JBF by Kyle Solomon by IllustrationatUArts

Kyle B. Solomon

Shalom! I’m Asher! 1

Two days a week, I go from middle school to Hebrew school — I’ve been going for six years.

‫שתיים‬

While everyone was learning their A,B,C’s, I was learning my Aleph, Bet, Gimel’s.

At middle school, I’m one of the only Jewish students, everyone calls me their Jewish Best Friend.

‫ארבע‬

When we have days off from school for the High Holy days, people always ask me what the Holiday is. 5

The Hebrew Calendar works differently. Every few years, we have 13 months.

‫שש‬

Because of this, it seems like Holidays happen on different days every year, but they’re always on the same Hebrew date. 7

I’m

‫שמונה‬

the Jewish New Year. r o f s e c i v at ser

We blo w

th es ho fa r,

ar h ’s am

or n

00 t

The New Year is one of our most important Holidays, so we all eat together as a family, even Grandma and Pappa come.

‫עשר‬

On Rosh Hashanah, we send off the past year by writing Tashlich and start a sweet new year with apples and honey. Say “Shana Tova” or “Happy New Year” to your Jewish Best Friend!

10 days later, we spend the day doing mitzvot.

‫שתים עשרה‬

Going to services, atoning for the past year, asking for forgiveness and most importantly – fasting. 13

After our 24 hour fast, we break the fast with lots of breakfast food. Bagels, muffins and fruit, oh my!

‫ארבע עשרה‬

On Yom Kippur, we atone for the past year by fasting. We don’t eat or drink from sundown to sundown. Say “Tzom Kal” or “Easy Fast” to your Jewish Best Friend!

Outside of my Hebrew School, we build a Sukkah out of branches and leaves.

‫שש עשרה‬

On Sukkot, we celebrate our safe escape from Egypt by spending all our time in the Sukkah, eating, drinking, some people even sleep in there. Say “Chag Sameach” or “Happy Holiday” to your Jewish Best Friend! 17

On Hanukkah, we learn the story of The Macabees, who rebelled when told they couldn’t practice Judaism.

‫שמונה עשרה‬

Against all odds, Judah and the Maccabees successfully defeated the Syrains and won back our Temple and relit the Eternal Flame. 19

Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights. We celebrate the miracle that one night of oil lasted for eight nights by lighting eight nights of candles.

‫עשרים‬

We eat potato latkes, play with dreidels and sing Hanukkah songs. Say “Chag Samech” or “Happy Hanukkah” to your Jewish Best Friend!

A few weeks later, I came home from school and Aba’s car was here.

‫עשרים ושתיים‬

He and Ema were on the couch and they asked me to sit down.

They told me Grandma had passed away, and asked if I knew what that means. “It means that we won’t see her again, but she will always be with us”.

‫עשרים וארבע‬

The next day, all of my family and friends came for a service and to Pappa’s house for Shiva. Everyone said to Ema, “May her memory be a blessing”. 25

In Grandma’s honor, the whole family is doing mitzvot or “good deeds”. Someone who does good deeds is called a “mensh”.

‫עשרים ושש‬

Aba, Ema and I be attending Saturday services at the Synagouge. We’ll also be building games and volunteering at our Purim Carnival. 27

At my has Temple’s PurimCarnival Carnival, every My temple a Purim up up to hide year, wherewe wedress dress andfrom wear masks to The Evil Haman. hide our identities from the evil Haman.

‫עשרים ושמונה‬

On Purim, we celebrate our safety from Haman by playing games and eating Hamantasians! Say “Chag Purim” or “Happy Purim” to your Jewish Best Friend! 29

For 8 days in April, we can’t eat any bread, pasta or rice, all we can eat is Matzah.

‫שלושים‬

On Passover, we celebrate the miracles that led to our escape from Egypt with sedars and stories. Say “Chag Pesach’’ or “Happy Passover” to your Jewish Best Friend! 31

My Bar Mitzvah is set to happen this summer, on my Hebrew Birthday.

‫שלושים ושתיים‬

That’s weeks before I turn 13, so I’ll become a man before I become a teen. 33

I’ll rea

e. im tt rs

‫שלושים וארבע‬

y Bar Mitzvah m t A he Torah for th t m ef o r i f

ol Tov to me! Maz

‫!‪La’ chaim‬‬

‫שלושים ושש‬

THANKS To my parents, friends, classmates and professors who helped me up to this point. This book is dedicated to my Grandma Ellen, who we lost years ago – if someone finds her, please let me know.

