1 SHAMASH.ORG /usr/www/wwwhc/listserv/archives/scj-parenting October 1996 2 62 22_Re: Status of Children19_susan (d.s.) marcus17_smarcus@nortel.ca36_Tue, 1 Oct 1996 13:18:02 -0400 (EDT)554_- In article <9609260956.ZM21527@noether.ibd.nrc.ca>, "Hadass Eviatar" wrote:

> Videtsky wrote: > > > Here I sit on the eve before Yom Kippur searching deep inside of myself > > for answers. Perhaps, you might help me find one. > > To get a proper answer, you should consult your rabbi. The net is not the place > to look for a psak. That having been said, here are my thoughts. > > > > I am under the impression that my (re) marriage to my ex wife would not be > > considered valid by Jewish Law and that future [...] 65 18 11_? Ush Pizin7_stevenj18_stevenj@netins.net36_Tue, 1 Oct 1996 15:31:28 -0400 (EDT)333_- My daughter is supposed to find out what "Ush Pizin" (sic) means. I haven't a clue. Does anyone know? Appreciate the help - Steven



* 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. 84 89 34_Re: A Kohane, Divorce & Remarriage17_Chava Willig Levy21_primerib@mail.idt.net36_Wed, 2 Oct 1996 02:35:54 -0400 (EDT)451_- I am no expert, but I believe that rabbis try very hard to use their expertise to help resolve this halachic dilemma when the need is genuine and legitimate. For example, they explore whether the original marriage - and/or divorce - was thoroughly according to halacha (Jewish law). For example, were the eidim (witnesses) "kosher"? If they find a flaw, they can use it to invalidate the marriage and/or divorce, thus eliminating the obstacle. [...] 174 106 0_5_Cindy23_gourmet@mail.utexas.edu36_Wed, 2 Oct 1996 02:37:06 -0400 (EDT)493_- In article <528k1l$oh2@earth.superlink.net>, mlecin@superlink.net says... > >Hello, > >We are expecting a baby boy in January, and I'm starting to look into >what to arrange for the Bris and Pinyan ha-Ben. I know what the >ceremonies basically are, but have lots of questions about the >details. I've never been invited to attend either one, myself. > >Does the Bris always involve choosing godparents for the child? >(My upbringing is Reform, and my brother does not have godparents.) [...] 281 56 37_ANNOUNCE: Spirit of Anne Frank Awards21_Anne Frank Center USA17_afc@annefrank.com36_Wed, 2 Oct 1996 08:04:22 -0400 (EDT)467_- NEW YORK, NY - The Anne Frank Center USA urges the public to submit nominations for its Spirit of Anne Frank Awards, which will be presented at a gala event at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, on October 28, 1996.

The Spirit of Anne Frank Awards will honor three students, one teacher, one outstanding citizen and one business or community leader who have demonstrated courage, compassion and responsibility in the face of discrimination and violence. [...] 338 49 15_Re: ? Ush Pizin17_Chava Willig Levy21_primerib@mail.idt.net36_Wed, 2 Oct 1996 08:09:09 -0400 (EDT)360_- Steven, Ushpizin means guests or hospitality in Aramaic. During the holiday of Sukkot, tradition (possibly based on the mystical writings of the Kabbalah) holds that one special guest visits our sukkah (booth) each night in the following order:

Avraham (Abraham), Yitzchak (Isaac), Yaakov (Jacob), Yosef, Moshe (Moses), Aharon (Aaron) and David. [...] 388 50 15_Re: ? Ush Pizin19_Shoshana L. Boublil30_toramada@mail.netvision.net.il36_Wed, 2 Oct 1996 08:39:41 -0400 (EDT)376_- On 1 Oct 1996 12:25:25 -0700, you wrote:

>My daughter is supposed to find out what "Ush Pizin" (sic) means. I >haven't a clue. Does anyone know? Appreciate the help - Steven [information brought from "Sefer Ha'Toda'a" Ed. Eliyahu Ki-tov]:

a. Ushpizin means guests.

b. The 7 guests are: Avrahahm; Yitzchak; Ya'akov; Yossef; Moshe; Aharon and David. [...] 439 54 15_Re: ? Ush Pizin7_MRisman15_mrisman@aol.com36_Wed, 2 Oct 1996 08:56:46 -0400 (EDT)406_- Dear Steven:

Chol Tov.

It would probably better pedagogy to direct your daughter to where she could find the info then to give it to her. Two sources which I have in my house which discuss Ushpizin (one word) are "The Complete Art Scroll Siddur" on page 720, and "The First Jewish Catalogue" on page 127. Any book with a thorough discussion of Sukkot should also have the information. [...] 494 37 33_Re: A Kohane, Divorce & Remariage16_Michael A. Leeds28_mleeds@astro.ocis.temple.edu36_Wed, 2 Oct 1996 09:06:48 -0400 (EDT)559_- I know little about the halachic implications of what you ask, but I would urge you to be ABSOLUTELY sure that you want to spend the rest of your life with your now ex-wife before you even think of pursuing this path. We often regret decisions we have made and wish we could undo them, thereby eliminating the pain associated with our decisions. Upon cooler reflection, however, we (or should I say I?) often recognize that the decision we made was the correct one and that trying to return to a past ideal only returns us to an intolerable situation. [...] 532 23 23_Help With Jewish Values13_Scott Solomon18_solomon.55@osu.edu36_Wed, 2 Oct 1996 09:06:51 -0400 (EDT)270_- Hello I am going into my first year as a Sunday School teacher. I have to teach Jewish Values. However I am having a hard time comming up with ideas for my classes. I have a wide range of ages, so any idea no matter for old or young would be greatly appreciated. [...] 556 73 54_Jewish Authenticity of "Godparents" (Was Pidyon HaBen)0_16_NinaSalk@aol.com36_Wed, 2 Oct 1996 09:06:57 -0400 (EDT)425_- I really must thank Elizabeth for taking on the delicate issue of Jewish parents designating friends or relatives as godparents for their children. Indeed these honors are NOT part of Jewish tradition but have been borrowed from Christianity. They are not harmful, but they are certainly not authentic. What is sad is how their popularity over the years has steadily eroded the power of Jewish ritual and obscured it. [...] 630 78 23_Re: Congregational Life0_18_SteffiKarp@aol.com36_Wed, 2 Oct 1996 09:07:02 -0400 (EDT)592_- To the Austin Texas congregation. Mazel tov and yasher koach on your progress. From years of Jewish involvement, let me congratulate you on planning and investigating growth. After all, what congregation isn't a split off from the one which didn't plan for some eventuality.

Our congregation, Dorshei Tzedek in W. Newton, MA is a split off from a "chavurah" which grew to 93 families from 29 in only 3 years. Guess what! Some families didn't want a rabbi and didn't want to be part of the movement to which we're affiliated and didn't want 'all those strangers' who hadn't been [...] 709 33 24_B'nai Mitzvah scheduling11_Ruth Heiges21_heiges@post.tau.ac.il36_Wed, 2 Oct 1996 09:07:11 -0400 (EDT)689_- MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-ID: From: Ruth Heiges Subject: B'nai Mitzvah scheduling

This message is in MIME format. The first part should be readable text, while the remaining parts are likely unreadable without MIME-aware tools. Send mail to mime@docserver.cac.washington.edu for more info.

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In our congregation in Tel Aviv, the solution has been the Mincha ceremony. What's more, many are happy for this option, as there is continuity into the evening celebration. [...] 743 60 23_Re: Yom Kippur blessing5_Shari15_sfr2@hooked.net36_Wed, 2 Oct 1996 09:12:27 -0400 (EDT)540_- At 03:42 PM 9/22/96 -0500, you wrote: >This blessing was the one recited by the priests in the Temple >when they blessed the people of Israel and is still done in >Orthodox (at least,a nd probably others) on Holidays when >the Kohanim bless the people. >It is a lovely custom. > >Jan, Mommy to Tovah (6), Eliana (4) and Asher (19mo) > > The Conservative prayer book for the Days of Awe also includes the blessing Jan refers to. My family also blesses our children with it each week. I love the idea of adding to it on erev [...] 804 57 15_Re: ? Ush Pizin17_Chava Willig Levy21_primerib@mail.idt.net36_Wed, 2 Oct 1996 12:34:15 -0400 (EDT)360_- Steven, Ushpizin means guests or hospitality in Aramaic. During the holiday of Sukkot, tradition (possibly based on the mystical writings of the Kabbalah) holds that one special guest visits our sukkah (booth) each night in the following order:

Avraham (Abraham), Yitzchak (Isaac), Yaakov (Jacob), Yosef, Moshe (Moses), Aharon (Aaron) and David. [...] 862 48 58_Re: Jewish Authenticity of "Godparents" (Was Pidyon HaBen)13_Louise Miller22_miller@louise.ucsd.edu36_Wed, 2 Oct 1996 13:23:24 -0400 (EDT)347_- NinaSalk@aol.com wrote: > >And by the way, while our tradition calls for Kvatter and Kvattern, there is >nothing -- other than your own fears about too many people handling a >newborn -- that would forbid the honor of having additional people pass the >child from one to the other, on the way to the mohel! > [...] 911 27 16_Caveats on Books0_16_Elizcat1@aol.com36_Wed, 2 Oct 1996 22:13:46 -0400 (EDT)408_- One general note about the Diamant book--it is basically aimed at the Reform/left wing Conservative crowd. Some of the things she covers or recommends really arent' for the more right wing Conservative or any type of Orthodox crowd. It is very egalitarian about some things (for instance feeling the need to create a girl's ceremony equal to a bris, as if a girl is somehow cheated, which she isn't). [...] 939 39 30_Creating a Tot-Shabbat Program15_Daniel P Faigin15_faigin@aero.org36_Thu, 3 Oct 1996 01:09:17 -0400 (EDT)514_- I'm in discussions with the Religious Practices Chair at my synagogue (reform) regarding establishing a Tot-Shabbat Program. I'd like some input from those at congregations that have one. In particular:

How frequent is your program? We were thinking monthly to start.

