Now that Rosh Chodesh Kislev has come and gone, everyone is gearing up for the Chanukah season. In keeping with the Chanukah spirit, The Book Meshuggenahs are running their first Be The Shamash! contest, with the goal of providing an uplifting creative opportunity in these difficult times. To enter, anyone can submit a picture and a few words about something good that they, their children or their students are doing, a way in which they are helping others just like the shamash helps light the other candles.

Entries can be sent to [email protected] until December 1, and all participants will be sent a certificate of thanks for being a shamash. Additionally, after December 1, eight winners (for the eight nights of Chanukah) will be drawn at random to each receive a Chanukah book from The Book Meshuggenahs.

Founded by Amy Losak, Nancy Churnin and Karen Rostoker-Gruber, The Book Meshuggenahs is a group of 18 Jewish female children’s authors from across the country and Israel. What began as an idea thrown out on Facebook has blossomed over several years into a creative and educational resource, a group of women united by their love of literature and desire to serve the community. All of the “meshuggenahs” are published authors whose works are available on Amazon, in bookstores and at other locations. The Book Meshuggenahs enjoy having contests as a way to spread the word about their books and activities, as well as engage members of the community to be active creatively and have fun. Be The Shamash! is their second free contest, following their Chai-ku contest last spring.

You can learn more about The Book Meshuggenahs and their books by visiting their website, www.thebookmeshuggenahs.com, and can find them on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn at #TheBookMeshuggenahs, and on Twitter @TMeshuggenahs.

By Shira Kosowsky

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