1 SHAMASH.ORG /usr/www/wwwhc/listserv/archives/scj-parenting November 1996 2 34 27_Re: They just don't get it!6_SharBR14_sharbr@aol.com36_Fri, 1 Nov 1996 07:03:58 -0500 (EST)595_- It's really true in most cases. I am a preschool teacher and get so sick of supposedly secular schools that expect their teachers to teach Christianity come December. I now teach in a Jewish preschool and so much of my stress dissappeared! I also teach some workshops for other early childhoon educators. One is called "From Santa to Snowflakes: keeping religious bias out of your winter curriculum." When I presented it at a conference last spring about half the participants walked out! They were so offended when I said that I didn't think it was appropriate to celebrate Christmas in [...] 37 35 19_Holidays in schools14_Hadass Eviatar26_eviatar@noether.ibd.nrc.ca36_Fri, 1 Nov 1996 08:09:07 -0500 (EST)558_- Rafi's daycare is an interesting case in point. The baby room is extremely diverse (there are two Jamaican babies, one Korean, one Chinese, one Jewish and two WASPs), and the caregivers there do not put up Xmas decorations (although they did put up some Halloween stuff). The preschool side is equally diverse, but they do all kinds of Halloween and Xmas things. The solution, for us, is to use this daycare until he is two years old, and then to switch to the Jewish one, followed by dayschool. It's going to be hard enough to go against the flow as [...] 73 40 29_Re: My Daughter's Drama Class9_K Goldman20_kgold@watson.ibm.com36_Fri, 1 Nov 1996 09:57:48 -0500 (EST)511_- raifft@ix.netcom.com (Richard A. Ifft ) writes: |> 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 [...] 114 51 28_Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 2840_16_Elizcat1@aol.com36_Fri, 1 Nov 1996 09:57:49 -0500 (EST)538_- I am going to follow about three threads here....

First, about Halloween. It is, like many other things that Jews have "added" to the pot, a Christian based celebration. It was considered the night for demons and devils to try and get out to do their bad stuff because in older days, the following day, November 1, was All Saint's Day, and the demons would be out of luck for another year. So right there, it doesn't have much to do with Judaism. I don't doubt the rest of what the one poster wrote, about it being a day to [...] 166 43 29_Re: My Daughter's Drama Class14_Robyn Kozierok16_robyn@ai.mit.edu36_Fri, 1 Nov 1996 16:12:58 -0500 (EST)562_- In article <54r6ov$nn2@sjx-ixn3.ix.netcom.com>, Richard A. Ifft wrote: >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 [...] 210 59 39_Jewish day school & monocultural milieu9_Dana Lear23_d.lear@cchs.usyd.edu.au36_Sat, 2 Nov 1996 21:14:47 -0500 (EST)376_- I'm reading with interest the thread about how to deal with celebration of Christian holidays in public school. Max, 8.5, went to baby care, preschool and kindergarten in Berkeley, California sites fed by international family student housing where we lived, so he always had a truly multicultural experience. ALL the holidays were recognised and celebrated culturally. [...] 270 19 27_Re: They just don't get it!11_Tova Stabin21_tova@u.washington.edu36_Sun, 3 Nov 1996 14:31:17 -0500 (EST)291_- i'd be interested in seeing the curricula you mention from snowflakes to... thanks!!

tova

* 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. 290 39 18_Re: Trick or Treat15_Earle Orenstein22_eorenstein@swin.edu.au36_Sun, 3 Nov 1996 14:31:24 -0500 (EST)412_- Meredith Warshaw posted that Trick or Treating and Halloween is too minor to

worry about...

