustrates books for children. Visit her website for more Art by Dena at www.DenaAckerman.com

Passover Bingo Call List print by clicking here One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen Blood Frogs Lice Wild animals Pestilence Boils Hail Locust Darkness Death of firstborn Moses Pharaoh Miriam Aaron Batya Slavery Egypt 50

Splitting the sea Matzah Marror Salt Water Charoset Shank bone Kiddush Washing Karpas Yachatz Sandwich Holiday meal Hallel Charoset Search for chametz Chametz Lamb Goat Rabbi Akiva Seder plate Cup of Elijah Haggadah Mah Nishtana Jerusalem Wise son Wicked son Simple son Son who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how to ask Four cups of wine Staff of Moses

6x5=

9x4=

9x5=

2x7=

8x5= 5x7= 6x3=

8x2=

9x3= 6x2=

2x7=

9x9= 5x5=

Math Madness

WordFind S N Q C R O R R A M D S B D B L

E I A R S E S O M N R H P U V H

U O C M K W Q G O H E A T U H W

G V T E O T P U X S V N V C U J

Passover Matzah Marror Fourquestions Seder Foursons

A S K N W K C K S J O K Y W H T

L A W O B L I V W F S B W E A U

P L D X Y Y O F U X S O I G Z Q

N E T B T W A T Z R Y S C X H E B C A D M P J E S S I R X Z L O A D E W T P Y G A P T P N E T I N E C T O V N Y T A M A C M Y V

Tenplagues Egypt Moses Charoset Egg Saltwater

A E B F O U R Q U E S T I O N S

Shankbone Afikoman Wine Elijah

J Z R K C Q H A A N R N O O S O E G T H U S B V Z I W W S L W E

N U A S N O S R U O F L U V O Y

G I Z G G E F H T D G F T G T I

set a beautiful holiday table with www.not2shabbey.com 55

place settings The Passover count down has officially begun. In the coming weeks, we will all be busy cleaning our homes and planning our menus. I get busy planning the crafts and the decor. What I love about this tablescape is that anyone can create it! These DIY Passover crafts are so incredibly simple, incorporating everyday items that you find in your home with inexpensive products that can be purchased at your local craft store. Supplies: Wooden clothes pins Double sided tape Washi Tape (easily found at any craft store or on Amazon) Ribbon Stapler Scrapbook label or tag Directions: 1. Decorate clothes pins with Washi Tape as desired. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have tape, you can decorate them with markers or paint. 2. Write the personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name on your scrapbook label or tag. You can also make these tags by using regular paper and scissors with fun edges. 3. Cut a small piece of ribbon and staple it to the side of your tag, forming a V. 4. Attach each tag to a clothespin with double sided tape. 5. Attach your place setting craft to a folded napkin or anywhere else on your holiday table.

Take Stock of your Stacks hagaddahS, divrei torah

NEWSLETTERS notes & Projects

stay organized Keep it in

seder Packs and keep notes neat till you need them designed to enhance your Passover

SEDER PACKS decorate me with puff paint and glitter

with straps that attach

to every chair makes a

email wholesale@parsapacks.com

www.parshapacks.com 57

t I t f a Cr

r e d s Se r e g r a Ch Wolin bbey By A

Supplies: Leftover food boxes, such as Manischewitz cake mixes Oak tag paper Mod Podge Sponge Tissue paper Aluminum tin

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so easy that my boys joined me to do this craft!!

It’s not Passover in my house without coffee cake. I buy boxes upon boxes of mixes from Manischewitz year after year. I came up with this great upcycling craft to re-purpose the items that I would normally just throw out.

instructions: 1. Cut up your left over boxes and tissue paper and put them into an aluminum tin. 2. Trace circles about 12” round onto your oak tag paper (I traced a normal charger that I had at home for the shape I wanted). Cut them out. I found that I could get two chargers for every one oak tag I purchased. 3. Using the sponge, spread a thick layer of Mod Podge onto the oak tag circles. Decorate by placing tissue paper and box scraps all over. Do not worry about what it will look like: the result will be surprisingly great! 4. Cover with another layer of Mod Podge then let chargers dry for 12 hours. These make great c h a rg e r s for your kids' table!