Rosh Hashanah

– Start of the Year –

‫רֹאׁש ַה ָשנָ ה‬

The Jewish New Year, beginning of the 1st of the 7th month, Tishrei. Rosh Hashanah is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days. We celebrate by blowing the Shofar and eating traditional meals, such as Apples and Honey, hoping to evoke a Sweet New Year.

Yom Kippur

– Day of Atonement –

‫יֹום כִ יּפּור‬

The Holiest Day of the Year, on the 10th day of the 7th month, we celebrate the Sabbath of Sabbaths. On Yom Kippur, we ask for forgiveness of our wrong doings from the past year by not eating, drinking, washing, wearing leather or showing affection. We end the services and 24 hour fast with a break fast meal.

Sukkot

– Harvest Festival –

‎‫ֻסּכֹות‬

One of 3 Pilgramage Festivals, on the 15th day of the 7th month, we build a Sukkah as a reminder of security and protection. We eat our meals in there, sleep in there and say a blessing over the Lulav and Etrog every day.

Hanukkah

– Festival of Lights –

For 8 days and 8 names, we light one candle per day on the Menorah, starting on the 25th day of Kislev. We celebrate Hanukkah by singing songs, playing Dreidel, and eating oil cooked food, like latkes and sufganiyot.

‫ֲחנֻ כָ ה‬

Shiva

‫ִש ְבעָ ה‬

– Week Long Mourning Period –

The seven day mourning period after a Jewish Burial, which should happen as quickly as possible. The mourners use this time to express their sadness, accept comfort from others and cope with their loss.

Purim

– Festival of Lots –

‫פור‬

Just like Mordecai dressed up to avoid being captured by Haman, on the 14th of Adar we too dress up to celebrate his and all of our safeties. We exchange gifts, donate to charity and eat a celebratory meal.

Passover

– Feast of Unleavened Bread –

‫ֶפ ַסח‬

Named literally, on the 15th of Nisan, we celebrate our deliverance from Egypt under the Pharaoh by avoiding bread, grain and any food that rises for 8 days. We have two sedars on the first two night where we tell the story of Passover, play games and feast.

B’Nai Mitzvah

– One of Commandment –

‎‫בני ִמצְ וָ ה‬

A right of passage for Children once they turn 13, Jewish children prepare to read from the Torah for the first time. Once Bar Mitzvahed, you are now an adult and can fully participate in Jewish Law, Traditions and Ethics, including fasting, leading prayers and Tefillin.

Father Mother Brother Sister Son Daughter Husband Wife

‫אבא‬

Hello

‫אימא‬

Please

Aba –

Ima –

‫אח‬

Akh –

Akhot –

‫אחות‬ ‫בן‬

Ben –

‫בת‬

Bat –

Baal –

Isha –

‫בעל‬

‫אישה‬

Shalom –

Bevakasha –

Thank you

‫בבקשה‬

Toda –

You’re Welcome Sorry How are you?

‎‫שלום‬

Bevaskasha –

Slicha –

ma shlom-kha –

Good

‫תודה‬

‫בבקשה‬ ‫סליחה‬

‫מה שלומך‬ Tov –

‫טוב‬

Good Morning

Boker Tov –

‫בוקר טוב‬

Yes

cain –

‫כן‬

Good Night

Layla Tov –

‫לילה טוב‬

lo –

‫לא‬

See you Later

Lehitraot –

‫להתראות‬

Jewish Best Friend

Yehudi hekhaver hakhi tov –

‫החבר הכי טוב יהודי‬

Vet/Bet

‫ ב‬/‫ּב‬

Aleph

‎‫א‬

Dalet

‫ד‬

Gimel

‫ג‬

Vav

‫ו‬

Hay

‫ה‬

Chet

‫ח‬

Zayin

‫ז‬

Yud

‫י‬

Tet

‫ט‬

Lamed

‫ל‬

Kaf

‫ּכ‬

Nun

‫נ‬

Mem

‫מ‬

Ayin

‫ע‬

Samech

‫ס‬

Tzadi

‫צ‬

Fay/Pay

‫ פ‬/‫ּפ‬

Resh

‫ר‬

Qof

‫ק‬

Tet

‫ ת‬/‫ּת‬

Sin/Shin

‫ ׂש‬/‫ׁש‬

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