Via: jn1.tv

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Kids love bedtime stories. And many Jewish children in Los Angeles are getting special books from Israel so they can learn Hebrew and develop their Jewish identities.

Matan, 3 Years Old: "I like this book."

3-year-old Matan and his one-year-old brother Shalev are among 10,000 families in America participating in Sifriyat Pajamas. They receive one free book a month. It's written in Hebrew.

Until Dikla Kadosh enrolled her kids in Sifriyat Pajamas, she says it was nearly impossible to find books in Hebrew in America.

Dikla Kadosh, Sons Participate In Sifriyat Pajamas: "Often the language in books is a lot more elevated than the day-to-day language so it really develops their vocabulary in Hebrew."

There are questions in the back of the books, which help parents start a dialogue with their kids about Jewish values. Instilling a strong sense of respect and pride in their Jewish culture, is extremely important to the Kadosh family.

Dikla Kadosh, Sons Participate In Sifriyat Pajamas: "I was born in Israel but I grew up here and I nearly lost the ability to speak Hebrew because it's just so much easier to speak whatever language wherever you're living. And so when my husband and I started talking about kids we made the decision before they were even born that at home we were always going to speak Hebrew."

The books are free for families. The Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation, in part, funds the million dollar program. Adam Milstein and his wife Gila say it's extremely important for Israelis living in America, where assimilation has become an issue.

Adam Milstein, The Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation: "Israelis don't know they live in the diaspora. They don't maintain Jewish education. They don't maintain Jewish traditions."

Gila Milstein, The Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation: "You know when you live in Israel, it's a-- we don't need to prove our Jewishness. We don't need to keep it because it's all over. On holidays, everything is closed. Even if they don't go to the temple, but there is the atmosphere of holidays and holiness. In America, if you don't make it happen, it doesn't happen."

The Milsteins grew up in Israel, but raised their children in America. From experience, they have learnt how the process of assimilation can quickly alter cultural dynamics.

Gila Milstein, The Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation: "We sent our kids to public school and then, you know, one day our daughter came and she said that she would like to have the Christmas tree like her friends have. So then I realized that it's time to do something."

Now, with their children fully grown, the Milsteins want to support other parents. Those who have benefited from the books provided by Sifriyat Pajamas are also being introduced to a new program called Storyly. It enables family in Israel or in other countries to read books in Hebrew to kids in America, via a video chat service.

Adam Milstein, The Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation: "In a normal situation, when a grandpa calls his grandson here in Los Angeles, what can he say to the grandson? 'Hello Tommy, how are you, you know I love you' and that's where the conversation ends. But here, it can be half an hour, an hour of interaction, telling stories, asking questions."

Kadosh also hopes to enroll her kids in that program in the future.

Dikla Kadosh, Sons Participate In Sifriyat Pajamas: "That's something that would be awesome for us because most of our family is still in Israel."

The Sifriyat Pajamas program, which is already a success in Israel, established roots in America in 2011, and currently serves 10,000 families nationwide. The Milsteins are aiming to expand the program so it reaches more children and becomes part of the curriculum in Jewish schools across the United States.

As the program grows in popularity, organizations plan to hold community events so kids can further their understanding of Hebrew and Judaism.

 

Lindsey Mastis, JN1, Los Angeles