I disagree. It is rooted in Christian tradition and we have enough Jewish

traditions without taking on any of the majority of traditions from our

non-Jewish environment. By condoning such behaviour, you condone performing

Christian acts and then that does lead to assimilation. [...] 330 36 18_Re: Trick or Treat12_naomi pardue19_npardue@indiana.edu36_Sun, 3 Nov 1996 22:36:59 -0500 (EST)439_- Earle Orenstein (eorenstein@swin.edu.au) wrote: > Meredith Warshaw posted that Trick or Treating and Halloween is too minor to > worry about... > > I disagree. It is rooted in Christian tradition and we have enough Jewish > traditions without taking on any of the majority of traditions from our > non-Jewish environment. By condoning such behaviour, you condone performing > Christian acts and then that does lead to assimilation. [...] 367 20 29_Jewish parables for children?16_Michael Melinger20_ausjazz@inetport.com36_Mon, 4 Nov 1996 01:30:30 -0500 (EST)372_- My wife and I are looking for book suggestions for Jewish parables, or short stories, suitable for three-to-five year old girls. I am Jewish and she is Quaker, and we are in agreement that we are seeking stories of a pacifist nature. Unfortunately, this rules out many Biblical tales. We would greatly appreciate any recommendations that you could make. Thank you! [...] 388 26 17_Brit Milah & Aids15_Earle Orenstein22_eorenstein@swin.edu.au36_Mon, 4 Nov 1996 01:31:58 -0500 (EST)410_- Roni, Firstly, N'siah Tovah for your wife. In our community, the mohel is a = doctor and he performs the metzitza directly by mouth. However, he is a = doctor and I believe he checks the medical records of the bloood tests = first. If there were a danger of any infection, I am not sure what = would be his action. He is a Chasidic and extremely observant Jew in = the spirit and the letter of halacha. [...] 415 43 28_Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 28910_Marc Davis15_mdavis@infi.net36_Mon, 4 Nov 1996 01:47:43 -0500 (EST)522_- MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Marc Davis Subject: Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 289

Dana":

My children have been in jewish day school since age three. I was planning to switch over to the public school when my youngest was 6 and in grade 1 and my oldest was 10 in grade 4. I never made the switch. They were so advanced in hebrew that the congregation hebrew school could not service them. That was my deciding factor. [...] 459 47 32_Multi-culturalism in day schools15_Marjorie Peskin24_mpeskin@lynx.dac.neu.edu36_Mon, 4 Nov 1996 01:49:39 -0500 (EST)546_- MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Marjorie Peskin Subject: Multi-culturalism in day schools

> > Even if it were an option for us, I'd feel uncomfortable having my son go > to school with virtually only white kids. My question for those who have > chosen Hebrew day school is how do you feel about raising your kids in a > mostly mono-cultural -racial -socioeconomic environment - or am I assuming > too much about who goes to day school? > [...] 507 55 28_Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 29015_Marjorie Peskin24_mpeskin@lynx.dac.neu.edu36_Mon, 4 Nov 1996 01:51:34 -0500 (EST)416_- MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Marjorie Peskin Subject: Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 290

> > Maintain a Jewish life and a Jewish home. Keep Kosher, and observe Shabbat. > > These traditions are wonderful too, and they foster an awareness in the > child of the marvellous Jewish body of law, lore and tradition. [...] 563 42 28_Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 2840_18_SteffiKarp@aol.com36_Mon, 4 Nov 1996 01:52:57 -0500 (EST)544_- Quick note re: Halloween