We LOVE these adorable Chocolate covered locust treats from Zelda’s Sweet shoppe. Perfect for those hungry little kids (or adults!) to munch on during the seder!

t I t f a Cr Passover Washing Station

Supplies: Leftover matzah box Scissors Hebrew or English stencils (optional) Wooden clothes pins Double sided tape (available on Amazon) Washi Paper tape (easily found at any craft store or on Amazon) Ribbon Stapler

Directions: 1. Open the left over matzah box so that it lies flat on the table. 2. With a stencil or free hand, cut out the letters to spell Passover or Pesach. We chose to spell out Pesach in Hebrew. 3. Decorate the clothes pins with Washi tape as desired. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have tape, decorate pins with markers or paint. 4. Cut a small piece of ribbon and staple it to the side of your letters, forming a "V". 5. Attach the letters to the clothes pins with double sided tape. 6. Attach your Passover/Pesach letters to a towel basket next to your sink or let them stick out of your floral arrangement!

! t I e k a Mplitting s

e s e th

Moses split the sea! The Jews walked through on dry land. The Pesach (Passover) seder revolves around the Exodus from Egypt, yetziat mitzrayim. Upon leaving Egypt, the Jews are faced with the Red Sea. G-d performs a miracle and Moses (Moshe) splits the sea, allowing the Jews to walk through on dry land. This miracle and the surrounding events of the Exodus from Egypt are the climax of our historical journey to becoming a nation! We searched high and low for a great project to depict Moses at the sea but we came up empty handed. So we crafted one ourselves! Teachers and parents will enjoy this new craft that helps children visualize the famous story and allows them to play along. This unique diorama is simple to make and will delight children of all ages. Your children can continue to recount the miraculous event long after the week of Passover has passed. What you need: 1. Sturdy shoebox 2. Blue paint and brush 3. Mod Podge and sponge brush 4. Light blue, light brown, and green tissue paper 5. Sand 6. Small plastic shot glasses 7. Coloring pages character printouts and markers 8. Scissors 9. Tape10. Twine or ribbon 11. Tag 12. Zip-top bag

Slit edges and paint the long sides blue.

Apply strips of tissue paper with Mod Podge

Embellish with seaweed and fish… and of course, Moses! Here is how we did it: Step 1: Select a sturdy shoebox. Ours is light blue. Slit along the corners and cut the shoebox as shown. Paint the 2 longer sides dark blue. Step 2: Cut strips of light blue tissue paper into waves by cutting rounds into the top. Apply Mod Podge over the painted area and place tissue paper across both sides. Apply a generous coating of Mod Podge to seal the tissue paper.

Create the dry land by gluing tissue paper and sand to the center. Step 5: Color Moses and tape onto a shot glass. Print and color more people and affix to shot glasses with tape. You can make as many as you want! Your kids can play with the figurines and have them cross the Red Sea over and over again. Step 6: Wrap the box with twine and send this home with a tag that reads “Splitting the Sea.” A zip-top bag holds all the figurines! Please let us know if you make this project with your children or students. Email us at jcreatemag@gmail.com.

Step 3: Cut off the short edges of the shoebox, leaving one rectangle. Generously coat the center with Mod Podge and place brown tissue paper down the center. Trim any excess so it fits the center of the box. Apply another coat of Mod Podge and pour sand onto the tissue paper. Shake off excess.

s! You Teacher p this c an wr a and up p ro j e c t h o m e: send it

Now it’s time to decorate! Step 4: Cut out green tissue paper for seaweed and affix to the sides of the box using Mod Podge under and on top of the paper. Color fish printouts and add to sides to decorate.

Send it home in one sleek package!

Play!

Next Issue Craft Ideas for

Shavuot upcoming mini-issue

Advertising Deadline: May 9

Click to Receive our Next Issue