When do you hold your service? We're thinking Sat. Morning, as Friday night creates problems for working parents, as well as bumping into dinnertime, bathtime, and bedtime. A fresher toddler also has a better attention span. [...] 979 55 28_Re: B'Nai Mitzvot Scheduling10_I. Pour-El18_pourel@iastate.edu36_Thu, 3 Oct 1996 01:09:20 -0400 (EDT)570_- >> >>Our congregation (Congregation Agudas Achim in Austin, TX) is growing at >>a rate such that in a few years we expect to have more children in our >>B'nai Mitzvah class than weekends available to celebrate. A committee >>has been formed and is soliciting ideas. The chair of the committee >>(knowing that I'm an Internet geek) has asked me to solicit ideas and >>experiences from the Internet community. > Am I the last person in the world who thinks that the kid is bar/bat mitzvah on a particular day (or at least the nearest shabbat)? I find the "move the [...] 1035 46 28_Request for Book Suggestions5_Cindy23_gourmet@mail.utexas.edu36_Thu, 3 Oct 1996 01:09:25 -0400 (EDT)372_- I'm part of an interfaith couple (I'm Jewish, my husband is Lutheran), and we're expecting our first child in December. We will be raising the child Jewish. My husband has already let his parents know, and they've taken it pretty well. I'd like to find some books geared for non-Jewish relatives, particularly grandparents, that talk about raising children Jewish. [...] 1082 83 28_Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 2600_18_SteffiKarp@aol.com36_Thu, 3 Oct 1996 12:52:24 -0400 (EDT)474_- Re: Bris Godparents

As mother of 3 boys, one adopted, and lucky to have my grandfather alive at first bris, the honor of godfather went first to my grandfather, next bris the father of my husband, next bris my own father. I couldn't imagine a better way to include my grandparents at bris one, especially as I was very concerned that either my grandparents wouldn't be able travel for the bris or (worse) wouldn't want to come to the bris of an adopted child. [...] 1166 56 39_Sitting through services & ADD - update9_Dana Lear23_d.lear@cchs.usyd.edu.au36_Thu, 3 Oct 1996 14:32:01 -0400 (EDT)412_- I spoke with the rabbi on Sunday. He said it was fine for Max (8) to read his own books (even non-Jewish, non-related), which hadn't really occurred to me. And he can go in and out some, there is a little tolerance for distraction. The rabbi didn't seem to approve of Max not standing during the Amidah, for example, though. He's also welcome to go to the child care, even though it's meant for under-5s. [...] 1223 55 34_Re: Creating a Tot-Shabbat Program10_Eric Simon23_erics@access2.digex.net36_Fri, 4 Oct 1996 00:25:20 -0400 (EDT)430_- Daniel P Faigin (faigin@aero.org) wrote: : I'm in discussions with the Religious Practices Chair at my synagogue (reform) : regarding establishing a Tot-Shabbat Program. I'd like some input from those : at congregations that have one. In particular:

Wonderful!

: How frequent is your program? We were thinking monthly to start.

We started at one per month also. We've just changed it to twice-monthly. [...] 1279 55 34_Re: Creating a Tot-Shabbat Program18_Isabel D Silverman27_isilverm@umabnet.ab.umd.edu36_Fri, 4 Oct 1996 13:15:15 -0400 (EDT)621_- > Daniel P Faigin (faigin@aero.org) wrote: > : I'm in discussions with the Religious Practices Chair at my synagogue > (reform) > : regarding establishing a Tot-Shabbat Program. I'd like some input from those > : at congregations that have one. In particular: >

I have seen some good tot-shabbat programs at various shuls - the most successful include some sort of entertainment (puppet show on the parsha, story telling...), something participatory (role playing, singing songs, doing a small part of the service together - i.e. modeh ani, adon olam), and food. sometimes the rabbi comes in (takes a break [...] 1335 61 34_Re: Creating a Tot-Shabbat Program15_Robin Netherton15_robin@dgsys.com36_Mon, 7 Oct 1996 10:35:27 -0400 (EDT)364_- Daniel P Faigin (faigin@aero.org) wrote: > I'm in discussions with the Religious Practices Chair at my synagogue (reform) > regarding establishing a Tot-Shabbat Program. I'd like some input from those > at congregations that have one.

I haven't been involved in the planning, but I can offer some opinions as a parent who takes a 3yo to Tot Shabbat: [...] 1397 25 24_Teen Kibbutz program????4_Dsue14_deena@gate.net36_Mon, 7 Oct 1996 12:40:55 -0400 (EDT)465_- Hi,

Does anybody know of any teen summer programs in Israel? I am looking for a program for a teenager to go to Israel and work on a Kibbutz for the summer.

Any info would be appreciated, including advice, and recollections of what it is like. Thanks Deena

* 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. 1423 43 29_Hebrew Primer for Preschooler7_MRisman15_mrisman@aol.com36_Mon, 7 Oct 1996 15:18:22 -0400 (EDT)551_- My four and a half year old recently expressed an interest in learning to read Hebrew. He has always requested a bencher when we do kiddush so he could "read along", but last Friday night he burst into tears because he can't actually read the Hebrew. He has learned to read English very well at his (secular, Montessori) preschool, so we think he could probably handle learning to read Hebrew. There is no Jewish preschool program in our corner of rural Texas where he could learn (we want to get out of here before he is ready for school, but [...] 1467 94 45_Matrilineal Descent and Lesbian Families-long0_35_Dale.Rosenberg@st1.frbny.sprint.com36_Mon, 7 Oct 1996 17:04:08 -0400 (EDT)893_- Content-Identifier: H000018f00aac606 MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: multipart/mixed; boundary="Oi09gsFgc8G1rqCU9TWh2jT7iBUMZBJQ" From: Dale.Rosenberg@st1.frbny.sprint.com Subject: Matrilineal Descent and Lesbian Families-long

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Subject: Matrilineal Descent and Lesbian Families-long Author: Dale Rosenberg at st1 Date: 10/1/96 11:19 AM





I am a lesbian mother. My spouse and I have 3 children (Doran, age 8, Kendra 4, and Zara 18 months). They were conceived through artificial insemination with unknown donors. They do not have fathers. They have two mothers. We are their parents. [...] 1562 32 34_Re: Creating a Tot-Shabbat Program4_Skc312_skc3@aol.com36_Mon, 7 Oct 1996 17:05:17 -0400 (EDT)552_- At Temple Emanuel in Pittsburgh PA, we have "Torah for Tots" program the 3rd Saturday of every month at 9:30 AM geared to 2-5 year olds and their families. We have a very mini-service in the sanctuary from 9:30-10:00, during which the Rabbi speaks to the children and sings some songs, and the children get to come up on the bimah. Also, the Torah is removed from the ark for the children to touch, but no reading is done. At 10:00, we go to the community room for a craft activity, storytime or something similar related to whatever holiday is [...] 1595 96 22_Re: Status of Children20_Jennifer M. Paquette13_Jfer@myna.com36_Mon, 7 Oct 1996 17:07:27 -0400 (EDT)327_- Maybe I don't quite understand the situation here, since I've just subscribed to this newsgroup and I can't seem to find the old posts, but my understanding is that you are a kohen and you have divorced your wife, who has not married another man in the meantime (since this would render her unavailable to you forever). [...] 1692 44 23_Re: Congregational Life10_David Karr13_dkarr@bbn.com36_Mon, 7 Oct 1996 17:09:45 -0400 (EDT)359_- SteffiKarp@aol.com writes: >As you can probably discern, I am quite concerned about liberal b'nai mitzvah >separating from congregations. I have been shocked to learn that many many >congregations don't have saturday services without bar / bat mitzvah, and >many many congregatoins assume the bar/bat mitzvah service is only for >invited guests. [...] [...] 1737 58 34_Re: Creating a Tot-Shabbat Program20_Irene Stern Friedman13_lexf@epix.net36_Tue, 8 Oct 1996 00:03:13 -0400 (EDT)575_- My synagogue has a monthly young family service. It is held on Friday night because on Shabbat morning the space and clergy needed are taken. That is on Shabbat Junior Congregation uses the chapel and the adult service is in the main sanctuary and the Cantor is too. The Cantor leads the Young Family service. The children get to recognize the Cantor and Rabbi.The service lasts from 7pm to 7:30pm, using songs and sometimes puppets. They sing songs appropriate to Shabbat or the holiday soon to come, which are easy enough. They learn the Shma and sing that, and Ain [...] 1796 48 27_[Fwd: [Fwd: Jewish values]]18_Shira Rachel Maled15_gjmmmc@qnis.net36_Tue, 8 Oct 1996 00:03:20 -0400 (EDT)656_- Re: Scott, new to teaching Sunday religious school-

I direct the k'tanim program at our shul, rather than Sunday religious school, but I think some of the same material applies. Our group ranges from mature two year olds all the way through third grade...quite a challenge! I base most of our classes upon the weekly Parsha. For example:Ki Tetze (Deut 21:10-25:19), Haftorah (Isaiah 54:1-10). This portion deals with parents being fair to their children, children honoring their parents,and Jews being kindly caretakers of animals. The values discussed would be honor, obedience,kindness, stewardship, etc.. I would typically have at least 2 [...] 1845 76 34_Re: Creating a Tot-Shabbat Program14_Robyn Kozierok16_robyn@ai.mit.edu36_Tue, 8 Oct 1996 00:03:30 -0400 (EDT)443_- In article , Daniel P Faigin wrote: >I'm in discussions with the Religious Practices Chair at my synagogue (reform) >regarding establishing a Tot-Shabbat Program. I'd like some input from those >at congregations that have one. In particular:

We've just joined a synagogue (Conservative) and we've only been to 1 Tot-Shabbat, but I can answer some of you questions anyhow. [...] 1922 34 57_How to help bridge the gaps with non-Jewish spouse-elects0_15_Rugaard@aol.com36_Tue, 8 Oct 1996 00:03:39 -0400 (EDT)527_- Hello. My name is Miriam, though I am writing from a friend's account. I am having a hard time trying to discuss Judaism and its importance to me with my boyfriend who is not Jewish. It's not that I don't know enough about Judaism, or that I have a hard time talking about it. But I can't seem to express to him the importance of the cohesion of the Jewish people, or the bond that Jews feel when they meet another Jew anywhere in the world. The closest he can understand is meeting a fellow Swede in another country. I [...] 1957 32 52_Names for a sibling for Miriam or is this too weird?9_J.F. Klau22_feldklau@earthlink.net36_Tue, 8 Oct 1996 00:03:46 -0400 (EDT)533_- Hi all,

We are in the happy position of expecting a sibling for our daughter, Miriam, in December. My husband and I have been mulling over various names, and one of the ones we are considering, should we be blessed with a son, is Aaron. Now, we like using Biblical names, but I think it might be a little strange to have siblings named Miriam and Aaron. I plan to ask our rabbi whether there is any proscription against it (I wouldn't expect so, but I figure I'll ask) But I do think it might be a little weird. Anyone [...] 1990 89 34_Jewish Baby/Christian grandparents15_Irene Bleiweiss16_IBLEIWEI@fcc.gov36_Tue, 8 Oct 1996 00:43:42 -0400 (EDT)590_- This is in response to Cindy, who is expecting her first child. She asks for ideas to help her husband's Christian parents who have very limited experience with Judaism.

