1 SHAMASH.ORG /usr/www/wwwhc/listserv/archives/scj-parenting December 2003 2 47 75_[SCJ-PARENTING:7258] Re: good respose re: Christmas tree for young children4_lynn16_lynn@nowhere.com28_Mon, 1 Dec 2003 09:31:05 EST293_- I would just say "That's not what we do." If pressed, I would say that every family decides what they are going to do in their home, and this is what we have decided to do." I mean, we have lots of rules that are different from other houses. Some people watch TV while they eat dinner. [...] 50 90 46_[SCJ-PARENTING:7259] Re: Poisoned baby formula0_21_backon@vms.huji.ac.il28_Tue, 2 Dec 2003 09:19:41 EST573_- In article <3FC414A7.8090407@alum.wpi.edu>, "Paul S. Wolf" writes: >> I got a call from my aunt in Brooklyn ON SHABBOS. She left a >> message on my answering machine in case I use this formula for my >> baby. Baruch Hashem I do not. Hatzolah went around Brooklyn today >> announcing that REMEDIA BABY FORMULA from Israel HAS BEEN POISONED. >> If you use it STOP immediately. >> >> If you know anyone who might, contact them and tell them to stop >> immediately. >> >> I apologize to those of you who multiple copies on this message due >> [...] 141 43 74_[SCJ-PARENTING:7260] Cards to American Jewish soldiers serving in Iraq and15_Claire Petersky26_cpetersky@mouse-potato.com28_Thu, 4 Dec 2003 09:26:57 EST2_- 185 36 90_[SCJ-PARENTING:7261] Re: Cards to American Jewish soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan5_Scoop17_no-spam@sonic.net28_Mon, 8 Dec 2003 00:49:30 EST469_- I think you forgot to add the link you advertised in the Subject: header...

+-+-+-+ Neal Ross Attinson +-+-+-+ + Looking for the next bracha... + +-+ http://www.sonic.net/scoop +-+



============================================================================== This post reflects the author's opinion; the moderators' opinions may differ. Posters seeking medical or halachic information should consult competent authorities in those fields. [...] 222 55 51_[SCJ-PARENTING:7262] why we don't have a tree, etc.19_Alexandra J Schmidt28_aschmidt@gematria.crd.ge.com28_Mon, 8 Dec 2003 11:33:05 EST541_- Quick followup to earlier posts--a number of respondents observed (correctly) that this is a variation on the "Other families may choose differently, but this is how we do it in our home". My issue is not in presenting the above, but in finding a good, brief explanation that was not at serious risk of a 5-year-old's reducing (and repeating) to "Jews with Xmas trees are bad". We do tend to give brief explanations as to why we have the rules we do, and my son is sharp enough to pick up on it if in this instance=20 we pointedly do [...] 278 40 36_[SCJ-PARENTING:7263] Christmas Trees6_Sharon18_mausness@yahoo.com28_Mon, 8 Dec 2003 13:35:10 EST485_- (and remember, this has all been within the last few months), he said "No thank you, we don't eat ham, we're Jewish now." And smiled...and took=20 some turkey. >=20 I was so proud of him. >=20 Sharon =20



============================================================================== This post reflects the author's opinion; the moderators' opinions may differ. Posters seeking medical or halachic information should consult competent authorities in those fields. [...] 319 58 63_[SCJ-PARENTING:7265] Santa (was: why we don't have a tree, etc)13_Aimee Yermish21_ayermish@alum.mit.edu28_Tue, 9 Dec 2003 09:39:59 EST505_-

