Jewish Websites
We hope these websites will be helpful as you explore Jewish parenting. MazelTot, its participating organizations and its funders are committed to showcasing the diversity of Jewish resources available. This list is not intended to promote any one approach or perspective over another.
We hope to improve and expand this list over time, so please email your favorite websites for young Jewish families to Sarah.
Sections you'll find below:
- Interfaith Resources
- Jewish Parenting
- Parents-to-be
- Jewish Cooking and Restaurants
- Celebrating Judaism with Young Children
- Jewish Toys, Gifts and Crafts
- Jewish Children's Books
- Jewish Education for Young Children
- Judaism Explained
Interfaith Resources
Interfaithfamily.com: http://www.interfaithfamily.com
An online resource for interfaith families exploring Jewish life and a grassroots advocate for a welcoming Jewish community.
Jewish Parenting
Aish.com – Family: http://www.aish.com/f/
Resources for families
Chabad.org – The Jewish Woman, Motherhood & Childrearing: http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/313391/jewish/Motherhood-Childrearing.htm
Resources on education, family relationships, motherhood and more
JCC Denver – Apples and Honey: www.jccdenver.org/?page_id=707
Newsletters written for parents who want to create a Jewish home for their young children
JewishEveryday.com: http://jewisheveryday.com/jed/jewisheveryday.html
A trans-denominational site “for folks who want to raise young kids Jewishly”
Jewish-Parenting.org: http://www.jewish-parenting.org/
“Timeless Torah values for today’s parents”
Mishpacha – Jewish Parenting: http://www.mishpacha.org/indexparent.shtml
“A virtual community for real Jewish families”
ModernJewishMom.com: http://www.modernjewishmom.com/
“Parenting with a twist of tradition”
Natural Jewish Parenting: http://www.natural-jewish-parenting.com/
An online “Jewish magazine dedicated to your family’s spiritual, emotional, and physical health”
Orthodox Union – Positive Jewish Parenting: http://www.ou.org/family_life/parenting
Audio lectures on raising children in an Orthodox Jewish household
The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism – Family Life: http://www.uscj.org/Family_Life6392.html
Articles on raising children in a Conservative Jewish household
Parents-To-Be
Chabad.org – The Jewish Woman, Pregnancy and Birth: http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/323393/jewish/Pregnancy-Birth.htm
Resources for expecting Jewish mothers
InterfaithFamily.com – Interfaith Pregnancy and Birth Ceremonies Ritual Resources:http://www.interfaithfamily.com/resource_pages/Pregnancy_and_Birth_Ceremonies_Resource_Page.shtml
Resources and for interfaith parents-to-be
The Jewish Life Information Center: http://eng.itim.org.il/
Lots of information and resources about welcoming your new baby with a brit milah (boys) or a simchat bat (girls) that ranges from the spiritual to the practical
Mishpacha: http://www.mishpacha.org/britintro.shtml
Resources on celebrating the birth of a Jewish baby
MyJewishLearning.com – Creating the Jewish Pregnancy:http://www.myjewishlearning.com/life/Relationships/Parents_and_Children/creating_jewish_pregnancy.shtml
Resources for parents-to-be
MyJewishLearning.com – Newborn Ceremonies, A Warm Welcome: http://www.myjewishlearning.com/life/Life_Events/Newborn_Ceremonies.shtml
Resources on welcoming a baby Jewishly
Jewish Cooking and Restaurants
ALEPH, Alliance for Jewish Renewal – Sacred Foods Project: https://www.aleph.org/sacredfoods.htm
Describes an interfaith project to incorporate religious and ethical principles in food production and distribution
Eastside Kosher Deli: www.eastsidekosherdeli.com
Denver's Kosher deli and grocery store. Eastside also has a restaurant and offer Kosher catering.
