October is national Bullying Prevention Month. When I came across this announcement in one of the many newsletters that I receive, I thought of the connections to this most important part of our Jewish year.

We have just begun again; we’ve, in a sense, remade ourselves and can better our relationships with those around us. The shofar has called upon us to wake up and pay attention. 

In just a few days we will begin the Torah cycle once more. Adam and Eve had so much to learn as the first humans; indeed, today’s humans have as much, if not more, to learn in our complicated society.

Our first ancestors had to learn the basic lessons of how to live in our beautiful world and then about sharing and caring; how to say “thank you” and “I’m sorry;” how to watch their words and protect those weaker than they; how to be even handed while not holding others back; how to distinguish between fair and equal; how to trust and how to be watchful; and a host of other life’s lessons.

Is it by chance that Sukkot, our Jewish “thank you” holiday, is so closely followed by one that celebrates the Torah, our ethical guidebook?

Our library is filled with stories and guides on how to raise and be good humans.

As we begin our human story, let some of them be your guide.

Remember, that you can access the entire collection through our online catalog.

Dorff, To Do the Right and the Good: a Jewish approach to modern social ethics.

Dorff, Love Your Neighbor and Yourself: a Jewish approach to modern personal ethics.

Feiler,The First Love Story: Adam, Eve and Us.

Ingall, Mamaleh Knows best: what Jewish mothers do to raise successful,creative, empathetic, independent children.

Kipnes, Jewish Spiritual parenting: wisdom, activities, rituals and prayers for raising children with spiritual balance.

Mogel, The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: using Jewish teachings to raise self-reliant children.

Telushkin, The Book of Jewish values: a day-by-day-guide to ethical living.