A week ago, I was in a Zoom meeting that got interrupted by my dog barking at the door. When I went to see whether he was alerting us to the mail carrier, a neighbor, a plastic bag floating in the wind, another dog who dared to take a walk, or some mystery visitor, I could see through the glass door that we had a package. I wasn’t expecting anything, but when I brought the box in and looked at the return address, it was from my pubisher, Kar-Ben. My book, Just Say Welcome, doesn’t come out until September 9, so I was pleasantly surprised and beyond thrilled to receive my author copies! The book looks even better than I could have imagined, with beautiful, vibrant illustrations from the talented Nathalia Takeyama and a shiny book jacket! Although I have written about 50 children’s books, this is the first one to sport that added accessory, so it was extra exciting. Thank you to Kar-Ben for making my day. Just a few more months until everyone can officially hold the book, which can be pre-ordered here.
I had the pleasure of presenting my children’s picture book, Just Say Welcome (Kar-Ben Publishing, September 2025), to participants at the Jewish Book Council (JBC) virtual conference on May 21. In addition to JBC staff and other JBC Network Authors, conference participants included more than 130 member organizations–JCCs, synagogues, Hillels, Jewish Federations, and cultural centers –interested in hosting Jewish authors at their events. The JBC did a great job of making sure the conference and pitches ran smoothly. Fun fact: I presented my book right after the son of Spock presented his! Yes, Adam Nimoy spoke about his book, The Most Human, which discusses his relationship with his father, actor Leondard Nimoy, best known for his beloved portrayal of Spock on Star Trek.
Now I wait to hopefully hear from organizations who want me to speak at their events. If you are part of one of those organizations and were unable to attend the conference, here is my pitch:
Based on my family’s real-life experience, Just Say Welcome is a modern-day story for children in preschool through third grade illustrating the Jewish value of welcoming the stranger. Young Tilly and her Jewish-American family open up their home to an Iraqi refugee family while they get settled. Both families learn and experience kindness from each other and the larger community. Synagogue members donate clothes, neighbors share food, and the Iraqi boy Youssef teaches Tilly’s little brother Adam soccer tricks. Everyone realizes they have more in common than not. Tilly learns that sometimes, just saying “welcome” is all it takes for strangers to become friends.
Being welcoming doesn’t mean you have to host a family in your home. When I speak to kids about ways they can be welcoming, I start by asking: Have you ever had a visitor you didn’t know come to your house? Or maybe a new student joined your class. How did you feel when you met that stranger? When we hosted the family at our house, my daughter Tilly was 7 and my son Adam was 3. They were shy and didn’t know what to say to this family who spoke and dressed differently than they did. But once we all started talking and eating and playing together, we realized we had a lot in common. We also introduced each other to fun, new things, like trying new foods. All it took was being welcoming. What do you think it means to welcome someone? It could mean inviting that new classmate to sit next to you at lunch or baking cookies for a new neighbor. There are ways we can be welcoming every day, but it all starts with listening to people’s stories, sharing your own, and simply saying “welcome.” An author program featuring my book can include a read-aloud, followed by kids enjoying some labneh and pita and then designing a welcome mat or sign for their home to show people they are welcome there. Additionally, my book could be part of a larger community program, such as a “Refugee Shabbat” weekend or supply drive, school discussions on Jewish values, or cross-cultural events on ways we can make our communities more inclusive, such as Jewish day schools and Islamic schools teaching each other about their cultures. I’d love to speak at your event. Thank you.
I was so honored to be interviewed recently about the Little Free Library (LFL) I helped install in 2019 at Temple Israel Orlando for the roundup from Oviedo Community News. Check out the article to find out more about some wonderful Little Free Libraries in Central Florida. We added a Little Free Pantry next to our library just a couple years later during the pandemic to help community members in need of food as well. In addition to writing books, stewarding each of these sharing boxes has been a personal passion and incredibly fulfilling.
I recommend downloading the Little Free Library mobile app to find LFLs in your area. Not only can you use the map to find these book-sharing boxes, you can get directions, save your favorites, track the libraries you visit, and earn badges.
I love seeing all the different welcome signs outside homes around my neighborhood. On a recent walk with my dog, I spotted a welcome sign in an unexpected place. Have you ever encountered a welcome sign where you least expected it? More importantly, has there been a time in your life when you were welcomed despite initially feeling like you wouldn’t be?
This past weekend, I had the honor of attending my friend’s synagogue gala honoring his service as their rabbi for 13 years–a rabbinic bar mitzvah! I have known this friend since high school, and another friend and I traveled to New York to join in celebrating. From the second we walked in the door of the synagogue for Shabbat services Friday night, we were greeted warmly. The congregation’s executive director even recommended a hotel and restaurants to make our visit that much more comfortable. We instantly felt welcome, and there is just something about singing familiar tunes and sharing in Shabbat that makes me feel at home, even at a synagogue I don’t regularly attend. It was a synagogue I don’t belong to but never felt like I didn’t belong at.