Hazon: www.hazon.org
“Creating a healthier and more sustainable Jewish community and a healthier and more sustainable world for all”
The Jew & the Carrot: www.jcarrot.org
“Jews, Food & Contemporary Issues”
Jewish Recipes: www.jewishrecipes.org/
Resources on Jewish Recipes, Cookbooks, Kosher Symbols, and Kosher cooking
“Keeping Kosher in Colorado” by Matan Har, The Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/x-8470-Denver-Jewish-Examiner~y2009m4d18-Keeping-kosher-in-Colorado
Descriptions of Kosher restaurants around Colorado
Kosher Delight, Your Online Jewish Magazine – The Kosher Recipe Bank: http://kosherdelight.com/KosherRecipes.shtml
International and holiday-specific Jewish recipies
ModernJewishMom.com – Recipes: http://www.modernjewishmom.com/recipes.htm
The Best Chicken Soup Around, Matzah Brei, Rugelah, and Faith’s Pareve Chocolate Brownies
Celebrating Judaism with Young Children
“Lailah Tov, Boker Tov: Going to Sleep and Waking Up Jewishly” by Nancy M. Messinger, Auerbach Central Agency for Jewish Education: http://www.acaje.org/assets/pdf/educationalResources/LailhTvBkrTv09.pdf
Books, websites, music, and crafts for Jewish nighttime and morning rituals
BabagaNewz: http://www.babaganewz.com
Lots of online resources including ideas for celebrating holidays with kids, games, an enewsletter for parents and a video explaining each week's Torah portion
Build a Prayer: http://www.buildaprayer.org
Create a customized Shabbat ritual with prayers and songs that are meaningful to your family
Children’s Judaica: http://fmfcorp.com/familyspot/holidays.html
Websites for children about the Jewish holidays
TotShabbat.com: http://www.totshabbat.com/
Jewish music for kids
Union for Reform Judaism – Pesach Seder Children Ages 4 and 5: http://urj.org/kd/_temp/89951A87-CB8E-3649-9BF1174D5C4F670A/Pesach%20for%204s%20and%205s.pdf
Guide for parents to conduct a Reform Passover Seder appropriate for 4- and 5-year-olds
Union for Reform Judaism – Pesach Seder for Children Ages 2 and 3: http://urj.org/kd/_temp/89953DEE-9B0F-B762-F74BF4F7C80410E1/Pesach%20for%202s%20and%203s.pdf
Guide for parents to conduct a Reform Passover Seder appropriate for 2- and 3-year-olds
Jewish Toys, Gifts, and Crafts
Benny’s Educational Toys: http://www.tjssc.com/default.aspx
Jewish and Hebrew educational materials and school supplies
ChaiKids.com: http://www.chaikids.com/
Gifts to enrich the Jewish lives of children and grandchildren
JudaicaForKids.com: http://www.judaicaforkids.com/index.php
“An awesome collection of everything Jewish – just for kids – of all ages!”
Judaism.com – JDC.Kids: http://www.judaica.com/jdckids/
Jewish books, music, games and gifts specifically for kids
The Learning Plant: http://www.learningplant.com/
Creative educational materials for Jewish homes an schools
MileChai.com: www.milechai.com/
Aharon’s Books and Judaica in Denver – Judaica, Jewish jewelry, and books
My Special Pushka: http://www.myspecialpushka.com/
“It is a precious mitzvah to teach children to put a coin in a pushka every day, so we designed a special pushka to encourage children in this mitzvah.”
OyToys.com: http://www.oytoys.com/
Features Jewish toys, gifts, crafts, books, music, and more
Pitome Publishing: http://www.pitome.com/
Provides high quality, time-saving family educational tools to increase positive Jewish moments in your daily life
SmartJewishToy.com: http://www.smartjewishtoy.com
Education materials and toys for preschool-aged children
Jewish Children’s Books
The Association of Jewish Libraries: http://www.ajljewishvalues.org/
Identifies the Jewish values found in contemporary Jewish children’s books
The Auerbach Central Agency for Jewish Education – Resources for Jewish Parents – Raising Your Child to Be a Mensch: http://www.acaje.org/content/educationalResources/bibliographies/mensch.shtml
A selected bibliography that includes descriptions of each book
Books (and Videos) for Jewish Children and Teens: http://kidstorah.tripod.com/
Books and films that teach Jewish history, customs and what makes Judaism special
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation – JRF Bookstore: http://stores.jrfbookstore.org/-strse-Reconstructionist-Press-cln-Holiday-and-Children%27s/Categories.bok
Children’s Reconstructionist prayer books and guides for Jewish holidays
Milk & Honey Press: http://milkandhoneypress.com
"Fostering positive connections between English-speaking children and Israel through literature."
MyJewishLearning.com: http://www.myjewishlearning.com/life/life_bib.shtml#_Newborn
Jewish books by category, including Lifecycle Rituals, Newborn Ceremonies, and Education
PJ Library – Booklist: http://www.pjlibrary.org/booksandmusic
Jewish books and music for your child, listed by age
Jewish Education for Young Children
Aklah – The Jewish Children’s Learning Network: http://www.akhlah.com/
The Children’s Parsha, Jewish Holidays for Children, Learn about Israel, Learn Hebrew with Aklah, Jewish Heroes, and Jewish Traditions
Chabad.org – Kids!: http://www.chabad.org/kids/default_cdo/jewish/Kids.htm
A website for Jewish kids to explore with stories, activities, games and more
JESNA – Jewish Education Service of North America: http://www.jesna.org/
“Advancing Jewish learning, transforming Jewish lives”
MyJewishLearning.com – “How to Choose a Hebrew School” by Sarah Shapiro-Plevan: http://www.myjewishlearning.com/life/Life_Stages/Jewish_Education/Trends/Religious_Schools/Choosing_a_School.shtml
Explains what to look for and questions to ask as you choose the right kind of synagogue educational program for your family
Judaism Explained
Intermountain Jewish News: http://www.ijn.com/
Independent weekly newspaper covering Jewish news in the Rocky Mountain region, as well as in Jewish communities around the world
Jewish Virtual Library: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/index.html
Provides extensive information about Judaism, including a glossary of terms and description of the various denominations of Judaism
Jewish World Center: http://www.jewishworldcenter.com/
A source of information for all things Jewish, all over the world
Judaism 101: http://www.jewfaq.org/index.htm
Online encyclopedia of Judaism, written primarily from the Orthodox viewpoint
MyJewishLearning.com: http://www.myjewishlearning.com/index.shtml
Provides trans-denominational Jewish information geared toward learners of all ages and educational backgrounds