First, congratulations to you and your husband. May the baby be born at a good hour.

I too am intermarried. My husband (raised Catholic) and I have two Jewish children. Like your in-laws, my husband's family tries hard to recognize that I and the kids are Jewish with things like greeting cards. But there are still things that they do not understand. Like you, our families are many miles away and [...] 2080 27 28_Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 26411_Ruth Heiges21_heiges@post.tau.ac.il36_Tue, 8 Oct 1996 08:55:15 -0400 (EDT)451_- From: Ruth Heiges Subject: Re: Teen kibbutz program

> 2) Teen Kibbutz program???? > by deena@gate.net (Dsue)

The kibbutzim do not accept volunteers under the age of 18.

Ruth heiges@post.tau.ac.il





* 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. 2108 48 33_Re: Teaching child to read hebrew10_Marc Davis15_mdavis@infi.net36_Tue, 8 Oct 1996 09:51:27 -0400 (EDT)614_- MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Marc Davis Subject: Re: Teaching child to read hebrew

My children go to a jewish days school, and they learned to read from a book that you mentioned the Bah, Beh, Bay...etc. The book really works. I teach an enrichment program in a preschool and when the children there are ready to read and have problems, I do the same thing with the short vowels. Of course I don't use jewish words, but I tell them to make nonsense words and they get the sounding of the letters. (some of these [...] 2157 52 28_Jewish Child Afraid of Satan0_21_Anonymous@SHAMASH.ORG36_Wed, 9 Oct 1996 02:50:17 -0400 (EDT)596_- [Moderator note: the poster requested that we post this anonymously, so please post any responses.]

I would appreciate the group's help on some Jewish writings, stories, or objects that might help my 7 year old child, who is afraid of Satan. She heard a song in which the devil tried to trick someone. I've tried various approaches to calm her fears (including treating it as a "Monsters under the Bed" fear). The only thing that seemed to work was when I used a religion-based approach. But my knowledge of this subject is woefully inadequate. It was never discussed in synagogue. [...] 2210 73 23_Re: Congregational Life19_Shoshana L. Boublil30_toramada@mail.netvision.net.il36_Wed, 9 Oct 1996 03:04:18 -0400 (EDT)313_- On a humurous note I'd like to make the following comment:

I can't imagine my kids missing a bar-mitzvah shabbos service (when they were between the ages of walking and 11).... If only to compete in collecting the candies thrown at the Bar-mitzvah boy and the rest of the male congregants...... ;-) [...] 2284 56 34_Re: Creating a Tot-Shabbat Program15_Marjorie Peskin24_mpeskin@lynx.dac.neu.edu36_Wed, 9 Oct 1996 03:10:15 -0400 (EDT)317_- At Temple Reyim in Newton MA we have Tot Shabbat weekly all year round. The average attendence is about 20 kids, with at least one parent. Tot Shabbat is for 'pre-readers', meaning from birth till +/- 5 yrs. There is also a weekly Mini-Minyan for school-age kids, and a monthly Jr COngregation for older kids. [...] 2341 49 31_The Feeling of Jewish Community15_Irene Bleiweiss16_IBLEIWEI@fcc.gov36_Wed, 9 Oct 1996 11:37:21 -0400 (EDT)333_- This is for Miriam who is trying to explain to a non-Jewish friend the common bond of Judaism that forms the basis for why she wants to raise her children Jewish. Her friend did not fully understood her point when she described it as the feeling a Swede might have upon meeting another Swede in a different part of the world. [...] 2391 46 45_Matrilineal Descent and Lesbian Families-long12_Aharon Manne17_manne@ornet.co.il36_Wed, 9 Oct 1996 12:53:15 -0400 (EDT)598_- I'm going to try to respond, despite the fact that as an observant (what you would call Orthodox) Jew and a resident of Israel it might be assumed that we have little in the way of common ground.

The question is whether a community is a collection of individuals, or something more. American Jewish synagogues are pale reflections of the dynamic communities in which Jews lived before migrating to America, but they are the vehicles which will carry American Jews to their historical destiny (whatever that may be). I don't know of any movement in American Judaism that doesn't claim [...] 2438 37 52_Names for a sibling for Miriam or is this too weird?16_Debra Fran Baker17_dfbaker@panix.com36_Wed, 9 Oct 1996 14:19:02 -0400 (EDT)541_- Hi all,

>We are in the happy position of expecting a sibling for our daughter, >Miriam, in December. My husband and I have been mulling over various >names, and one of the ones we are considering, should we be blessed with >a son, is Aaron. Now, we like using Biblical names, but I think it might >be a little strange to have siblings named Miriam and Aaron. I plan to >ask our rabbi whether there is any proscription against it (I wouldn't >expect so, but I figure I'll ask) But I do think it might be a little >weird. Anyone [...] 2476 120 49_Re: Matrilineal Descent and Lesbian Families-long10_David Roth28_droth@copper.ucs.indiana.edu36_Wed, 9 Oct 1996 14:21:26 -0400 (EDT)390_- Dear Dale and readers,

While the feelings involved in this issue are strong, I'm going to try to explain a bit more about the synagogue's position as it relates to Jewish Law. It doesn't sounds like the synagogue has explained the situation properly.

I'm going to selectively quote from the article in order to sve space Please forgive me if I misinterpret in any way. [...] 2597 28 21_pidyon haben question8_Amy Rupp25_amyr@magic.mpd.tandem.com36_Wed, 9 Oct 1996 18:28:29 -0400 (EDT)455_- OK. I asked another poster why a C-section meant no pidyon ha-ben and she suggested that it was "a boy who opens his mother's womb." Well, what about a boy who ruptures his mother's womb and then is sectioned :-) And what about twins? Like Jacob and Esau, or boy/girl twins? If the twins are delivered vaginally, and are boy/girl, does the boy have to emerge first to qualify? Likewise, if the twins are boy/boy are they both eligible for pidyon ha-ben? 2626 35 34_Re: Creating a Tot-Shabbat Program19_karen (k.a.) rivers17_riversk@nortel.ca36_Wed, 9 Oct 1996 20:16:05 -0400 (EDT)450_- Just wanted to put in my information.

We attended a tot-shabbat program at a Reform temple in town, and didn't like our experience. We are a mixed-marriage couple, and this was one of our first visits to the temple. No one said hello, not even the Rabbi. Also, the Rabbi (who lead the program) didn't talk at to the kids at a level appropriate to our child (2 years at the time.) I think the Rabbi does better at talking w/ older kids. [...] 2662 65 61_Re: How to help bridge the gaps with non-Jewish spouse-elects9_J.F. Klau22_feldklau@earthlink.net37_Thu, 10 Oct 1996 01:18:08 -0400 (EDT)565_- In article <19961004023001.WAA18680@ladder01.news.aol.com>, Rugaard@aol.com wrote:

> Hello. My name is Miriam, though I am writing from a friend's account. I > am having a hard time trying to discuss Judaism and its importance to me > with my boyfriend who is not Jewish. It's not that I don't know enough > about Judaism, or that I have a hard time talking about it. But I can't > seem to express to him the importance of the cohesion of the Jewish > people, or the bond that Jews feel when they meet another Jew anywhere in > the world. The closest [...] 2728 36 38_Re: Jewish Baby/Christian grandparents14_Mark Zeleznick26_mzeleznick@msmail2.HAC.COM37_Thu, 10 Oct 1996 01:18:23 -0400 (EDT)599_- In article , Irene Bleiweiss wrote:

> This is in response to Cindy, who is expecting her first child. She asks > for ideas to help her husband's Christian parents who have very limited > experience with Judaism. >

I am Jewish, and my wife converted to Judaism, and our home is a Jewish home. My wife's parents are not Jewish, but are not particularly religious either. They also gave the excuse that Easter and Xmas where non-religious holidays, but we explained to them we did not feel this way. We have said if they want to give gifts [...] 2765 33 32_Re: Jewish Child Afraid of Satan16_Michael & Jennye27_umdwoolf@msuvx2.memphis.edu37_Thu, 10 Oct 1996 01:18:34 -0400 (EDT)411_- My fiancee brought this message to my attention and asked that I write back to you...

It is my understanding that the Jewish view of Satan is this:

Satan is an angel of the same stature as Michael, Raphael, etc. and it is simply Satan's "job" to be the "angel of death." What this means is that when G-d decides that it is someone's time to die, Satan comes and escorts the soul to heaven. [...] 2799 60 61_Re: How to help bridge the gaps with non-Jewish spouse-elects14_Howard Gershen18_howard@boxhill.com37_Thu, 10 Oct 1996 01:18:43 -0400 (EDT)583_- Miriam asked...

"...I can't seem to express to him the importance of the cohesion of the Jewish people, or the bond that Jews feel when they meet another Jew anywhere in the world. The closest he can understand is meeting a fellow Swede in another country...."