I like Alexandra's rabbi's explanation about the birthday party, by the way. It's a lot more lyrical and more preschool-appropriate than my simple, "Christmas is a Christian holiday, they're celebrating the birthday of Jesus, who they think was part of God. We don't think Jesus was part of God, so we don't celebrate his birthday. In fact, we don't celebrate any person's birthday in Judaism, only the birthday of the world (Rosh Hashana). But we can enjoy looking at their celebrations." [...] 378 94 67_[SCJ-PARENTING:7267] Re: Santa (was: why we don't have a tree, etc)22_Adelle D. Stavis, Esq.21_adcstavis@comcast.net29_Wed, 10 Dec 2003 00:35:42 EST637_- "Aimee Yermish" wrote in message news:1070979804scjp-submit@scjp.jewish-usenet.org... > > I like Alexandra's rabbi's explanation about the birthday party, by the > way. It's a lot more lyrical and more preschool-appropriate than my > simple, "Christmas is a Christian holiday, they're celebrating the > birthday of Jesus, who they think was part of God. We don't think Jesus > was part of God, so we don't celebrate his birthday. In fact, we don't > celebrate any person's birthday in Judaism, only the birthday of the > world (Rosh Hashana). But we can enjoy looking at their celebrations." > > The other [...] 473 66 50_[SCJ-PARENTING:7268] Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 183217_Daniel S. Schultz18_danschul@umich.edu29_Thu, 11 Dec 2003 10:14:39 EST487_- Would you please post the following on your discussion thread:

I have a fifth-grader (10 year old) son who really does not want to attend religious school. Religious school at our conservative schul runs 3 days/week, 1.5hrs on the two weekdays and 2.5 hrs on Sundays. Hebrew is part of the curriculum. My son says that the program is "lame", and they don't seem to pack much into the 5.5 hrs/week. My son's mother, who has him 50% of the time, lets him skip when he wants. [...] 540 184 50_[SCJ-PARENTING:7269] Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 183222_Adelle D. Stavis, Esq.21_adcstavis@comcast.net29_Thu, 11 Dec 2003 15:25:14 EST467_- Hello from the VP of Education of a school that just won a gold award in elementary ed from the USCJ. Can't help with the culture clash much. After school religious school *is* an American thing, and there is no getting around that. It comes from the fact that Jews may attend school with non-Jews here in the US, where that had been denied previously in Europe. Still, families saw a need to teach Jewish culture and learning skills, like Hebrew, Torah, etc. [...] 725 100 50_[SCJ-PARENTING:7270] Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 18326_drorak14_drorak@cox.net29_Fri, 12 Dec 2003 09:01:41 EST607_- "Daniel S. Schultz" wrote in message news:1071000125scjp-submit@scjp.jewish-usenet.org... > Would you please post the following on your discussion thread: > > I have a fifth-grader (10 year old) son who really does not want to=20 > attend religious school. Religious school at our conservative schul=20 > runs 3 days/week, 1.5hrs on the two weekdays and 2.5 hrs on Sundays.=20 > Hebrew is part of the curriculum. My son says that the program is=20 > "lame", and they don't seem to pack much into the 5.5 hrs/week. My=20 > son's mother, who has him 50% of the time, lets him skip [...] 826 44 43_[SCJ-PARENTING:7271] Elijah (was Re: Santa)5_kgold20_kgold@watson.ibm.com29_Fri, 12 Dec 2003 14:32:25 EST370_- There's an interesting side thread.

Do some people have their children believe that Elijah really comes and drinks the wine?

I've always done the "kid opens the door, adult drinks wine, oh, look Elijah came" thing, but it was always a fun joke. The child would try to peek, the adult would say "look out the door", we'd get caught and deny it, etc. [...] 871 48 81_[SCJ-PARENTING:7272] Holiday Announce: Personalized Children's Books for Hanukkah7_Bransam12_amyb@usa.net29_Fri, 12 Dec 2003 14:39:49 EST495_- In "The Magic Dreidel", Mac, the magic dreidel, re-creates the miracle of Hanukkah and teaches children the meaning of this Jewish holiday. This story includes the child's name, age, hometown and the names of up to 3 friends.