That feeling of warmth and welcoming filled the entire weekend. It felt like a celebration of not only my friend’s career milestone but of friendship. People kept saying how wonderful it is that our group of friends has kept in touch for decades. We have a group chat in which we share our Wordle, Connections, and Strands scores, we try to Zoom regularly, and between vacations, family visits, and other celebrations (like our children’s bar and bat mitzvahs), we have managed to see each other in person almost every year. I truly cherish these friendships and am proud to have maintained them.
In addition to writing children’s books, I’m also a contributing writer at J Life, Orlando’s Jewish community magazine. The spring issue just came out, and I’m honored to have written the cover story on Jonathan’s Landing Foundation, a nonprofit aiming to build housing for 500 adults with autism and create 5,000 career pathways and meaningful work opportunities for this often underemployed population through its Techtonic social enterprise.
Tech entrepreneur Jason Eichenholz is the man behind both of these incredible organizations. As the father of a son with autism, Jason’s mission is personal, but his goal is far reaching. Focusing on mobile device repair, a $300 billion industry short 20,000 technicians, Techtonic used Universal Design for Learning (UDL) standards to adapt the WISE Certification program from CTIA, the wireless industry’s trade association. Subject-area experts helped develop a neurodiverse curriculum with adaptable units that allow adults to obtain more accessible micro-credentials in mobile device repair certification. To introduce this field to adults with autism, Techtonic has partnered with schools and organizations to host hands-on SkillCircuits workshops.
As a social enterprise, Techtonic will use its profits to fund additional career training, provide financial support to cover residential and service costs for future residents of Jonathan’s Landing, and employ the underemployed while paying them a living wage. “It’s more than a career training program,” says Jason. “It’s a movement to change lives – starting in our community.”
Sharing stories like these, meeting incredible individuals, and resonating with readers is what makes me love community journalism so much. I am always learning something new and making connections that allow me to feel like part of something bigger while taking pride in my local community.
Although I have written more than 40 children’s books, most have been nonfiction educational titles that are marketed and sold directly to schools and libraries. My forthcoming picture book, Just Say Welcome (Kar-Ben, September 2025), will be my first trade title, and I know I need to work hard to spread the word. One marketing vehicle is this website.
I have also recently joined the Jewish Book Council‘s (JBC) Network as an author available for book talks and other speaking events. The JBC’s virtual conference is May 20-22 this year and gives authors the opportunity to pitch their books to the many JBC Network sites, such as Jewish community centers, synagogues, Hillels, Jewish Federations, and cultural centers. After I pitch my book at the virtual conference, the hope is I get bookings with these sites and share my work with a wider audience. That, of course, means I have to craft my book “elevator pitch.” Can I explain my book and get an audience engaged in just a couple minutes? That’s what I’m working on now. If you’re a more experienced trade author, do you have any tips on touring, creating your book pitch, and book talks in general? If you are a Jewish author or have written a Jewish book, have you participated in the Jewish Book Council’s Network? If you have any marketing tips, please share them in the comments or let me know through my contact page.
My newest book, Jewish Festivals and Traditions, part of the Religious Festivals and Traditions series from Capstone Publishing, is available now. In this 32-page book for K-3 readers, children can explore the key Jewish holidays and milestones celebrated throughout the year, including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Hanukkah, Passover, Shabbat, bar and bat mitzvahs, and weddings, plus a brief explanation of Jewish customs surrounding death.
Each religious has its own unique customs, histories, and heritage. Sometimes there are similar, or even shared, events between beliefs. This series gives readers a glimpse into some of the most popular religious around the world, showing families living in both the United States and overseas. Each book in the series includes a basic introduction, color photos, a glossary, an index, and suggestions for further reading in print and online.
I am excited to share that my book, Just Say Welcome, will be released by Kar-Ben Publishing on September 9, 2025. Based on my family’s real-life experience, Just Say Welcome is a modern-day story for children in preschool through third grade illustrating the Jewish value of welcoming the stranger. Young Tilly and her Jewish-American family open up their home to an Iraqi refugee family while they get settled in the community. Both families learn and experience kindness from each other and the larger community. Synagogue members bring over clothes, neighbors share food, and the Iraqi boy, Youssef, teaches Tilly’s little brother soccer tricks. Everyone realizes they have more in common than not, and the Iraqi family starts to feel at home. Tilly learns that sometimes, just saying “welcome” is all it takes for strangers to become friends.
Emily Raij 