Every now and then, I work on something that I think might be worth sharing with others. If I’m correct, and you see something here you like, I hope you’ll download it and put it to good use.
- Looking for a haggadah. We’ve been making them for years. Especially now, when you’re thinking of how to run your seder online, you might be interested in our Tablet Haggadah to be viewed on electronic devices. Yours for the taking! If you’re just looking for an adaptable text that you can shape into a haggadah that’s right for you, here’s a Dreskin Haggadah for Word document that gives you pretty much everything you need (PDF version here). The Hebrew isn’t perfect (trouble converting from my Hebrew-English program into Word) and you may not prefer our choice of songs, but download and modify to your heart’s content! Want a simpler, more just-the-facts-ma’am version? Download our Bare Bones Dreskin Haggadah for Word here (PDF version).
- Dreskin Family Pesakh Readings. Across the years, Ellen and I have added passages to our seder that we feel have enriched them deeply. They’re all collected here in one file. I hope you find something here to enrich your own seder.
- Dreskin Family Pesakh Funbook! For quite a few years, we’ve been spicing up our seder for the kids (and for kids-at-heart) with “fun pages.” These are brain-teasers (at varying levels of difficulty) that have been re-“fitted” with a Passover theme. If you like, place a few of them on the seder table during the seder (to occupy those whose attention just can’t manage an entire reading of the Haggadah). Or hand out a few as dinner (or dessert) gets going. Whatever you choose, your guests will enjoy a different angle on the age-old story. Don’t forget pencils! Remember: Just a few pages will do it. Save some for future years! And enjoy! A ziesen Pesakh!
- Silly Songs for Pesakh. How many tunes have had their lyrics rewritten, just to spruce up a seder or five hundred? Well, I’ve collected as many as I can right here. Yours for the taking!
- If you’re a rabbi, cantor or Jewish educator, and are interested in the materials for “Judaism Takes an Honest Look at Love and Sexuality” — a ninth grade retreat promoting frank conversation about sex and wise decision-making about our bodies — please contact me personally.
- Grab the car keys and let’s go GODshopping! Ellen, Rabbi Mark Shapiro and I first designed this program back around 1987. Since then, we’ve tweaked it and think we’ve designed a terrific way to explore not only some classical Jewish views of God but what we ourselves believe as well. All the materials are here. So from adult down to high school, why not take someone GODshopping! Click here for the powerpoint version.
- If you’re interested, here’s a very creative, very active implementation of GODshopping that’s very carnival-like, with GOD-booths and such. It’s called GODfest!
Tikkun Olam Social Action Graphic. I created this graphic in honor of my son, Jonah (z”l), becoming a Bar Mitzvah.- Thanksgiving Readings. Need a few readings either for your Thanksgiving dinner table or community worship. Here are some I’ve collected from Interfaith Services I’ve been lucky enough to attend, and a few I’ve adapted as well.
- Jewish Texts on War. Sadly, the world keeps giving us reasons to download and study these.
- Kidz Shavuot. A delightful service for young families. Includes the “Blessing of Our First Fruits,” celebrating the arrival of all babies born since last Shavuot.
- Board of Trustees Installation. Here is the basic outline we use annual to install our new Board (including thank you’s to the old).
- Selihot Service. This is an amalgamation of materials put together by Rabbi Avi Magid (for Woodlands Community Temple, White Plains, NY) and Rabbi David Gelfand (for Fairmount Temple, Cleveland, OH). DavkaWriter format.
- 10th Grade Confirmation Curriculum. Designed by me, Ellen, and Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro, a creative collection with which to explore concepts surrounding God, Torah and Israel.
- High Holy Days Resource Kit. Designed for students at HUC-JIR, contains a wide variety of ideas and possibilities for creative implementation during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
- “Yam Ba Dam” Creation Song (mp3). Here’s the greatest little kids’ Shabbat song ever. Besides an mp3 sound recording, you may also download the words and instructions for leading the song.
- Simkhat Torah Consecration Song (mp3). This is a collaborative project that stretched from Cleveland OH to White Plains NY. Originally written by the first grade teachers of Fairmount Temple in Cleveland, I brought it to Woodlands Community Temple in White Plains where songleader extraordinaire Kenny Green made a song out of it. At Conscecration, the first graders sing this (with glee when there’s enough time post-Labor Day) for the congregation. A wonderful moment. Here’s a recording and here are the words and chords.
- Preparing an Iyyun T’fillah. A how-to guide for creating and presenting compelling introductions to prayers during worship.
- IyyunInvitationResources.RabbiBillyDreskin. Here are the steps I follow to enlist others to write iyyunim for a service.
- Writing an Ethical Will. A how-to guide for leaving your child(ren) and grandchild(ren) much more than than you made — leave them who you are.
- 613 Mitzvot.with sources. I always wanted to see a list of all 613 but although they’re no secret, that was hard to come by. I teamed up with the Rambam to create this one.
- How to Write a D’var Torah. Here’s one page of instruction on how to teach others to write, or write your own, D’var Torah.
- The Story of Hanukkah – Eight Nights of Readings. For years now, I’ve fretted that it’s possible (and even likely) that when we celebrate Hanukkah in our homes, we neglect one of the most important pieces: telling the story or (even more importantly) thinking about what Hanukkah’s story means for each of us. I’ve prepared eight brief readings that I invite you to use, one each night as you light your candles. The readings are not juvenile. I aimed pretty high, with a rather straightforward shot at getting out the facts and at making a brief, but serious, statement. So I imagine these readings are best suited to adults and teens. Do make your kids listen, though; nothing wrong with them hearing a few brief, but serious ideas in the course of their day. While the link above will provide you with a pdf, this link will give you an editable Word file.
- If you’d like a collection of Purim Songs in a Powerpoint presentation, here you go. You may have to update some of the language, but all the basics (including Megillah blessings) are here. Boo Haman!