The book is 36 pages, laser printed, and has a wipe-clean hard cover. You can check out this title at our ebay store by visiting: http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=ajs_perso nalized_gifts&include=0&since=-1&sort=3&rows=50 [...] 920 44 67_[SCJ-PARENTING:7273] Re: Santa (was: why we don't have a tree, etc)13_Kevin Karplus25_karplus@bray.cse.ucsc.edu29_Sat, 13 Dec 2003 22:23:21 EST337_- Tell your child the truth. There is no real reason to keep 'the secret'. Even many people who do celebrate Christmas tell their children the truth abut the Santa myth a lot younger than 4. One can continue to enjoy the story as make-believe even knowing it isn't true---in fact, enjoyment probably increases once kids know the reality. 965 67 67_[SCJ-PARENTING:7274] Re: Santa (was: why we don't have a tree, etc)19_Alexandra J Schmidt28_aschmidt@gematria.crd.ge.com29_Sat, 13 Dec 2003 22:23:31 EST532_- > The other day, we had a Christian friend over (both girls are about four > years old). I heard the two of them having a conversation about Santa > Claus -- the friend was talking about how Santa would come to her house, > and my daughter was explaining that Santa doesn't come to our house > because we're Jewish. The other girl was incredulous and then started > feeling sorry for her. I explained that my kid was right, Santa doesn't > bring us presents, but we get Chanukah presents from our relatives, so > we do okay. [...] 1033 96 67_[SCJ-PARENTING:7275] Re: Santa (was: why we don't have a tree, etc)15_Fred Rosenblatt15_fredr5@juno.com29_Sat, 13 Dec 2003 22:23:37 EST556_- "Adelle D. Stavis, Esq." wrote

> "Aimee Yermish" wrote in message >

> > I don't want to burst any Christian preschooler's bubble about Santa, > > but I'd really like to let my kid know privately that Santa isn't for > > real (why should I encourage her to believe in someone else's > > mythology?). But then I worry that she'll blurt out the secret to > > someone else her age and cause a crisis -- kids this age aren't known > > for their ability to keep secrets. Any thoughts? > > > > [...] 1130 53 47_[SCJ-PARENTING:7277] Re: Elijah (was Re: Santa)12_Naomi Rivkis17_nrivkis@yahoo.com29_Sun, 14 Dec 2003 11:08:42 EST546_- On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 19:25:15 -0000, kgold@watson.ibm.com (kgold) wrote:

>There's an interesting side thread. > >Do some people have their children believe that Elijah really comes >and drinks the wine? > >I've always done the "kid opens the door, adult drinks wine, oh, look >Elijah came" thing, but it was always a fun joke. The child would try >to peek, the adult would say "look out the door", we'd get caught and >deny it, etc. > >In our house, there was never any doubt that an adult was drinking the >wine. What do others do? [...] 1184 53 67_[SCJ-PARENTING:7278] Re: Santa (was: why we don't have a tree, etc)14_chiam margalit19_margalitc@yahoo.com29_Mon, 15 Dec 2003 07:43:10 EST545_- When my children were about 4, I was honest about the whole Santa myth but I was *very* clear that they should never ever tell any child who believed in Santa that he wasn't real. I explained that it would hurt their feelings and make them very sad and we just don't purposely make people sad. They went to a Jewish preschool, but there were a couple of kids who had Xian relatives and did some kind of Xmas activities, even though they were raised Jewish. Those kids were pretty confused 4 year olds, because they *did* believe in Santa [...] 1238 53 67_[SCJ-PARENTING:7279] Re: Santa (was: why we don't have a tree, etc)14_Robyn Kozierok25_robynk@nautilus.shore.net29_Mon, 15 Dec 2003 10:17:20 EST371_- OTOH, I offended someone on a mailing list I'm on when they said they thought this might be the year their child stopped believing, about their 10yo, and I said I was "amazed" that a 10yo would still literally believe. I learned that there is a significant sugroup of people who celebrate Xmas and who really want to keep their kids believing as long as possible. [...] 1292 77 67_[SCJ-PARENTING:7280] Re: Santa (was: why we don't have a tree, etc)14_Betsy Schwartz22_betsys@gsd.hahvahd.edu29_Mon, 15 Dec 2003 13:14:34 EST313_- At age four, the girls in her school were very much into making cliques,

