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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: KidStuff Public Relations
Lisa Orman • 608-767-1102
or lisa@kidstuffpr.com
SARAH & DAVID INTERACTIVE MAKES
HEBREW AS EASY AS ALEPH-BET-GIMEL
WITH A BONUS OF YOUTUBE, BLOGS & PODCASTS!
Englewood, NJ (May 15, 2007) -- When 10-year-old Brandon Peltz of suburban Philadelphia needs a little help with his Hebrew School homework, he can click on sarahdavid.com and dive into a virtual community of original, vibrant Hebrew language puzzles, podcasts, blogs, illustrations and even a YouTube rock video. In two more years, as he begins to prep for his Bar Mitzvah, he’ll have a welcoming online resource thanks to the creators of Sarah and David Interactive, an educational media company.
Learning Hebrew has never been so hip, says Brandon’s Mom, who studied the language decades ago as a Hebrew school student. Like the Dick and Jane readers of her baby boomer generation, Brandon’s Mom regards fictional 13-year-olds Sarah and David as the American ambassadors to Hebrew literacy for today’s techno-savvy youth. The challenge of mastering a new language and a new alphabet is finally, thoroughly, fun and infectious.
Because Hebrew is an international language spoken among Jews and scholars from Israel to the Caribbean, Sarah and David Interactive has found business booming in dozens of states from New Hampshire to Washington plus England, Australia, Canada and even the Dominican Republic! Their customer base ranges from Judaica, synagogue and specialty shops to Jewish day schools and secondary schools in synagogues.
Now the company is ready for mainstream America. Next month Sarah and David Interactive will exhibit at Book Expo America (BEA) 2007 in New York City, the premiere event for publishers, booksellers and librarians from around the world. At their BEA Booth 1826, Sarah and David founder Lily Yacobi and her business-partner mom Diana, a longtime Jewish educator, will showcase their collection of Hebrew language books, workbooks, CDs described as a boutique publisher specializing in fun books teaching Hebrew. The company hopes that independent, non-denominational book, gift and toy stores will order Sarah and David products so consumers can buy them directly as gifts or enrichment tools for their own family.
Testimonials from across this continent have been pouring into the Sarah and David Interactive offices:
“The detail and graphics and thought that went into this book are amazing. The book we used to use hadn’t changed in 50 years! Kids know the difference. They respond to the effort and are more motivated to learn.”
Rebecca S. • Hebrew Teacher
“Two Jewish educators, Diana and Lily Yacobi, who are mother and daughter, have devised a way of making the basic steps in learning Hebrew both accessible and pleasant. They deserve the thanks of all older Jews for easing the way for the next generation into the sacred texts. Bravo for a job well done.”
Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg • Rabbi, Scholar, Historian
“My Hadassah chapter first bought 125 copies of The Aleph Bet Story for a fundraiser. We’ve almost sold out and want to buy another shipment when we do. We fell in love with this product and this new approach to learning the Hebrew alphabet.”
Kathy Fleming • Member, Hadassah WIZO, Toronto
“My daughter inhales your books!”
Andy Harrison, father of Jillian, age 5
Sarah and David
Online and textbook characters Sarah and David are 13-year-olds in middle school gearing up for their Bar and Bat Mitzvah. Their young friends Ben and Rachel are two third graders in elementary school and attend Hebrew School. Together these characters interact with the Hebrew language learner, guiding them through visually appealing and all-American activities while subtly teaching them Hebrew letters, words, sounds, about Israeli travel, holding their hand through Bar Mitzvah jitters and so much more.
Blogging
With everybody blogging these days, it’s no surprise that “Sarah” and “David” are, too. The pre-Bar Mitzvah characters come to life, with each recording personal details of the ins and outs of Bar and Bat Mitzvah preparation: meeting tutors; struggling with mastery of the haftarah; the challenges of juggling homework and other activities, such as ballet and sports; connecting with friends; anxiety and excitement as the big day approaches – mirroring everything that readers of the site will themselves experience. Characteristic of the publisher’s approach, the blogs are user-friendly and interactive, inviting visitors to exchange messages with “Sarah” and “David” and featuring an upbeat original song, Heading to the Bimah, that captures the mood.
Mah Hamatzav (What’s up?)
In its continuing quest to develop a new generation comfortable with Modern Hebrew and Israel, Sarah and David Interactive created a new feature on its website for beginning conversational Hebrew, Mah Hamatzav. The column’s title plays off the greeting commonly used between friends in Israel, literally translated as “What’s the situation?” Aimed at teens, the column serves to present Israel in a positive light to this key and impressionable demographic.
Lily Yacobi, Sarah and David Interactive’s founder reports, “Mah Hamatzav is designed to reflect our signature brand and follows our proven strategy of blending of appealing, relatable characters, colorful, eye-catching illustrations and contemporary, memorable text to teach Hebrew. Our characters ‘Sarah’ and ‘David’ turn up in cool locations around Israel, like on Ben Yehuda Street. It’s a great vocabulary-builder as well as a way for teens to learn how Israelis their age spend their time. There’s fashion, culture, slang – fun elements that as a rule don’t come together in teaching Hebrew language.”
Online Store
SarahDavid.com overflows with a wide variety of education tools from Hebrew wall posters and CDs to workbooks and flashcards can be shipped to residences or schools. Here’s a sampling of Sarah and David products:
Aleph Bet Starter Kit: Storybook and CD • $18.95
Here is a unique approach to Hebrew reading that makes learning exciting and incredibly doable. From the way that the letter Gimel is compared to the shape of a high heel shoe to the idea that the letter Resh looks a lot like a roller coaster, the letters come alive and are easy to remember. Learning the Hebrew alphabet has never been this fun. A whimsical approach to consonants and vowels is conducive to faster, more lasting learning. The CD that accompanies The Aleph Bet Story provides hours of motivated learning. It models correct intonation and pronunciation of the letters. There are 25 tracks telling the full Aleph Bet Story as told by co-author Lily Yacobi. Complete with sound effects, the recording concludes with Aleph Bet Rock, an exuberant song that teaches the order of the aleph bet and recaps the CD’s fun learning. The CD is great at home, in the car or at school. It’s a new, fun way to learn and remember the aleph bet.
Aleph Bet Story Workbook Flash Cards • $12.95
The flash cards reproduce all of the Bubble Letters and Picture Words in The Aleph Bet Story Workbook. They can be used while teaching, for games, and for display on the bulletin board. Many of the Picture Words also appear in the Read Hebrew workbooks and in the Picture Book. Use them to build students’ Hebrew vocabulary.
The Aleph Bet Story Posters • $5.95
Review the aleph bet and the vowels in class. These colorful posters help teach the Hebrew letters and the vowels using Sarah and David’s unique method.
Sterling Silver Hebrew Letter & Chain • $24.95
You’ve learned the 22 Hebrew letters. Now you can wear your special letter on a sterling silver necklace! A treasured gift for a boy or girl learning to read Hebrew, a Bar or Bat Mitzvah present, a thank you to a Sunday school teacher or a prized student achievement award. Choose from 22 Hebrew letters, each pictured online. All letters and chains are sterling silver and are made in Israel. The necklace chain comes in two sizes: small 16" and medium 17".
As their website home page proudly touts, “Hebrew is HOT! If you want to learn to read Hebrew, you've come to the right place. And now with Sarah and David Interactive it's fun and exciting. The Sarah and David Method of teaching Hebrew makes it ultra-accessible to everyone. Here’s a way to learn Hebrew in a way that is happening.” For a personal tour of the hip website or to start Hebrew lessons, click on sarahdavid.com.
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