Rosh Hashanah Rhymes

English + Español

Introduction after images. If you cannot see images, let me know! Español:

A long time ago, when I was a child, we had a book called Jewish Wisdom Rhymes. The author was simply named Rachel Bracha, with no further details, and the illustrations were very basic. There were no Google results for her name, so I didn’t have much to go on.

Although the book didn’t look particularly exciting, it was filled with nursery rhymes that took familiar themes from Mother Goose and gave them a Jewish twist. These rhymes were playful yet meaningful, tied to Jewish life and values. I enjoyed the book immensely and, for years, wanted to use those rhymes in various educational contexts. However, I couldn’t figure out how to find a print copy—the one which had belonged to my parents had long disappeared.

A few months ago, I finally tracked down a copy from a used bookstore in California (thanks, Hollander Books!). Inside, I found more information: the book had been published by Chadish Media, a company dedicated for over 40 years to providing resources for teaching and learning Judaism. Website:

https://www.chadishmedia.com

Chadish Media offered “How - to" Audios

               TEACH YOURSELF JUDAISM

                                 and enjoy every minute of it!

Unusually and impressively, there two Rabbinical approbations for Chadish Media. One was from Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, one of the most prominent halachic authorities of the 20th century.  The other was from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, a revered spiritual leader who transformed Jewish education and outreach globally. These two approbations cemented my opinion of Chadish Media as a hidden treasure.

Oddly, the publisher’s address was in Brooklyn, not far from where my parents live. I reached out by email and phone but didn’t hear back. While waiting for a response, I decided to start writing my own Jewish-themed nursery rhymes. With Rosh Hashanah approaching, I thought it was the perfect time to introduce these new rhymes, without infringing on anyone else's work.

Then, a few days ago, Rabbi Mordechai Rosenberg of Chadish Media reached out to me. He was incredibly kind, and as we spoke, he even remembered my father ordering the original copy of Jewish Wisdom Rhymes all those years ago.

 I want to thank Rabbi Rosenberg for the honor of his taking the time to speak with me and subscribing to my substack. He also connected me with the original author, Rachel Bracha Hartstein, who generously allowed me to use her rhymes, which I hope to share in future posts. As always, thank you to Rebbetzin Devorah Fastag for her guidance. May we all have a year of positive news and  meaningful connections.