getting mad, making up and so on - my daughter hated this, and didn't=20 usually participate, but it helped her understand. I didn't see the same

dynamic among the boys, who seemed to be more into verbal challenges.=20 [...] 1370 53 30_[SCJ-PARENTING:7281] RE: Santa13_Aimee Yermish21_ayermish@alum.mit.edu29_Mon, 15 Dec 2003 20:08:49 EST574_- Thanks to all of the thoughtful replies...

I wanted to address one issue, which is that of Eliyahu. Yes, our uncles used to distract us and take a little sip to convince us that Eliyahu had really come. But Eliyahu doesn't do anything at the Seder other than to drink his wine (or not) and to not announce the messianic age. No presents. No judging between bad kids and good kids (and, by the way, if Santa only brings presents to good kids, does that mean that Jewish kids are by definition bad? The theological implications are, er, interesting...). Eliyahu [...] 1424 56 67_[SCJ-PARENTING:7282] Re: Santa (was: why we don't have a tree, etc)15_Fred Rosenblatt15_fredr5@juno.com29_Mon, 15 Dec 2003 20:09:25 EST544_- margalitc@yahoo.com (chiam margalit) wrote

> When my children were about 4, I was honest about the whole Santa myth > but I was *very* clear that they should never ever tell any child who > believed in Santa that he wasn't real. I explained that it would hurt > their feelings and make them very sad and we just don't purposely make > people sad. They went to a Jewish preschool, but there were a couple > of kids who had Xian relatives and did some kind of Xmas activities, > even though they were raised Jewish. Those kids were [...] 1481 75 67_[SCJ-PARENTING:7283] Re: Santa (was: why we don't have a tree, etc)14_Betsy Schwartz22_betsys@gsd.hahvahd.edu29_Tue, 16 Dec 2003 10:08:00 EST440_- I had the same conversation with my daughter at four, and she also has been able to keep quiet. I admit, though, that I added that they would get mad at *her* if she spoiled their fun. At four, the idea of respecting someone's religious beliefs is kinda vague for her, but she was able to understand that there are some things that get people angry and upset. As she's grown older, we've talked more about what other people believe. [...] 1557 112 51_[SCJ-PARENTING:7284] Choosing a religious school...6_Jfer P17_J3fer@hotmail.com29_Tue, 16 Dec 2003 16:10:53 EST427_- With all due respect to Adele, who sounds like a wonderful, thoughtful educator, I believe after-school Hebrew schools are fighting an almost-unwinnable battle.

#1, they're getting tired, tired kids who would probably rather be anywhere else but in front of another blackboard,

#2, they're getting kids at an age when fitting in - not having weird, special "Jewish" requirements - is of utmost importance, [...] 1670 69 55_[SCJ-PARENTING:7285] Re: Choosing a religious school...5_kgold20_kgold@watson.ibm.com29_Tue, 16 Dec 2003 17:43:31 EST345_- I think our youth program is basically successful. Some of the things we do:

- The Rabbi is not trying to teach conversational Hebrew. He teaches reading and translation of words the kids are likely to encounter in prayers. Our teens might not know every word, but they can read a prayer and basically understand what it's saying. [...] 1740 96 50_[SCJ-PARENTING:7286] Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 18326_Howian14_howian@aol.com29_Wed, 17 Dec 2003 08:44:24 EST643_- >Subject: Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 1832 >From: "Daniel S. Schultz" danschul@umich.edu >Date: 12/11/2003 6:34 PM Iran Standard Time >Message-id: <1071000125scjp-submit@scjp.jewish-usenet.org> > >Would you please post the following on your discussion thread: > >I have a fifth-grader (10 year old) son who really does not want to attend >religious school. Religious school at our conservative schul runs 3 >days/week, 1.5hrs on the two weekdays and 2.5 hrs on Sundays. Hebrew is >part of the curriculum. My son says that the program is "lame", and they >don't seem to pack much into the 5.5 hrs/week. My son's mother, who has >him 50% of [...] 1837 74 51_[SCJ-PARENTING:7287] Re: 10-yo and religious school14_Betsy Schwartz22_betsys@gsd.hahvahd.edu29_Wed, 17 Dec 2003 13:36:14 EST308_- I think you've got *FOUR* different issues here and sorting them out will help go a long way towards resolving them:

a) eligibility for a bar mitzvah ceremony b) what sort of religious education you want for your son c) coming to an agreement with your ex d) getting a commitment from your son [...] 1912 56 55_[SCJ-PARENTING:7288] Re: Choosing a religious school...7_Barbara21_mom_2_one@hotmail.com29_Wed, 17 Dec 2003 15:07:13 EST583_- kgold@watson.ibm.com (kgold) wrote in message news:... SNIP > We require a parent to attend class with each child. This insures > that the parents are at least aware of what's being taught. As > parents learn with the children, they gain a respect for Jewish > philosophy, and it carries over to home life. > > In return, the children respect that the parents are "walking the > walk", not just dropping them off. > I am curious about what you do with children whose parents both work outside the home, or parents with more than one child. If a [...] 1969 71 55_[SCJ-PARENTING:7289] Re: Choosing a religious school...5_kgold20_kgold@watson.ibm.com29_Thu, 18 Dec 2003 10:02:21 EST540_- mom_2_one@hotmail.com (Barbara) writes: > kgold@watson.ibm.com (kgold) wrote in message > > We require a parent to attend class with each child. This insures > > that the parents are at least aware of what's being taught. As > > parents learn with the children, they gain a respect for Jewish > > philosophy, and it carries over to home life. > > > > In return, the children respect that the parents are "walking the > > walk", not just dropping them off. > > > I am curious about what you do with children whose parents both work > [...] 2041 39 67_[SCJ-PARENTING:7290] Re: Santa (was: why we don't have a tree, etc)14_Robyn Kozierok25_robynk@nautilus.shore.net29_Fri, 19 Dec 2003 12:49:16 EST373_- I don't think that is our decision to make. That is up to the child's parents. As much as it must have bothered Marjorie to know Jewish children who believed in Santa, I think she did absolutely the right thing by telling her own children, but not imposing her decision on other families. Unlike a brain tumor, belief in Santa is not fatal, even in Jewish children. [...] 2081 92 30_[SCJ-PARENTING:7291] RE: Santa19_Alexandra J Schmidt28_aschmidt@gematria.crd.ge.com29_Fri, 19 Dec 2003 12:49:58 EST333_- Aimee writes:

> I wanted to address one issue, which is that of Eliyahu. Yes, our > uncles used to distract us and take a little sip to convince us that > Eliyahu had really come. But Eliyahu doesn't do anything at the Seder > other than to drink his wine (or not) and to not announce the messianic > age. No presents. [...] 2174 97 67_[SCJ-PARENTING:7292] Re: Santa (was: why we don't have a tree, etc)6_Howian14_howian@aol.com29_Fri, 19 Dec 2003 12:51:08 EST623_- >Subject: Re: Santa (was: why we don't have a tree, etc) >From: Alexandra J Schmidt aschmidt@gematria.crd.ge.com >Date: 12/14/2003 6:41 AM Iran Standard Time >Message-id: <200312101916.hBAJGGZ08187@gematria.crd.ge.com> > >> The other day, we had a Christian friend over (both girls are about four >> years old). I heard the two of them having a conversation about Santa >> Claus -- the friend was talking about how Santa would come to her house, >> and my daughter was explaining that Santa doesn't come to our house >> because we're Jewish. The other girl was incredulous and then started >> feeling sorry for her. [...] 2272 95 28_[SCJ-PARENTING:7295] Eliyahu13_Aimee Yermish21_ayermish@alum.mit.edu29_Mon, 22 Dec 2003 10:58:37 EST568_- Alexandra writes:

