When the summer heat is relentless, Mama promises the girls a visit to the beach. The girls help Mama prepare, packing lunches and carrying bundles on the over-crowded streetcar, arriving early enough to swim in the ocean before eating lunch. They play in the sand, and beg to be allowed to visit the midway. Mama relents, but then disaster strikes when Henny gets lost. Mama and Ella fruitlessly search the crowds, until the carnival workers suggest they try the police station. Henny turns up safe and sound, and the family comes back to meet Papa in the sweltering city, almost too tired to tell him of their adventures.
Episode 010 – Fourth of July + Show Notes
The girls spend a thrilling fourth of July with Charlie and their parents, featuring potato kugel, firetrucks, firecrackers, and even Roman candles. Charlie opens up to the family about his childhood, but while Ella is supposed to be asleep, she overhears the private details of Charlie’s quarrel with his parents and his ongoing search for his sweetheart. Ella’s weeping alerts Mama and Papa and they comfort her. Ella doesn’t confess her secret crush, but goes to bed crying again, heartbroken.
Episode 009 – Mama Has Her Hands Full + Show Notes
The one where the girls get scarlet fever right before Passover. Listen to the episode Join hosts Merav and Batya as they delve into all things All-of-a-Kind Family. Today we are joined by guests Shoshana Flax and Rena Mills, and the four of us talk about the holiday of Passover/Pesach, contagious diseases, and…
Episode 008 – Sarah in Trouble + Show Notes
Sarah engages in a battle of wills with Mama when she declares that she doesn’t want to eat her soup at the midday meal. Mama insists that Sarah will get nothing else to eat until she eats her soup. Sarah endures family entreaties through dinner, afternoon snack, home and piano lessons, before finally capitulating and eating a few bites of soup at the supper table and being rewarded with a supper that doesn’t consist of soup.
Episode 007 – Purim Play + Show notes
On Purim day the girls accompany Papa to synagogue, and return home for special holiday treats at lunch, like hamantashen and teiglach. Then they dress up in costume to deliver Purim baskets to their relatives and friends and get a chance to show off their costumes. Back at home, the front room is full of many of the same relatives and friends, and the girls get to show off their musical talents in performance, with Ella singing to great acclaim and even praise from Charlie.
Episode 006 – Papa’s Birthday + Show notes
Ella calls a secret meeting after bedtime to plot a birthday surprise for Papa. The girls gather and pool their pennies and try to find the perfect birthday present. But will Papa like their gift? They have to wait until dinner to find out.
Episode 005 – The Sabbath – Part 2 + Show Notes
Part 2! — Just this once, Mama takes all the girls to market with her on a Thursday afternoon to shop for the Sabbath. The family stops in the library, then spends a busy time at the market seeing all the offered goods at shops and pushcarts and making their purchases. Then Friday comes, and the family brings in the Sabbath together.
Episode 005 – The Sabbath – Part 1 + Show notes
Just this once, Mama takes all the girls to market with her on a Thursday afternoon to shop for the Sabbath. The family stops in the library, then spends a busy time at the market seeing all the offered goods at shops and pushcarts and making their purchases. Then Friday comes, and the family brings in the Sabbath together.
Episode 004 – Who Cares If It’s Bedtime? + Show notes
Join Merav and Batya as they delve into all things All-of-A-Kind Family. This episode features a deep dive into candy, cookies and crackers, and the origin of the cracker barrel as a center for gaming!
We’ll also talk about what the heck a “snap” cookie is.
Episode 003 – Rainy Day Surprise + Show notes
The action begins after a brief narrative description of Papa’s junk shop and his work there. Bored because it’s raining, the girls go to visit Papa’s shop and the peddlers there, including the intriguing Charlie. It turns out that the shop has recently taken in a load of books, and the girls spend a happy time looking through them to pick out some to keep. While returning home, they decide to spend the rest of the afternoon playing Library with their new books.