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🇮🇱 Israel /Culture & Society

Meet the Israeli author making Jewish texts accessible for children

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Dina Gavriely, an Israeli actress and author, has created accessible Jewish texts for children.
  • Her works include adaptations of the Haggadah, the Scroll of Esther, and the Scroll of Ruth, incorporating explanations, games, and art.
  • Gavriely's books aim to deepen understanding of Jewish traditions, with her Scroll of Ruth resonating particularly with those experiencing loss.

Dina Gavriely, an Israeli actress, playwright, director, and author, is making Jewish texts accessible and engaging for children through her creative adaptations.

Your Haggadah added a new dimension to our Seder. We studied it before Passover. While I was cleaning, my kids played the games in the book. On a few occasions, we sat together for almost an hour focusing on the insights in the steps of the Seder, which helped all of us at our actual Seder.

— Commenter on Dina Gavriely's HaggadahA user shared their positive experience using Gavriely's Haggadah adaptation during Passover.

Gavriely has authored three books over the past decade, focusing on the Haggadah, the Scroll of Esther, and the Scroll of Ruth. Her Haggadah, used by 2,000 families this year, has been praised for adding a new dimension to the Passover Seder, with children engaging in its games while parents studied its insights. The book is designed to facilitate shared learning experiences within families.

On Shavuot, we celebrate the giving of the Torah and the mitzvot. At this precipitous moment, the Scroll of Ruth stands erect. It is a brief tale of a small family whose experience, unexpectedly, offers a great challenge.

— Dina GavrielyGavriely explained the significance of the Scroll of Ruth in relation to the Shavuot holiday.

Her Scroll of Ruth, released ahead of the Shavuot holiday, is particularly geared towards children. The book features a range of explanations from various sources, accompanied by graphics from a professional artist. It includes tools and games intended for both children and adults to enjoy while learning. Gavriely's rendering of the text aims to connect readers with the story's themes of kindness, joy, and friendship, emphasizing its real-life parallels.

In it we experience such kindness, joy, and friendship, elevating us to a new plateau ourselves. I feel the individuality of each person in the Scroll of Ruth is what attracts us. There are no miracles here in the text, carrying it far from reality. Then, we might not connect with the moving tale so easily.

— Dina GavrielyGavriely described the themes and appeal of the Scroll of Ruth.

Gavriely explained that the Scroll of Ruth's relevance is particularly poignant for many in Israel today, especially for widows whose husbands were killed in the aftermath of October 7. "What Naomi experiences has parallels for us – the senior widows here and the many young widows whose husbands were killed in the wake of Oct. 7," commented friends who used Dina’s Scroll of Ruth. Gavriely's project began as a personal dream to study weekly Torah portions with her family, evolving into a mission to share Jewish heritage in an understandable and interactive way.

What Naomi experiences has parallels for us – the senior widows here and the many young widows whose husbands were killed in the wake of Oct. 7.

— Friends of Dina GavrielyFriends of the author shared how the Scroll of Ruth resonated with their personal experiences.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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