A few approaches to consider:

1. There is a tradition in Judaism, extending back to ancient times, to care for the stranger among you. There is also a tradition of keeping in touch with other Jews in the Diaspora. Since Jews are so few in number, it is important to maintain contact with other [...] 2860 51 32_Re: Jewish Child Afraid of Satan8_Jane Fox18_JFOX@MACC.WISC.EDU37_Thu, 10 Oct 1996 01:18:55 -0400 (EDT)543_- In <199610090650.CAA14338@shamash.org> Anonymous@shamash.org writes:

> > I would appreciate the group's help on some Jewish writings, stories, or > objects that might help my 7 year old child, who is afraid of Satan. She > > This is what I told her: It is unlikely that Satan or anything else bad would > ever come to her because she is good and believes in G-d. Even if he > did, she could call out to G-d for help and that would scare Satan > because G-d has more power than Satan. I told her that she could > scream something [...] 2912 25 31_Girls' names popular in Israel?14_Margie Preston21_margie%potent@gte.com37_Thu, 10 Oct 1996 02:25:44 -0400 (EDT)405_- Are there any web sites which list girls' names popular in Israel today? I've read some lists in baby name books, but the names are unfamiliar to me and it's difficult to figure out how they really sound from the transliteration. We're expecting a daughter late this month and I've been agonizing over a name since well before I became pregnant, so please - any info would be greatly appreciated!! [...] 2938 28 33_"Total Immersion" - A Great Book!17_Chava Willig Levy21_primerib@mail.idt.net37_Thu, 10 Oct 1996 10:32:36 -0400 (EDT)410_- Shalom, All! I just came across a website:

http://www.aronson.com/Judaica/total.html

that describes Total Immersion, an excellent anthology on mikvah (a practice to which many Jewish parents are dedicated) edited by Rivkah Slonim. From that page, one can access a scintillating, insightful interview with Ms. Slonim. To use the vernacular:

Check it out!

Best for 5757, Chava [...] 2967 31 56_Re: Names for a sibling for Miriam or is this too weird?14_Jan Silbermann16_js@cs.tulane.edu37_Thu, 10 Oct 1996 14:01:53 -0400 (EDT)416_- In article <199610090030.UAA25415@panix.com>, Debra Fran Baker wrote: > >I don't have any halachic insights, but I can't imagine it would be >forbidden. My rabbi, who is Orthodox and has a Chasidische background, is >named Shimon. His twin brother, also a rabbi (as well as a plumber) is >named Levi. Next to that, so long as you don't name a third son "Moshe" I >wouldn't worry about it. [...] 2999 64 46_Re: Nursing in Synagogue, was Re: Crying Rooms11_JX and Soph16_sophjxl@dnai.com37_Thu, 10 Oct 1996 17:45:08 -0400 (EDT)441_- In article <5052mb$brj@life.ai.mit.edu>, robyn@ai.mit.edu (Robyn Kozierok) wrote:

> Is there a religious problem with nursing in synagogue, if the mom is > reasonably discreet and the baby is reasonably quite. I'd be particularly > interested in the Conservative perspective, which is where we attend > services. > (It seems like it might be a more difficult question there than in Orthodox, > where the women sit separately.) [...] 3064 67 56_Re: Names for a sibling for Miriam or is this too weird?15_Adam Aptowitzer29_aaptowit@acs2.acs.ucalgary.ca37_Fri, 11 Oct 1996 00:32:33 -0400 (EDT)571_- Guess what!

I do know three siblings whose names are (in order of age): Moshe Aaron Miriam

Adam





J.F. Klau (feldklau@earthlink.net) wrote: : Hi all,

: We are in the happy position of expecting a sibling for our daughter, : Miriam, in December. My husband and I have been mulling over various : names, and one of the ones we are considering, should we be blessed with a : son, is Aaron. Now, we like using Biblical names, but I think it might be : a little strange to have siblings named Miriam and Aaron. I plan to ask : [...] 3132 35 38_Re: Jewish Baby/Christian grandparents18_Thomas A Longstaff20_tl2b+@andrew.cmu.edu37_Fri, 11 Oct 1996 00:32:34 -0400 (EDT)587_- My husbands parents are also christian. My husband just recently converted. His family is religious in their own way. They have ben very understanding of our decisions.

Tom's relatives send Isaac appropriate cards adn gifts fro the Jewish holidays. We have decided that since xmas is such a family holiday with his family we will celebrate with them. We try to be there when ever our finances allow. They send him presents and we send them presents. We have explained to Isaac that this is their holiday but they are part of our family adn we celebrate with them. However, [...] 3168 47 18_Interrelationships15_Irene Bleiweiss16_IBLEIWEI@fcc.gov37_Fri, 11 Oct 1996 09:42:07 -0400 (EDT)343_- [Moderator's note: Occasionally a post which is not particularly on charter is submitted. In this case, the post is of value to the Jewish community and is an aid to parents in an intermarriage. Therefore, this post has been approved for the informational value. Subsequent discussion of this topic should, however, remain on charter.] [...] 3216 45 26_Mitzvahs for a Bar Mitzvah19_Ilene S. Van Houter25_bk375@FreeNet.Buffalo.EDU37_Fri, 11 Oct 1996 09:59:40 -0400 (EDT)637_- MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII From: "Ilene S. Van Houter" Subject: Mitzvahs for a Bar Mitzvah



Our son is going to be a Bar Mitzvah this December and we would like the candlelighting ceremony to be meaningful. Instead of little rhymes, we want to use appropriate quotes from the Tanach, midrash, etc, as well as citing various commandments that the people being asked to light the candles exemplify and thus inspire Jake to emulate. We would appreciate it if anyone could point us to sources such as a Book of Quotations (hopefully on CD ROM) and a list of [...] 3262 96 32_Re: Jewish Child Afraid of Satan15_Robin Netherton15_robin@dgsys.com37_Fri, 11 Oct 1996 10:45:12 -0400 (EDT)539_- Anonymous@shamash.org wrote:

> I would appreciate the group's help on some Jewish writings, stories, or > objects that might help my 7 year old child, who is afraid of Satan. She > heard a song in which the devil tried to trick someone. I've tried various > approaches to calm her fears (including treating it as a "Monsters under > the Bed" fear). The only thing that seemed to work was when I used a > religion-based approach. But my knowledge of this subject is woefully > inadequate. It was never discussed in synagogue. [...] 3359 25 30_Kibbutz Programs for Teenagers15_Victoria Kelman20_vkelman@creative.net37_Fri, 11 Oct 1996 15:53:30 -0400 (EDT)437_- MIME-Version: 1.0 From: Victoria Kelman Subject: RE: SCJ-PARENTING digest 265

for the person looking for a kibbutz program for a teenager: The Israel Experience,the national "clearinghouse" for all the many and varied Israel programs for teens can be found on the web at http://www.teenisrael.org or telepjpne 212-595-7087 and ask for Paula Steisel. There are lots of options and also financial aid. [...] 3385 37 56_Re: Names for a sibling for Miriam or is this too weird?12_naomi pardue30_npardue@ezinfo.ucs.indiana.edu37_Fri, 11 Oct 1996 16:25:47 -0400 (EDT)536_- J.F. Klau (feldklau@earthlink.net) wrote: > Hi all,

> We are in the happy position of expecting a sibling for our daughter, > Miriam, in December. My husband and I have been mulling over various > names, and one of the ones we are considering, should we be blessed with a > son, is Aaron. Now, we like using Biblical names, but I think it might be > a little strange to have siblings named Miriam and Aaron. I plan to ask > our rabbi whether there is any proscription against it (I wouldn't expect > so, but I figure I'll [...] 3423 88 32_Re: Jewish Child Afraid of Satan8_Jennifer13_Jfer@myna.com37_Sun, 13 Oct 1996 03:23:18 -0400 (EDT)407_- You might try explaining that the biggest "sa-tan" (yes, adversary is a correct translation) is the adversary within oneself.

I have heard this explanation many places, although it takes some adapting for such a young child. Some parents explain to children that they have a "yetzer ha-tov" (good inclination) and a "yetzer ha-ra", an evil inclination. (all people do, even adults, really...) [...] 3512 40 30_Re: Mitzvahs for a Bar Mitzvah9_J.F. Klau22_feldklau@earthlink.net37_Sun, 13 Oct 1996 03:23:23 -0400 (EDT)499_- In article , bk375@FreeNet.Buffalo.EDU wrote:

> MIME-Version: 1.0 > Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII > From: "Ilene S. Van Houter" > Subject: Mitzvahs for a Bar Mitzvah > > We would also appreciate any suggestions on how to incorporate more > Jewish concepts into the party. [snip]

You have some really great ideas here, I will have to remember them for when our turn comes.... [...] 3553 53 61_Re: How to help bridge the gaps with non-Jewish spouse-elects8_CBreglia16_cbreglia@aol.com37_Sun, 13 Oct 1996 03:23:35 -0400 (EDT)567_- Hi Miriam,

I'm afraid that my answer to you is NOT what you wanted to hear, but I hope it saves you some heartache.

