The Open Tent » Valerie Schimel, Freelance Journalist

Talking Time

Valerie Schimel, Freelance Journalist — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 02:55:31 +0000

Timing is a consistent topic of conversation among most of my parent friends. Time is going so quickly! How can I find more time? Where did the time go? As we roll into August and begin to approach Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur all of this feels even more relevant. Both holidays are wonderful opportunities to slow down, take stock and think about time – how we use it, what we make of it and how we can improve it.

I’ve found that the holidays are an ideal time to settle down with my family and make the most of time. We go to family services, have family dinners, celebrate with children’s events, connect with extended family members and make it a point to step outside of the patterns of daily life. We take time off of work, we stay home from school and we spend time together, celebrating each other, the holidays and our culture. My husband & I always close out Yom Kippur with a renewed pride in and connection to our religious lives.

My resolution for this year (why wait till January?) is to hang onto that feeling. To extend our Jewish connection beyond the fall – to go to tot Shabbat, to engage in the Open Tent’s kids activities and to make Judaism and more regular part of our family life – and time.

Community Engagement – Toddler Style

Valerie Schimel, Freelance Journalist — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:00:40 +0000

Becoming a parent automatically grants us membership to various communities – parenthood, motherhood, infant-survival-hood. And as our munchkins grow up, our communities tend to expand with them – we become part of a mommy & me community, a local park community, a nursery school community – and a Jewish parenting community. Each community has many shapes and forms, but is ultimately defined and nurtured by its members.

As our daughter turns two and our community web stretches to new limits, I’ve started to think about my role in the communities I belong to. Am I the active PTA mom? The super organized park mom? The on-the-ball mommy and-me-mom? One community I’ve been delighted to find myself a part of is the Jewish parenting community. Becoming a mother has strengthened my Jewish identity in surprising ways.

It’s supremely important to me that our daughters have a rich understanding of our Jewish heritage. So we do Seder collectively, even if it means eating yogurt from a highchair before we’ve blessed the matzah. And we visit tot Shabbat as regularly as possible, even if it’s just to hear the music. And we read Jewish books even if all our toddlers see is stars and candles.

And, perhaps most relevant today, we participate in as many Shalom Tots programs as possible. We’ve had opportunities to make challah, create Shema pillowcases, participate in Shabbat dinners and much more. Shalom Tots is a wonderfully easy and engaging way to tap into your Jewish community. For more info about the ongoing program (sessions resume in the fall) please click here or email info@theopentent.org; to see what experiences others are saying click here; and to catch up on previous tots posts click here.

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Photo Recap: Shalom Tots Shema Pillow Making Project

Valerie Schimel, Freelance Journalist — Tue, 11 May 2010 13:40:35 +0000

On Saturday, May 1 several families gathered at Beth Sholom’s Youth Lounge to get creative with Shalom Tot’s Shema pillow-making family project. Rabbi Gayle Pomerantz lead the families through the hands-on project – check out all the fun in the slideshow below. Don’t miss our next Shalom Tots event – a Q&A with sleep therapist Dr. Susan Jaffe Monday, May 17 at 7pm. Click here for more info or email totscoordinator@gmail.com.

Tots Blog: Shabbat Summer Loving

Valerie Schimel, Freelance Journalist — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:19:09 +0000

Temps are creeping up, humidity is sinking in and we

Shabbat for the Toddler Set

Valerie Schimel, Freelance Journalist — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:41:23 +0000

Before becoming a parent, I tended to think of Judaism as something I

Chanukah Traditions & More

Valerie Schimel, Freelance Journalist — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:42:35 +0000

Growing up, Chanukah was always one of my favorite holidays. I

Photo Recap: A Hanukkah Soiree

Valerie Schimel, Freelance Journalist — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:31:58 +0000

On Dec 10, The Open Tent partnered with Birthright Israel to present a Hanukkah Soiree at South Beach’s Burger & Beer. Highlights included performances by Michelle Citrin and Jacob Jeffries, an open bar and Hanukkah nibbles. Relive the fun with the photo recap below.

Photo Recap: The Open Tent at Sleepless Night

Valerie Schimel, Freelance Journalist — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:21:59 +0000

Miami Beach

Kitchen Diaries

Valerie Schimel, Freelance Journalist — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:02:32 +0000

Food has been a part of my Jewish life since I can remember. Challah on Fridays, matzah balls on Passover, Sephardic meat patties year-round. Eating and preparing the treats were (and continue to be) a wonderful way to share traditions, learn new skills and simply hang out with my mom, grandmothers and extended family.
Now, as a mom of one (and one on the way) I

A Year of Firsts

Valerie Schimel, Freelance Journalist — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:50:15 +0000

My first year as a parent has ushered in countless “firsts.” First extended conversation about diapering, first 2am pumping session, first (of many) shopping trips for endless baby supplies, first time watching my daughter take a step and first time considering my family’s Jewish affiliation.

Before Sydney, my husband and I were “twice a year” temple people – Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur. We celebrated Passover with our extended families and lit Chanukah candles with our nephews before digging into mounds of gifts. I think we spent a total of 10 hours max at temple in 2007.

Lately, things seem to have changed. Sydney and I visit temple weekly for interactive (albeit non-religious) mommy & me classes; I happily sit on the tots committee of the Open Tent; and I’ve been asked to write this first tots blog post. Over the past year, my husband and I have participated in Mitzvah Day and committed to attending Tot Shabbat and regular Open Tent activities at the Miami Children’s Museum. Rabbi Pomerantz is now in my address book. We’ve met wonderful families and learned a ton about introducing Judaism into our homes. We’ve lit menorahs, blessed challah and had our first Seder with Sydney.

Perhaps most importantly, we’ve begun to incorporate religion into our regular existence. It’s not something we think about twice a year anymore. Judaism doesn’t dominate our lives or dictate our weekends, but we are continuously enjoying the cultural and religious aspects of being Jews in 2009 in Miami – Shabbat on the Beach, matzah pizza making with Chef Michael Jacobs, family outings with new friends and more. We look forward to many more experiences throughout the year and hope you join us!