Guess Who's the Artist Behind the New Masorti Movement Simhat Torah Flag?

Shalom Yeladim:

I'm so excited! Take a look at the new Masorti Movement Simhat Torah flag.

 I love it! Not only because it puts girls and boys, men and women on an equal footing -- and there's a lot of footwork on Simhat Torah -- but also because of something else. And that else is the artist who made the flag -- Ksenia Topaz. I am the cutest, shovavi fly around thanks to Ksenia. Tami created me and the whole idea of my book -- and Ksenia? She gave me my look.  Yup! Ksenia, the same artist who created this flag, illustrated my book Zvuvi's Israel. 

I can't wait for the Hakafot. I'm going to spread the buzz.

חג שמח

P.S. Can you name the historical figures on the right side of the flag? What else makes this flag unique? Write and tell me.

The Chagim were lots of fun. Now it's back to school.

Shalom Yeladim:
It’s me Zvuvi, and this time I’m with my cousin Zehava. We’re sharing with each other what we did over the Sukkot vacation. So many tiyulim – that’s Hebrew for trips (day trips, weekend trips, you name it). We went sailing, trekking in national parks, did some bike riding up north, date picking down south, saw lots of plays and performances for children and went Sukkah hopping whenever we could. You see, we’ve been on vacation since September 21st! Who says that “school” isn’t fun? We ended the summer vacation with the first day of school on September 1st, then BINGO, it was erev Rosh Hashana, then Rosh Hashana, erev Yom Kippur and Yom Kippur followed by Sukkot, Hol Hamoed, and finally Shmini Atzeret together with Simchat Torah (BTW – we celebrate both on one day). And now you know what it is in Israel? It’s Acharei Ha’Chagim – which means after the holidays. In fact, if you wanted to get anything done this past month, everyone would have told you “Acharei Ha’Chagim” – which is the entire country’s way of saying you have to wait until after the holidays. So, if it’s Acharei Ha’Chagim and school is about to start again, do you know what that means? It means that this time there’s no playing around. School is going to be for learning, learning and more learning with a little fun in between. Acharei Ha’Chagim is a nice way of saying it’s time to be serious and get work done. Now let’s see --- how many more weeks until Hanukkah? One…two…three…Oof, Zehava just told me to get real and pack my school bag. Gotta go.Le’Hitraot…Zvuvi