When I finally rediscovered my committment to Judaism I was already in love with and somewhat committed to a non-Jewish man. He was raised Christian, but not practicing and not interested in religion of any type (rather anti-religious). I already knew that if we broke up I would only date Jewish men from then on and that I would most likely become Orthodox. He refused to get married in a religious service, but agreed to raise [...] 3607 96 32_Re: Jewish Child Afraid of Satan9_Bob Stern23_rstern@usa.pipeline.com37_Sun, 13 Oct 1996 03:23:44 -0400 (EDT)573_- My daughter was about your daughter's age when she became unusually anxious about death. (Some elderly relatives had recently died, so it was on her mind) My assurances that it was unlikely that anything would happen to her did not ease her discomfort. I went to the public library to find some books that might give better explanations. When I showed her the books I found and told her there was a whole section devoted to the topic (in the Children's Room), she was immediately relieved to know that other children had the same concerns and never even bothered to [...] 3704 49 49_Re: Matrilineal Descent and Lesbian Families-long14_Howard Gershen18_howard@boxhill.com37_Sun, 13 Oct 1996 03:23:52 -0400 (EDT)510_- "The Forward" recently (9/27/96) had a section about infertility, and a related topic was discussed: if a heterosexual Jewish couple uses a non-Jewish surrogate mother, is the child considered Jewish? When confronted with this question, Cantor Philip Sherman (an Orthodox mohel) consulted various Orthodox rabbis on the "halachic status" of the child. The majority opinion was that the child's birth mother determined the Jewishness of the child. So, to be Jewish, the child would have to be converted. [...] 3754 35 67_Re: Helping Christians Understand the Diversity of Judaic Practices11_JX and Soph16_sophjxl@dnai.com37_Sun, 13 Oct 1996 14:34:56 -0400 (EDT)519_- In article <960829123132_512344465@emout07.mail.aol.com>, JRomjrom@aol.com wrote:

> What if the Twins Club had their sale on Good Friday for example. Perhaps > using such a scenario might help the Twin Club people understand the > situation better....Heaven knows they need to!!!!! Joanna in DC

Probaby wouldn't fly. Several years ago when I told my boss I couldn't work on Wednesday because it was Yom Kippur, he responded that it wouldn't be fair to Christians as they don't get Good Friday off. [...] 3790 62 15_Nursing in shul14_Hadass Eviatar26_eviatar@noether.ibd.nrc.ca37_Sun, 13 Oct 1996 14:34:57 -0400 (EDT)585_- Sophie wrote:

> I've breastfed discreetly (nursing top and sometimes tallit :-)) in the > following circumstances:

> =83Routinely at shabbos services both in big synogogues and in people's homes. > =83At High Holiday services. (I led services w/ Eli asleep on my shoulde= r) > =83While leyning at a friend's son's bar-mitvah (he'd fallen asleep and k= ept waking whenever I tried to detach him so I had someone else point to the text I was reading with the Yad) > =83At a community-wide Tikkun Leyl Shavuot where Eli slept in his strolle= r while I taught a shiur [...] 3853 23 56_Re: Names for a sibling for Miriam or is this too weird?10_Rick Davis12_rld@well.com37_Sun, 13 Oct 1996 15:12:40 -0400 (EDT)210_- No halachic insight... But I am Myriam and I have a brother Aaron... At one point, long after we were born, we lived in Mount Sinai, NY. My parents did not call another brother Moishe. Myriam, sister of Aaron 3877 70 49_Re: Matrilineal Descent and Lesbian Families-long5_Shari15_sfr2@hooked.net37_Mon, 14 Oct 1996 04:02:05 -0400 (EDT)662_- Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" From: Shari Subject: Re: Matrilineal Descent and Lesbian Families-long

Dale et al,

I also belong to an egalitarian conservative synagogue. We welcome all our members. Couples have an oufruf on the Shabbat before their weddings and our rabbi has expressed a willingness to officiate at covenants of love (it's not a marriage, it's not a commitment ceremony, it's permitted! :-)) At Rosh Hashana we had a "What is a Jew" sermon by a woman who is committed to Conservative Judaism despite its refusal to allow her to join the rabbinate because of her lesbiansim. [...] 3948 20 38_Re: Jewish Baby/Christian grandparents7_LuvRose15_luvrose@aol.com37_Mon, 14 Oct 1996 14:52:54 -0400 (EDT)378_- Irene, can you please post the name of the newsgroup? I am the non-Jewish half of an "intermarried" couple, and am always seeking new sources of sharing and information! Thanks -- Pam

* 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. 3969 49 13_Shalom Zachar6_frankp21_moles@frontiernet.net37_Mon, 14 Oct 1996 14:54:26 -0400 (EDT)571_- My name is Cindy, and we will be adopting our second son from Korea. When we adopted our first son, we were originally planning to sponsor a kiddush at our synagogue. We couldn't have the bris and subsequent immersion until our son was a year old. The reason for this is that Asian children are not routinely circumcised, and our son arrived at the age of 4 months.(Too old to do a circumcision without general anaesthesia. Too dangerous to use general anaesthesia in a child less than a year old unless it's a medical necessity.) Anyway, our rabbi suggested that [...] 4019 33 36_In Search of 5th Graders from Israel13_Glenn Gabbard27_ggabbard@athens.bitwise.net37_Mon, 14 Oct 1996 17:03:37 -0400 (EDT)374_- Greetings:

My son's 5th grade class here at Fiske elementary school in Lexington, Masschusetts is seeking a group of 10 and 11 year olds who would be interested in establishing an INTERNET-based partnership for the next year. The class has decided that it is very interested in learning much about Israel, particuarly from the viewpoint of children their age. [...] 4053 33 35_Re: Girls' names popular in Israel?14_Bari Nirenberg18_nirenber@shani.net37_Mon, 14 Oct 1996 21:08:30 -0400 (EDT)297_- I don't know of any web sites, but perhaps you could give us an idea of what you want (a specific letter, a specific meaning, etc.) and those of us in Israel can help you. My daughter's name is Shira, which is fairly popular here (along with Shir and Shiri) and also works well in English. [...] 4087 71 17_Re: Shalom Zachar17_Chava Willig Levy21_primerib@mail.idt.net37_Tue, 15 Oct 1996 13:15:16 -0400 (EDT)575_- Mazal tov, Cindy!

A Shalom Zachor is appropriate on the Friday night following the birth of ANY son. It's the Pidyon Haben that's only for the first-born son.

Best, Chava



frankp wrote: > > My name is Cindy, and we will be adopting our second son from Korea. > When we adopted our first son, we were originally planning to sponsor a > kiddush at our synagogue. We couldn't have the bris and subsequent > immersion until our son was a year old. The reason for this is that > Asian children are not routinely circumcised, and our son arrived [...] 4159 47 17_Re: Shalom Zachar18_Isabel D Silverman27_isilverm@umabnet.ab.umd.edu37_Tue, 15 Oct 1996 17:35:59 -0400 (EDT)337_- On the topic of shalom zachar, it is my understanding (and experience) that it is a celebration to welcome the baby boy to the world, so to speak, and is usually on the first friday night after birth - birth order, etc doesn't matter, it's for all boy babies! (some people create a shalom bat, or zeved bat for their baby girls). [...] 4207 32 30_Re: Mitzvahs for a Bar Mitzvah19_Lynne A Fitzsimmons25_lynnef@mdhost.cse.tek.com37_Tue, 15 Oct 1996 18:00:20 -0400 (EDT)372_- > We would also appreciate any suggestions on how to incorporate more > Jewish concepts into the party. [snip

Perhaps this was covered earlier, but....

The centerpieces at my nephew's upcoming Bar Mitzvah party will be Tzedakah boxes, Hadassah eye banks, preaddressed envelopes to various charities of his choice, with brochures.... You get the idea. [...] 4240 23 30_Review - G-d on the Guest List0_18_SteffiKarp@aol.com37_Tue, 15 Oct 1996 21:38:27 -0400 (EDT)469_- Quick Book Note: Putting G-d on the Guest List is by Rabbi Jeff Salkin. New edition, should be out now, October, from Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock VT. This book is available from every major bookstore, and worth ownership by those of all ages, because bar mitzvah is only one day of a life in which G-d should be on every day's guest list! Many congregations purchase and distribute this book to pre-bar/bat mitz families in 5th or 6th grade.--SteffiKarp [...] 4264 100 17_Re: Shalom Zachar8_Jennifer13_Jfer@myna.com37_Wed, 16 Oct 1996 00:58:18 -0400 (EDT)279_- A sholom zachar (or sholom zocher, sometimes called bein zachar, or, in my family, bein zucher) is usually a gathering on the Friday night following the birth of a boy. It can be held in the home of the family, or elsewhere (ie in a shul, a friend's home, or a relative). [...] 4365 62 17_Re: Shalom Zachar13_Louise Miller22_miller@louise.ucsd.edu37_Wed, 16 Oct 1996 12:32:31 -0400 (EDT)553_- Cindy - Mazel tov! What a wonderful simcha!

Now let's get down to business.

A shalom zachar is a welcoming ceremony for a baby boy, and also a consolation for him. Tradition has it that while he was in the womb, he was learning Torah with angels. Just before he was born, he was made to forget it all, and given instructions to spend the rest of his new life relearning it. This is thus the first Shabbat he will have to spend without his knowledge. It's also the only Shabbat he will ever have to spend uncircumcised and therefore [...] 4428 43 17_Bar Mitzvah books0_16_JRomjrom@aol.com37_Wed, 16 Oct 1996 23:55:45 -0400 (EDT)420_- In a message dated 96-10-16 00:05:47 EDT, you write:

>Quick Book Note: >Putting G-d on the Guest List is by Rabbi Jeff Salkin. New edition, should be >out now, October, from Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock VT. This book is >available from every major bookstore, and worth ownership by those of all >ages, because bar mitzvah is only one day of a life in which G-d should be on >every day's guest list! [...] 4472 25 33_Information re: Jewish Day School16_Leon Schwarzbaum27_wordswords@worldnet.att.net37_Wed, 16 Oct 1996 23:55:46 -0400 (EDT)142_- A friend is moving to Kalamazoo, Mich. (Really!)

Does anyone know how to locate a Jewish day school?

Please e-mail replies to: 4498 28 8_Pen Pals2_JB19_dor_l_dor@Radix.Net37_Wed, 16 Oct 1996 23:55:48 -0400 (EDT)121_- Looking for pen pals for my self-contained Hebrew school class of kids, ages 10-13 (boys and girls). Deborah :)

4527 42 56_Re: Names for a sibling for Miriam or is this too weird?23_Roni Grosz (Roni Grosz)15_guest@onb.ac.at37_Thu, 17 Oct 1996 23:47:36 -0400 (EDT)510_- Debra Fran Baker wrote: > > Hi all, > > >We are in the happy position of expecting a sibling for our daughter, > >Miriam, in December. My husband and I have been mulling over various > >names, and one of the ones we are considering, should we be blessed with > >a son, is Aaron. Now, we like using Biblical names, but I think it might > >be a little strange to have siblings named Miriam and Aaron. I plan to > >ask our rabbi whether there is any proscription against it (I wouldn't > >expect so, but I [...] 4570 27 30_Re: Mitzvahs for a Bar Mitzvah8_Jane Fox18_JFOX@MACC.WISC.EDU37_Sat, 19 Oct 1996 02:24:10 -0400 (EDT)488_- In bk375@FreeNet.Buffalo.EDU writes:

> Our son is going to be a Bar Mitzvah this December and we would like the > candlelighting ceremony to be meaningful. Instead of little rhymes, we I first heard of the candlelighting ceremony a year or two ago. It is uncommon enough that you might want to describe it to the group. I think it is done only by U.S. Reform Jews. Does anyone know how long it has been around? [...] 4598 41 28_Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 2640_18_SteffiKarp@aol.com37_Sat, 19 Oct 1996 02:25:53 -0400 (EDT)594_- I'm just getting around to returning mail after a trip to Reform Movement's commission on Religious Living.

