Emily Raij is the author of the new children's picture book Just Say Welcome!. She has written more than 40 books, and she lives in Florida.
Q: Just Say Welcome! was inspired by your own experiences hosting a refugee family--can you say more about that?
A: In 2017, I was feeling especially disheartened after the so-called “Muslim Travel Ban” was enacted and wanted to fight rising Islamophobia in our country.
I emailed a local Islamic center to see if my synagogue could collect items to benefit refugee families, and I also mentioned I had a guest room for a family in transition if needed.
I wanted to show my young children, Tilly (6 at the time) and Adam (then 3), that Jews “welcome the stranger” and that we could be a part of helping unite Jewish and Muslim communities.
After not hearing back for a couple months, I received an email from the center asking if our room was still available. I replied yes and was told a family was arriving the next day!
A mother and her teen children pulled into our driveway the next afternoon. They flew from Turkey, where they had waited four years to come to the U.S. Before that, they had fled Iraq (where they are originally from) and then Libya.
On their flight here, the travel ban on primarily Muslim countries officially went into effect and their plane was sent back mid-flight. They made it here after waiting another 10 days in Turkey before the ban was lifted.
I was nervous, but when the mom, Ana, came and gave me a big, tearful hug on my driveway, I knew it would be OK. We shared meals (kosher and halal) and stories and realized how much we had in common. The mom said she hadn't seen her kids smile and sleep soundly like that in years.
At first, I was afraid to tell people we were hosting a Muslim refugee family during such a divisive time, but after I did, I received only support from neighbors, fellow congregants at my synagogue, and friends.
Q: What do you think Nathalia Takeyama’s illustrations add to the story?
A: Nathalia’s illustrations fit the message and tone of the story so well because they are warm and welcoming! The vibrant colors, patterns, and details like the mezuzah on the door, Shabbat candlesticks, Tilly’s Star of David necklace, and different color hijabs worn by Ana really stand out to me.
I also love that she was conscientious about diversity and representation when it came to everyone in the book. And the authenticity of making the falafel green inside and adding olive oil and spices to the labneh--perfection!
Q: Was your character Tilly based on your daughter?
A: I really just wrote from our family’s experience and thought about what things must have felt like from a young child’s perspective. It was a beautiful, eye-opening, and also challenging week hosting another family in our home.
My kids were shy with the other family at first, but they did warm up once they got to know each other through talking, playing, eating, and just being together. And Tilly turned 7 during that week, so we really did decorate a cake to celebrate both her birthday and welcoming Ana, Dani, and Youssef.
Q: Especially given the current focus on immigration, what do you hope kids (and adults) take away from the book?
A: I hope kids and adults who read this book see that most people truly are kind and that we have more in common with “strangers” than not.
There are so many ways we can be welcoming every day. Kids can ask a new student at school to sit next to them at lunch. Families can bake cookies for a new neighbor who just moved in. It all starts with listening to people’s stories, sharing your own, and simply saying “welcome.”
Our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and even our own families are enhanced by people who do not share the same experiences and backgrounds as we do.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I am writing another Jewish picture book with my dear friend who I’ve known since fifth grade! We are still working on it, but it also touches upon themes of being welcoming and seeing commonalities despite differences.
I’ve also been fortunate to write some current and forthcoming Jewish nonfiction books for children with Capstone Publishing on holidays, traditions, and crafts. In fact, I’ve written almost 50 nonfiction books with Capstone on everything from animals and body systems to careers, climate, and even a pro wrestler.
In addition to being a children’s author, I’m also a journalist and write regularly for J Life, a magazine covering the Jewish community in Central Florida, where I live with my husband, son, daughter, and dog.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I think we can probably all be more welcoming in our daily lives and that doing so can really improve our communities and relationships. I’m not a natural extrovert, but I try as much as possible to say hello to someone new at my synagogue or smile at a fellow dog walker. Those are little things that can make someone feel welcome and seen.
If your school, synagogue, or community center would like to welcome me for an author visit, you can contact me through my website, www.emilyraij.com. Or, if you are a Jewish Book Council (JBC) member site, I am a JBC Network Author and can be booked through the council. Thanks for letting me share my story!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
No comments:
Post a Comment