> Well, there were presents earlier when the afikomen > was retrieved. ;)

When I was a kid, the afikomen rewards were rarely more than a silver dollar. Today, at my own Seder, I do make sure there are gifts for the children, but it's always a Judaic book of some kind (picked out in advance for the kids we know will be there), plus the right for the finder to designate a charity of their choice to receive a donation. No bicycles, no dollhouses, nothing to make Pesach a "present-giving" holiday. And the presents are not from [...] 2368 103 30_[SCJ-PARENTING:7296] Re: Santa15_Fred Rosenblatt15_fredr5@juno.com29_Mon, 22 Dec 2003 14:56:01 EST572_- Alexandra J Schmidt wrote in message news:<200312161402.hBGE2mW11022@gematria.crd.ge.com>... > Aimee writes: > > > I wanted to address one issue, which is that of Eliyahu. Yes, our > > uncles used to distract us and take a little sip to convince us that > > Eliyahu had really come. But Eliyahu doesn't do anything at the Seder > > other than to drink his wine (or not) and to not announce the messianic > > age. No presents. > > Well, there were presents earlier when the afikomen was retrieved. ;) > > [...] > > Eliyahu is not that [...] 2472 82 32_[SCJ-PARENTING:7297] Re: Eliyahu15_Fred Rosenblatt15_fredr5@juno.com29_Mon, 22 Dec 2003 19:53:45 EST577_- "Aimee Yermish" wrote in message news:<1071929172scjp-submit@scjp.jewish-usenet.org>... > Alexandra writes: > > > Well, there were presents earlier when the afikomen > > was retrieved. ;) > > When I was a kid, the afikomen rewards were rarely more than a silver > dollar. Today, at my own Seder, I do make sure there are gifts for the > children, but it's always a Judaic book of some kind (picked out in > advance for the kids we know will be there), plus the right for the > finder to designate a charity of their choice to receive a donation. [...] 2555 56 32_[SCJ-PARENTING:7298] Re: Eliyahu15_Claire Petersky26_cpetersky@mouse-potato.com29_Mon, 22 Dec 2003 22:30:52 EST454_- > Again, I *really* think that someday he will arrive to announce the > Moshiach. Not necessarily at the Seder, but I still give a little > sigh of disappointment every year when he doesn't come.

He could never make it through Security at my sister-in-law's gated community. What, an old Middle-Eastern looking man dressed in goodness-knows-what, wanting to come to her house? Not unless he had ID and was on the list of approved visitors. [...] 2612 175 55_[SCJ-PARENTING:7299] Re: Choosing a religious school...0_26_aschmidt@gematria.crdgecom29_Tue, 23 Dec 2003 13:15:15 EST373_- Hi Jennifer--

You sound very impacted by your experience with after-school Hebrew school programs ("victim", "foredoom" etc.). There are some very real issues and concerns I have about them too, but you make some generalizations that are, I think inaccurate. They may also reflect realities that were more relevant when you and I were kids than they are now. [...] 2788 63 78_[SCJ-PARENTING:7300] Re: Cards to American Jewish soldiers serving in Iraq and15_Claire Petersky26_cpetersky@mouse-potato.com29_Thu, 25 Dec 2003 19:42:04 EST349_- > Our youth are interested in sending holiday cards (Purim, if we get our acts > together soon enough; Passover if we don't) to Jewish soldiers serving in > the US Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Does anyone here know of an > existing project we could participate in? Or if not an organized program, a > more informal way to send them? [...] 2852 52 90_[SCJ-PARENTING:7301] Re: Cards to American Jewish soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan5_Sarah24_proudmommy@geocities.com29_Fri, 26 Dec 2003 11:12:15 EST382_- I started searching myself, and this is what I found - the website seems outdated, but there's a name and address at this site for the JWB Jewish Chaplains Council: http://www.jcca.org/JWB/pastissues/winter99/frame2.html