My concern over separation of bar mitz service and 'real' service is due to facts a) often congregants are not really supposed to be at service for b'nei mitz unless invited b) b'mitz kids are learning stuff which can never be used again. For example, the b/b mitz service is one in which the child rattles off brachot and other such stuff which will never be actually uttered again if the child only attends services there, because subsequent weeks will be b'nei mitzvah [...] 4640 23 28_Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 2660_18_SteffiKarp@aol.com37_Sat, 19 Oct 1996 02:29:49 -0400 (EDT)564_- Quick reply re: parent whose child is concerned with the devil, try book: Hershel & the Hanukkah Goblins, (by Eric Kimmel) in which Hershel outsmarts the goblins in a good natured way, and town may revert to its Jewish practices. As in any well-intentioned suggestion, please read the book to yourself first, in case it would not be a good idea for your particular child. This has been out from Penguin for at least 4 or 5 years, and should be available through any synagogue or town library. Good luck. PS Golem stories are very scary, probably not a good [...] 4664 38 8_Adopting13_Newton Family17_msp@world.std.com37_Sat, 19 Oct 1996 02:31:39 -0400 (EDT)483_- Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII From: Newton Family Subject: Adopting

We are new to the list. We are an observant family (Mom and Dad, 2 boys, and a dog). We had hoped to have a larger family, but since they have not come to us, we plan to adopt.

I am wondering if anyone has had experience with "mixed" families, of birth children and adoptive children. So far, our boys are very excited about this possibility. [...] 4703 29 37_Re: Information re: Jewish Day School0_18_SteffiKarp@aol.com37_Sat, 19 Oct 1996 22:49:40 -0400 (EDT)632_- Re: Parents looking for Jewish day school in Kalamazoo (or anywhere else), look for day schools in local yellow pages. If looking for Reform or Conservative schools, call your new local regional office--probably in Detroit--for your region. For Reform call UAHC or Union of American Hebrew Congregations; for Conservative, Schechter, schools call United Synagogue of America. Ask if there are unaffiliated schools, too. New schools often take a few years to be accredited by their movements. Also, becuase of budgets, plenty of day schools do not affiliate, but offer the strong Jewish education endorsed by their movements. [...] 4733 31 25_Candlelighting Ceremonies0_16_NinaSalk@aol.com37_Mon, 21 Oct 1996 11:47:55 -0400 (EDT)375_- My husband, Rabbi Jeff Salkin, who wrote "Putting God on the Guest List" and who has thoroughly "researched" the matter, says that bar/bat mitzvah candlelighting ceremonies were invented by caterers. There is nothing authentically Jewish about them. Reform Jews do NOT have a monopoly on the practice. We've seen 'em at Reconstructionist and Conservative simchas too! [...] 4765 32 15_Israeli keypals14_Bari Nirenberg18_nirenber@shani.net37_Mon, 21 Oct 1996 13:20:05 -0400 (EDT)416_- For those interested in keypals in Israel, check out the Israel English Teachers Network at:

http://ietn.snunit.k12.il/snunit_e.html

There is a link to keypals here.

Also, you could send a message to the Israel English Teachers listserv. Unfortunately, I can't locate the address at the moment, but it is almost definitely mentioned on the web page. The list owner's name is David Lloyd. [...] 4798 18 15_Jewish adoption17_Marion Baumgarten19_marion10@tezcat.com37_Mon, 21 Oct 1996 13:21:13 -0400 (EDT)350_- I came across a web page for a Jewish adoption group calles Stars of David that might be of interest. The URL was www2.webassist.com/stars-of-david



* 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. 4817 30 19_Naming - Osna Bayla12_Haran Rashes15_haran@umich.edu37_Mon, 21 Oct 1996 14:20:41 -0400 (EDT)446_- Our third child is due in January. We plan to name her after my grandmother Arline. Grandma's hebrew name was Osna Bayla. Does anyone know the meaning of this name? Can anyone please suggest alternative names to Osna Bayla for a hebrew name. Thanks.

--------------------------------------------------------------- Haran Craig Rashes Merit Network, Inc. Internet Consultant 4251 Plymouth Road, Suite C Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105-2785 [...] 4848 71 20_Candlelight ceremony9_K Goldman20_kgold@watson.ibm.com37_Mon, 21 Oct 1996 14:45:03 -0400 (EDT)574_- SteffiKarp@aol.com writes: |> |> My concern over separation of bar mitzvah service and 'real' service is |> due to facts |> a) often congregants are not really supposed to be at service for b'nei mitz |> unless invited |> b) b'mitz kids are learning stuff which can never be used again. For |> example, the b/b mitz service is one in which the child rattles off |> brachot and other such stuff which will never be actually uttered again |> if the child only attends services there, because subsequent weeks will |> be b'nei mitzvah services of other children showing [...] 4920 28 30_Re: Mitzvahs for a Bar Mitzvah9_K Goldman20_kgold@watson.ibm.com37_Mon, 21 Oct 1996 14:46:12 -0400 (EDT)284_- JFOX@macc.wisc.edu (Jane Fox) writes: |> I first heard of the candle lighting ceremony a year or two ago. |> It is uncommon enough that you might want to describe it to the |> group. I think it is done only by U.S. Reform Jews. Does anyone know |> how long it has been around? [...] 4949 32 26_Mitzvahs for a Bar Mitzvah19_Ilene S. Van Houter25_bk375@FreeNet.Buffalo.EDU37_Mon, 21 Oct 1996 17:25:33 -0400 (EDT)660_- MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII From: "Ilene S. Van Houter" Subject: Mitzvahs for a Bar Mitzvah



>

> First, I would like to thank everyone who responded to me privately as well as on the list. I assumed that everyone was familiar with the candlelighting ceremony. Kids my age and affiliation (Conservative) had them at their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs 25 years ago. If the reception was on Shabbes afternoon, then little Israeli Flags were placed in the cake instead. My friends' children go to an Orthodox Day School (Ramaz) in Manhattan and candlelighting is status quo at those [...] 4982 72 24_Re: Candlelight ceremony0_7_???@???37_Tue, 22 Oct 1996 13:34:49 -0400 (EDT)525_- Someone wrote (sorry about loss of attribution):

| My concern over separation of bar mitzvah service and 'real' service is | due to facts | | a) often congregants are not really supposed to be at service for b'nei mitz | unless invited

I gather that some congregations are so large that there's a bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah almost every week, so they have to segregate the b'nei mitzvah services from the regular services to prevent the relatives from trampling the congregation during regular services. [...] 5055 34 56_Re: Names for a sibling for Miriam or is this too weird?14_Alice Schubach27_aa909@cleveland.Freenet.Edu37_Wed, 23 Oct 1996 01:27:34 -0400 (EDT)542_- In a previous article, Roni Grosz (Roni Grosz) says:

>My wife is a convert to Judaism. When she became Jewish she took on the >name Miriam. Her brother's name is Aaron. He is non-Jewish but happens to >have a Jewish name. We are very orthodox and so were the Rabbis and the >environment in Jerusalem my wife lived in around her conversion. No one >ever objected. My wife even went to see Rav Refael Levin who is a, maybe >_the_ world expert on Jewish names and he didn't object to her name. > >By the way, we are expecting your [...] 5090 36 30_Re: Mitzvahs for a Bar Mitzvah9_Rob Strom20_strom@watson.ibm.com37_Wed, 23 Oct 1996 01:32:02 -0400 (EDT)594_- In article <540n7p$11fm@news.doit.wisc.edu>, JFOX@macc.wisc.edu (Jane Fox) writes: |> In bk375@FreeNet.Buffalo.EDU writes: |> |> > Our son is going to be a Bar Mitzvah this December and we would like the |> > candlelighting ceremony to be meaningful. Instead of little rhymes, we |> I first heard of the candlelighting ceremony a year or two ago. |> It is uncommon enough that you might want to describe it to the |> group. I think it is done only by U.S. Reform Jews. Does anyone know |> how long it has been around? |> |> [...] 5127 48 19_Brit Milah and AIDS23_Roni Grosz (Roni Grosz)15_guest@onb.ac.at37_Wed, 23 Oct 1996 01:47:36 -0400 (EDT)440_- I am an Orthodox Jew who is expecting his first baby in March 1997. In our community (Vienna/Austria), probably as well as in most European communities, metzitza (sucking some blood out of the wound) is done by the mohel directly with his mouth. I understand that in America it is mostly done with a small glass tube in order to prevent direct contact. This practice has been the subject of a halachic dsipute since it was invented. [...] 5176 29 12_Re: Adopting16_Workmen's Circle35_a014737t@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us37_Wed, 23 Oct 1996 12:32:53 -0400 (EDT)379_- welcome to the list, and good luck to you.

let me recommend, if you have not already read it, _and hannah wept_ by rabbi michael gold. an excellent, well-written book, if somewhat on the traditional side.

you may also want to get in touch with the local or national _stars of david_ group, which is a support group for jewish adoptive and adopting families. [...] 5206 47 17_Christmas pageant13_Marsha Paiste25_mpaiste@emerald.tufts.edu37_Thu, 24 Oct 1996 07:43:08 -0400 (EDT)346_- Our town library recently abandoned the tradition of having story-hour children (ages 3-6) perform in a library-sponsored Christmas pageant.This was done, in part, because of a complaint from an anonymous Jewish parent ;-). Ours is a conservative community and many library staff members and patrons were very unhappy about this decision. [...] 5254 31 54_REGIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT- Miami Boys Nov17 Asbury Park,NJ12_Victor Grazi13_victor@iy.com37_Thu, 24 Oct 1996 07:43:15 -0400 (EDT)388_- (*Moderator's Note - This is a regional announcement. For any further discussion, please email directly to the poster. Thank you.)

