November 25, 2004
Yeladim
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At the Jewish Children's Bookfest at Mount Sinai on Nov. 14, children were given a journal and asked the following question:
"What does being Jewish in America mean to me?"
Here is our first response, by Caleigh Gumbiner, a fourth-grader at Balboa Magnet in Northridge: "To me, being Jewish in America means I can be free to study Torah when I like and how I would like to study it. It also means I don't have to be treated differently or badly because of my religion."
The pilgrims came to America so they could practice their religion in freedom, just like Caleigh practices her Judaism. We must all work together to make sure that America remains a country of freedom.
Here are some of the things the kindergartners at the Westside JCC are thankful for:
"I am thankful for my parents even though they're kinda silly. Sometimes, if they're mad, I'll come to see what I did wrong and sometimes when they're sad, I can make them feel better!"
– Sydney
"I am thankful for my strawberry plant because my Mommy gave it to me and it's very special."
– Emma
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