or this one is Chabad run: http://www.enduringtraditions.org/

It looks like they might be able to help. If you pursue this, keep us posted! [...] 2905 109 45_[SCJ-PARENTING:7303] Jewish towns in the West4_paul21_metrics@earthlink.net29_Tue, 30 Dec 2003 08:50:53 EST557_- My wife and I currently live in New York. We moved here from San Francisco so that she could complete a medical fellowship. We're considering relocating back to California in exactly one year and we're researching locations to purchase a home and put down roots. We realize no place will be ideal, but since we have some freedom to select our new spot, we'd like to choose something that meets a few, if not all of our ideal qualities. We're looking for suggestions on as many towns as possible to consider that meet as many of the criteria below as [...] 3015 48 49_[SCJ-PARENTING:7304] Re: Jewish towns in the West22_Adelle D. Stavis, Esq.21_adcstavis@comcast.net29_Tue, 30 Dec 2003 20:30:15 EST456_- Paul,

I don't know a whole lot about specific towns. I do know that your price range for a home is not going to get you anything with more than the minimal amount of land allowed by law. And less than a half hour commute to work (major University and hospital with geriatric program) combined with a town with at least one synagogue (you don't mention affiliation) is also a tall order. The one hour you later specified might be more doable. [...] 3064 53 49_[SCJ-PARENTING:7306] Re: Jewish towns in the West12_Yael Resnick22_njpmail@mindspring.com29_Wed, 31 Dec 2003 09:14:52 EST328_- Hi Paul,

I'm assuming you have personal reasons for wanting to be on the West=20 Coast, but I just wanted to let you know that Sharon, Massachusetts=20 meets pretty much every single one of your criteria (quite possibly=20 all of them) -- except that the nearest ocean is the Atlantic instead=20 of the Pacific... [...] 3118 49 40_[SCJ-PARENTING:7307] Good things kids do2_ds21_cyberjew@cyberjew.net29_Wed, 31 Dec 2003 09:16:51 EST621_- I'm looking for interesting stories about good things kids have done in their communities or families. This is for a newspaper project I'm working on, and I need inspirational stories about positive contributuions kids have made in their communities, schools, families, etc. They don't have to be very fancy - I'm not looking for stories about kids who rescued a baby from a burning building. But stories about tzedaka drives, kids who help Russian immigrant classmates understand their schoolwork, kids who organized an outing to a nursing home, etc. etc. etc. - any kind of inspirational story that could easily [...] 3168 51 49_[SCJ-PARENTING:7308] Re: Jewish towns in the West13_Andrew Maddox18_madsox2k@yahoo.com29_Wed, 31 Dec 2003 11:56:21 EST299_- Also sprach paul: : Any suggestions of towns in the West that might be a fit? Up and : coming towns are best. We're not necessary looking for a super : expensive place to live -- quality of life is much more important to : us. Below is a list of : the criteria that the ideal spot will meet: [...] 3220 58 49_[SCJ-PARENTING:7309] Re: Jewish towns in the West0_18_aschmidt@crdge.com29_Wed, 31 Dec 2003 11:57:41 EST451_- Hi Paul,

No one place has everything, obviously, but you might consider the Yolo County/Sacramento County area. Yolo has some smaller towns where you can have land and still be in commute distance to hospitals in Davis, Woodland, and Sacramento.

Only synagogue in Yolo County that I know of is in Davis (Reform). Sacto has a variety. Davis has a great downtown. Summers will definitely have runs of weather exceeding 100 degrees. [...]