Join Congregation Ohel Simha for an evening with the world famous Yerachmiel Begun and the Miami Boys Choir. Sun Nov. 17, 1996 at the Paramount Theater on the Ocean in Asbury Park, NJ (20 minute drive from Lakewood, 1.25 hours from NY). 7 PM. [...] 5286 34 13_First Letters0_16_Elizcat1@aol.com37_Thu, 24 Oct 1996 10:44:47 -0400 (EDT)337_- This is just a general question looking for the origin of something. It is my understanding that over time it has become accepted by some branches of Judaism that if they want to name a child for a deceased relative of blessed memory, that taking the first letter of the name (using and "R" name for Rivkah, "S" for Schmuel, etc) [...] 5321 78 21_Re: Christmas pageant14_Susan Feingold23_feingold@mindspring.com37_Fri, 25 Oct 1996 00:15:35 -0400 (EDT)551_- Marsha - I know exactly how you feel. I suggest that you post this question in the K12 teachers newsgroup for suggestions. Last week I saw several posts from teachers looking for new winter play ideas, so maybe you can get information from them. (I don't remember the exact name of the news group but can look it up if you need me to.) If they still want to perform the "secular" christmas play, I would continue to complain and even talk to the head of the county/district library system about it. Or, maybe they could modify the secular play [...] 5400 58 17_Re: First Letters9_K Goldman20_kgold@watson.ibm.com37_Fri, 25 Oct 1996 09:19:02 -0400 (EDT)539_- Elizcat1@aol.com writes: |> |> This is just a general question looking for the origin of something. It |> is my understanding that over time it has become accepted by some |> branches of Judaism that if they want to name a child for a deceased |> relative of blessed memory, that taking the first letter of the name |> (using and "R" name for Rivkah, "S" for Schmuel, etc) |> |> My rabbi (I am modern Orthodox) says this is totally unacceptable. I am |> just wondering where the practice came from, and if people do this or not. |> [...] 5459 68 28_Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 28010_Marc Davis15_mdavis@infi.net37_Fri, 25 Oct 1996 12:10:13 -0400 (EDT)494_- MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Marc Davis Subject: Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 280

> For the pa st 2 years the story-hour kids performed a "secular" Christmas > play which emphasizes the joy of giving. I fear that if the same play is > performed annually, it too, will become a treasured tradition (and one > which may be more difficult to end than the clearly unconstitutional > religious play). [...] 5528 43 13_CTTS: 4.2 yrs15_Marjorie Peskin24_mpeskin@lynx.dac.neu.edu37_Fri, 25 Oct 1996 13:43:19 -0400 (EDT)506_- Graham has conjunctivitis and had to stay home from school. However, I had a lot of work that had to be done, so I took him to work with me all morning. I work on the Charles River in Boston, and we see the "Duck Tours" go into the river from my office. These are amphibious vehicles that drive tourists all over the city, and then plunge into the river for a bit of a boat trip. They are pretty cool, especially if you are 4. We also see Trolley tours go by, and Graham was quite interested in the [...] 5572 59 17_Re: First Letters12_naomi pardue30_npardue@ezinfo.ucs.indiana.edu37_Fri, 25 Oct 1996 13:51:19 -0400 (EDT)378_- Elizcat1@aol.com wrote:

> This is just a general question looking for the origin of something. It is > my understanding that over time it has become accepted by some branches of > Judaism that if they want to name a child for a deceased relative of blessed > memory, that taking the first letter of the name (using and "R" name for > Rivkah, "S" for Schmuel, etc) [...] 5632 41 17_Re: First Letters0_18_JGoldmeier@aol.com37_Fri, 25 Oct 1996 18:32:41 -0400 (EDT)568_- Well, Mazal tov on your child, ( even if she's older already). This issue has been a big debate in my family for years. My wife's family, and some of mine, ( mostly irreligious, no not reform, they don't even know that much, but even her modern orthodox/traditional sister) follows this practice. One cousin named a baby andrew after an uncle adolph , ( and even changed the hebrew name). The sister just named a girl eliana devorah ( lauren deborah) after a grandfather named Eliezer (lacer). In fact, my wifes family was a little dissapointed with us when we [...] 5674 39 28_Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 26617_Chava Willig Levy21_primerib@mail.idt.net37_Sun, 27 Oct 1996 09:31:40 -0500 (EST)450_- Just wanted to add that I read "Herschel and the Hanukkah Goblins" to my kids recently. I owned the book for somme time and hesitated to share it with my (then) 4 and 6 year old because the illustrations are quite scary. I worked around it by giving the goblins funny voices, instead of ominous ones; now that I think back, I think I gave them Brooklyn accents. That seemed to take the focus away from the visual and place it on the auditory. [...] 5714 54 28_Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 28020_Irene Stern Friedman13_lexf@epix.net37_Sun, 27 Oct 1996 09:36:08 -0500 (EST)343_- Someone wrote: *> For the pa st 2 years the story-hour kids performed a "secular" Christmas *> play which emphasizes the joy of giving. I fear that if the same play is *> performed annually, it too, will become a treasured tradition (and one *> which may be more difficult to end than the clearly unconstitutional *> religious play). * [...] 5769 28 43_seeking material 4 'father's letter to son'0_22_catalyst@interhelp.com37_Sun, 27 Oct 1996 13:37:51 -0500 (EST)372_- My son is graduating HS this coming month.

I am seeking material from any religious, philosophical, literary sources -- along lines of 'ethical wills' compendium in Jewish Book stores Marian Wright Edelman's book to her children...

re timely - nonintrusive advice that father can give with grace to son on this occasson that is relevant to our times. [...] 5798 38 22_They Just Don't Get It12_Ron Kritzman12_ronk@ais.net37_Sun, 27 Oct 1996 16:47:16 -0500 (EST)565_- Irene Stern Friedman wrote: > They learned as early as first grade that we are a minority and that > teachers can be wrong.

The teachers can be wrong, and often are.

When our eldest (now 14) was 3 I was flattered when we received a note from the day care center, asking if we could supply some information regarding Chanukah. My wife and I willingly provided lots of informaton, which apparently they didn't read at all. Imagine our surprise when we came in to pick up our son and found a bulletin board called "Christmas Around the World". On [...] 5837 43 25_Ron:They Just Dont Get it10_Marc Davis15_mdavis@infi.net37_Mon, 28 Oct 1996 10:47:18 -0500 (EST)581_- Ron, I tried to reply to you directly but could not because i wrote your email address incorrectly.

I think the best decision you made was to take your kids out. I have mine in jewish day school here in Virginia Beach, Va and have never regretted my decision.

They get a wonderful sense of themselves and their self-esteem and self-worth is wonderful. Kids, at that young age, need to feel accepted and when they are with children and teachers who are not sensitive to their needs, they will do anything to be accepted, drugs, religion, dressing, you name it. [...] 5881 34 51_looking for machine readable Hebrew baby names list25_Chana Lajcher JCT Library25_lajcher@brachot.jct.ac.il37_Mon, 28 Oct 1996 22:14:36 -0500 (EST)406_- I regularly receive requests for lists of Hebrew baby names and was hoping someone knows of a list somewhere that's machine readable (in Hebrew or transliterated) that I could pull.

It would save constantly xeroxing the Even Shoshan dictionary, although it does have a terrific list.

Thanks,

Chana Lajcher - Reference Librarian Jerusalem College of Technology Jerusalem, Israel [...] 5916 31 21_Kindergarten question0_36_metzgerda@libraryserver.lib.csus.edu37_Tue, 29 Oct 1996 00:00:40 -0500 (EST)645_- For those of you whose children attend Jewish Day Schools: Do your kindergaren children learn the aleph bet? Not just the song, but to recognize and write the actual letters? What kind of Judaic Studies curriculum do you have? Please respond to me directly as time is critical. Thanks, Debbie dmetzger@csus.edu ************************************************************************* Deborah Metzger Associate Science Librarian California State University, Sacramento 2000 Jed Smith Drive Sacramento, CA 95819-6039 phone: (916) 278-7509 e-mail: dmetzger@csus.edu ************************************************************************* [...] 5948 47 17_Re: First Letters0_18_rude1@vnet.ibm.com37_Tue, 29 Oct 1996 00:06:16 -0500 (EST)609_- In <961025175307_1582179138@emout18.mail.aol.com>, JGoldmeier@aol.com writes: >

I've been reading this discussion with interest and will put in my own opinion. I have twin boys and had a discussion with my Rabbi about the names. I am Conservative but my childhood Rabbi is Modern Orthodox and I respect his opinion greatly (which is why I consulted him). He told me that there really aren't any laws regarding names (so I don't understand why your Rabbi was so rigid) but that there are definitely customs which seem to vary depending upon who you speak to and he helped me work through some of [...] 5996 70 23_They just don't get it!15_Marjorie Peskin24_mpeskin@lynx.dac.neu.edu37_Tue, 29 Oct 1996 00:06:22 -0500 (EST)617_- MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Marjorie Peskin Subject: They just don't get it!

