American Girl character Rebecca Rubin invites kids ages 6 and up to a special Tea Party at Rumson’s Congregation B’nai Israel.
As the Jewish Daily Forward put it in 2013, “today’s most famous Jewish character is 18 inches tall” — and on November 16, Rebecca Rubin casts a big profile as the special guest of honor for an American Girl Tea Party event at Congregation B’nai Israel in Rumson.
For the 11:45 am event that commemorates Jewish Book Month, children ages 6 and up are being invited to “bring your favorite doll to meet Rebecca Rubin” at a get-together that includes a light lunch, beverage, dessert, crafts and puzzles. While the tea party is a week away, seating is limited, and attendees are being urged to RSVP no later than this coming Wednesday, November 12.
Who is Rebecca Rubin? According to the folks behind the American Girl line of historically enlightening, ethnically diverse collectible dolls and storybooks, she’s the daughter of Russian Jewish immigrants who made their home on the Lower East Side of Manhattan 100 years ago.
Her doll, clothing items, accessories and printed adventures – focused on the struggle between old-country cultural traditions and new-home assimilation – have proven to be among the most popular in the ever-growing America Girl family, a collection that includes Revolutionary-era Felicity Merryman, 19th-century New Mexico native Josefina Montoya, fugitive slave Addy Walker, Depression-era Kit Kittredge, and 1970s California girl Julie Albright.
Now produced under the auspices of Mattel — but still headquartered in the small Wisconsin city where it was founded by a former schoolteacher some 30 years ago — the American Girl empire has come to include its own flagship stores, magazine, feature films and events such as next Sunday’s tea party in Rumson.
Take it here to register for the November 16 tea with Rebecca, with admission to the event $5 for CBI members or $10 for non-members. Attendees under age 8 must be accompanied by an adult.