> > Its not that they are trying to convert anyone or to be deliberately > anti Jewish. Its more than they "just don't get it". > > Ron > I think you're correct Ron. They don't get it. My kids are in a Jewish pre-kindergarten this year, and I'm looking at day schools (BOY, are they expensive!) for next year. One big deciding factor is that my neighbor's kids are in our local public school. The first year we lived there, the [...] 6067 25 41_Special Needs kids and Jewish Day Schools0_17_David2505@aol.com37_Tue, 29 Oct 1996 00:21:15 -0500 (EST)390_- I recall a while back that there was a thread on issues relating to helping special needs kids attending Jewish Day Schools. At the time I wasn't paying enough attention, and this is now an area that I am trying to gather information about. If any of the people who were involved in the original discussion can contact me, either on-list or by e-mail, I would greatly appreciate it. [...] 6093 26 29_Re: My Daughter's Drama Class15_Richard A. Ifft20_raifft@ix.netcom.com37_Tue, 29 Oct 1996 03:32:07 -0500 (EST)485_- My daughter has a part in a play in her drama class, which is run by a city. It's not a religious play, but at one point all the characters say, "Hail Mary." My daughter says she refuses to say that, and she wants to ask the drama coach to remove that part. I back her on both her decisions. My husband, however, says that if it's a line in a play, there is nothing wrong with her saying it, and certainly nothing wrong with her being in a play in which those lines are spoken. [...] 6120 35 25_Re: Kindergarten question14_Jan Silbermann16_js@cs.tulane.edu37_Tue, 29 Oct 1996 11:08:01 -0500 (EST)388_- In article <183A5CA2AAF@libraryserver.lib.csus.edu>, wrote: >For those of you whose children attend Jewish Day Schools: >Do your kindergaren children learn the aleph bet? Not just the song, but to >recognize and write the actual letters? What kind of Judaic Studies >curriculum do you have? Please respond to me directly as time is critical. [...] 6156 25 23_Re: Brit Milah and AIDS13_Solomon Sabel23_ssabel@worldnet.att.net37_Tue, 29 Oct 1996 21:14:56 -0500 (EST)464_- > relatively high risk of contracting any blood transmitted disease from > the baby, especially AIDS. As such I see it as a risk to any child > circumcised by him. Other parents may not think about it or maybe think > that be probability is very low. I have heard that Reb Moshe Feinstein ZTZ"L ruled that unless there is a specific reason To suspect the desease, or in the case of a non observant family, metzitza should be performed in the normal manner. [...] 6182 62 45_Fwd: Re: Fwd: Rejection of Submission to SCJP15_Richard A. Ifft20_raifft@ix.netcom.com37_Tue, 29 Oct 1996 22:22:00 -0500 (EST)544_- > Re: Halloween Quandary. > > I have always felt, deep down, that Halloween was not an appropriate > holiday for Jewish children to celebrate. But I always had let my > daughter go trick or treating before this year, because she really > wanted to and because I couldn't think of a very good reason for not > allowing her to. > > But this week I read the following in The Washington Jewish Week > "Jews often became a substitute for ghosts and goblins as Halloween > symbols of evil > incarnate, but as flesh-and-blood beings that could [...] 6245 31 28_Living Wills (Ethical Wills)0_18_SteffiKarp@aol.com37_Wed, 30 Oct 1996 00:13:22 -0500 (EST)386_- Re: Ethical Wills

Smart idea, Dad, on giving your son some good advice now. You won't regret the experience! There's outreach and inreach in ethical wills.

Try: So that your values live on from Rabbi Jack Riemer (JewishLights publishing) Also try The Kosher Pig by Rabbi Richard Israel (Torah Aura/Alef PRoductions)

The most important thing is that you try! [...] 6277 59 29_Re: My Daughter's Drama Class21_Jennifer M . Paquette13_Jfer@myna.com37_Wed, 30 Oct 1996 03:05:55 -0500 (EST)287_- To put it in a way that may sound blunt, there is no way to say something without SAYING it...

You can say "it's just in a play, there's nothing wrong with it", but she'd still be saying a line from the Catholic liturgy, as would any actor who goes along with saying it... [...] 6337 40 29_Jewish Education and its cost15_Georganne Burke19_nbcnet@inforamp.net37_Wed, 30 Oct 1996 08:52:07 -0500 (EST)458_- Well, in response to my own concerns and the continuing chorus of concerns that I hear on this list as many others, I am pleased to tell you that we have been able to make our Yeshiva work with a $3600 tuition per student per year. We have raised additional funds, we pay our teachers a fair but not exorbitant wage, we make use of parents, community resources, University resources, and anything we can get our hands on to provide our boys with what [...] 6378 67 23_Re: Brit Milah and AIDS18_Isabel D Silverman27_isilverm@umabnet.ab.umd.edu37_Wed, 30 Oct 1996 11:39:26 -0500 (EST)315_- I did not see the original post on this topic, but it did catch my eye. Among most of the orthodox mohel's that I know of, metzitza is performed using a pipette, and is deemed 100% kosher. The pipette is used to suck up the blood, withourt any blood actually reaching the mohel's mouth (& mucous membranes). [...] 6446 35 38_"Hail Mary" said in a drama class play0_35_Dale.Rosenberg@st1.frbny.sprint.com37_Wed, 30 Oct 1996 14:38:15 -0500 (EST)612_- Content-Identifier: H000018f00b44daf From: Dale.Rosenberg@st1.frbny.sprint.com Subject: "Hail Mary" said in a drama class play





It seems to me that the essence of being an actor in a play is that the words aren't yours. If the play has a religious theme that is inappropriate for a publicly funded class, then your complaint is valid. However, from what you said, it does not, and your only concern is that a particular line is not in concert with your daughter's and your family's religious beliefs. If she does not wish to say something in the play she would not say in real life, [...] 6482 36 40_Re: Fwd: Rejection of Submission to SCJP16_Meredith Warshaw17_mwarshaw@tiac.net37_Wed, 30 Oct 1996 14:40:00 -0500 (EST)457_- Beth Greenfeld wrote: > I am now in a quandary as to whether she should be allowed to go trick > or treating this year. I understand these connections are probably > historical only, and I hesitate to impart to my daughter even more > stories of pogroms and murders of Jews. How does everyone else feel > about letting Jewish children celebrate Halloween, especially in light > of the information above, which was certainly new to me? [...] 6519 82 18_Jewish Day schools10_Marc Davis15_mdavis@infi.net37_Wed, 30 Oct 1996 14:41:59 -0500 (EST)598_- MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Marc Davis Subject: Jewish Day schools

> > I'd like to know how parents that feel as I do, that ALL the 'holiday' > trappings should be left out of the classroom, communicate this right > from the start to the teachers? > > I feel compelled to send my kids to day school even though it is way > beyond my reach financially because I just could not handle always > feeling put-upon. I don't like feeling victimized, and yet in this > situation I do. I just hate being [...] 6602 70 31_Re: First Letters / Baby naming21_Jennifer M . Paquette13_Jfer@myna.com37_Wed, 30 Oct 1996 18:30:41 -0500 (EST)548_- >>I've been reading this discussion with interest and will put in my own opinion. >>I have twin boys and had a discussion with my Rabbi about the names. I am >>Conservative but my childhood Rabbi is Modern Orthodox and I respect his >>opinion greatly (which is why I consulted him). He told me that there really >>aren't any laws regarding names (so I don't understand why your Rabbi was so >>rigid) but that there are definitely customs which seem to vary depending upon >>who you speak to and he helped me work through some of the issues. [...] 6673 35 22_Re: Halloween and Jews0_16_EMADIANE@aol.com37_Wed, 30 Oct 1996 18:31:49 -0500 (EST)533_- Our children are 4 and 6 1/2. They attend/ed Jewish pre-school and now the oldest is in day school. In our home we have approached Halloween in a manner similar to the way we approach Christmas. Our children know that these are not Jewish holidays; we as Jews do not celebrate them in our homes and in our family. So far, the kids have been very accepting of this. Costumes? We have our costume time at Purim (but now can be the time to buy!). Treats? Have some at home, where we control the quantity and quality. (We do give [...] 6709 37 25_Re: Kindergarten question12_Arlene Rimer17_arimer@wimsey.com37_Wed, 30 Oct 1996 18:32:39 -0500 (EST)333_- metzgerda@libraryserver.lib.csus.edu wrote: >For those of you whose children attend Jewish Day Schools: >Do your kindergaren children learn the aleph bet? Not just the song, but to >recognize and write the actual letters? What kind of Judaic Studies >curriculum do you have? Please respond to me directly as time is critical. [...] 6747 38 28_Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 28014_Bari Nirenberg18_nirenber@shani.net37_Wed, 30 Oct 1996 18:37:59 -0500 (EST)410_- I suppose I was really lucky to have grown up on Long Island. We never faced difficulties in school regarding Jewish holidays or traditions, as much of the population in our area (including many of the teachers in the public school system) were Jewish. Also, we had vacation from school on all major Jewish holidays. However, when I went away to college (in Binghamton, New York), I did have a bit more [...] 6786 26 29_Re: My Daughter's Drama Class10_Linda Ward27_dilemma@dilemma.demon.co.uk37_Wed, 30 Oct 1996 18:38:55 -0500 (EST)353_- In article <54r6ov$nn2@sjx-ixn3.ix.netcom.com>, Richard A. Ifft wrote: > You don't say what the play is. Is your daughter objecting to the word 'hail' or 'Mary'. I can't see what there is to object to. As far as I am aware the word 'hail' is a greeting used in Roman times as a means of greeting. Please enlighten me. 6813 38 29_Re: My Daughter's Drama Class0_36_Marian.Stern@dec.mailnet.state.ny.us37_Wed, 30 Oct 1996 18:41:52 -0500 (EST)549_- When she was in the seventh grade, my daughter (Elisabeth, now 16) was Maria in West Side Story. There was a scene where Maria found out Tony killed her brother and she dropped to her knees and stared to pray. The director (a Jewish woman, by the way) wanted my daughter to cross herself. I explained to my daughter that even though we could certainly separate acting from real life, it was completely unnecessary to cross herself in a Junior High School production. I left it up to her. She did not do it! When she is a professional actress [...] 6852 87 23_Re: Brit Milah and AIDS21_Jennifer M . Paquette13_Jfer@myna.com37_Thu, 31 Oct 1996 00:48:40 -0500 (EST)454_- >>I am an Orthodox Jew who is expecting his first baby in March 1997. In >>our community (Vienna/Austria), probably as well as in most European >>communities, metzitza (sucking some blood out of the wound) is done by >>the mohel directly with his mouth. I understand that in America it is >>mostly done with a small glass tube in order to prevent direct contact. >>This practice has been the subject of a halachic dsipute since it was >>invented. [...] 6940 86 28_Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 2840_14_AlKeis@aol.com37_Thu, 31 Oct 1996 12:38:35 -0500 (EST)619_- In a message dated 96-10-30 00:12:48 EST, Marjorie Peskin
<< I'd like to know how parents that feel as I do, that ALL the 'holiday' trappings should be left out of the classroom, communicate this right from the start to the teachers? >>

My daughter started out in a private preschool & kindergarten that was about 95% black and/or biracial. Holidays were actually a low key issue. There were a lot of muslims, buddhists, & jehovah's witnesses, so the school was reasonably sensitive to children of differing beliefs, even though she was the only Jew. BUT she hated [...]