We try to emphasize the Purim's coming in just a few months attitude re: Halloween. Our boys are surrounded by public school brouhaha re: halloween and just really enjoy planning for the holiday. They know we adults won't spend tons of time and energy on it. We do spend lots of time and energy on Purim costumes, planning, infact I wrote the Purim spiel for our shul last March and my 3 boys gave the best ideas for it. The day school kids, despite the fact that they are told not to, all trick or treat [...] 606 49 29_Re: Ron:They Just Dont Get it12_naomi pardue19_npardue@indiana.edu36_Mon, 4 Nov 1996 12:27:16 -0500 (EST)500_- Marc Davis (mdavis@infi.net) wrote: > 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. > > I work in a secular preschool as an enrichment teacher and during the > jewish holidays, my boss lets me go to each class and explain our > practices. I lay out money for dreidels and gelt for the whole school, > but here is the kicker, my boss, lets me do that, but I have to take my > [...] 656 40 19_Monocultural milieu14_Hadass Eviatar26_eviatar@noether.ibd.nrc.ca36_Mon, 4 Nov 1996 12:36:23 -0500 (EST)535_- I, too, am concerned about sending my babe to a dayschool where he will spend his time only with other Jewish kids. OTOH, I grew up in Israel in the same situation, and I don't think it turned me into a racist ... rather into someone who was curious about other people's customs, but was quite firm in my own. I do not want him to have to be the odd kid out and to struggle against the mainstream here. It will be difficult enough dealing with the all-pervasive Xmas music, decorations and consumer urges. At least at school he [...] 697 72 27_Re: They just don't get it!11_Leah Adezio16_sladezio@nac.net36_Mon, 4 Nov 1996 14:07:43 -0500 (EST)575_- > sharbr@aol.com (SharBR) writes: > It's really true in most cases. I am a preschool teacher and get so sick > of supposedly secular schools that expect their teachers to teach > Christianity come December. I now teach in a Jewish preschool and so much > of my stress dissappeared! > I also teach some workshops for other early childhoon educators. One is > called "From Santa to Snowflakes: keeping religious bias out of your > winter curriculum." When I presented it at a conference last spring about > half the participants walked out! They were so offended when I [...] 770 51 18_Re: Trick or Treat10_I. Pour-El18_pourel@iastate.edu36_Mon, 4 Nov 1996 22:44:33 -0500 (EST)478_- In article <01BBC918.B0BE9A20@nb1-ppp17.swin.edu.au>, Earle Orenstein wrote: >Meredith Warshaw posted that Trick or Treating and Halloween is too minor to

> >worry about... > >I disagree. It is rooted in Christian tradition

No it isn't. It was adapted by Christianity from much older traditions, some pagan. It is not, unlike Christmas, rooted in a known specific religion. There are a lot of theories but no real hard origin data. [...] 822 31 33_Re: Jewish parables for children?14_Jan Silbermann16_js@cs.tulane.edu36_Mon, 4 Nov 1996 22:58:17 -0500 (EST)666_- In article , Michael Melinger wrote: >My wife and I are looking for book suggestions for Jewish parables, or >short stories, suitable for three-to-five year old girls. I am Jewish and >she is Quaker, and we are in agreement that we are seeking stories of a >pacifist nature. Unfortunately, this rules out many Biblical tales. >We would greatly appreciate any recommendations that you could make. Thank you! > There is a wonderful set of stories about figures from the Bible when they were children. the books stress good middos (character traits) such as kindness, compassion etc. They are called [...] 854 41 11_Getting it.16_Stephen Z. Stein25_szs@magicmac.ultranet.com36_Mon, 4 Nov 1996 23:02:13 -0500 (EST)361_- OK, here's a flip side of this discussion:

Last year my daughter was in a community youth chorus that performed holiday concerts during the month of December, including the well-known popular song of the season "We Wish You A Happy Holiday".

Ugh.

It really sounded awful. (The lyrics, I mean, not the inevitable "wishhhhhhhh..." :-) [...] 896 51 27_Re: They just don't get it!15_Fred Rosenblatt34_Frederic.H.Rosenblatt@jpl.nasa.gov36_Mon, 4 Nov 1996 23:05:58 -0500 (EST)559_- In article <199610281613.LAA16356@lynx.dac.neu.edu>, mpeskin@lynx.dac.neu.edu wrote:

> > 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 pressured to join in and be merry and > 'go with the flow'. I don't want this for my kids, and I'm perfectly > happy to send them to day school to keep this 'holiday' stuff at bay, > but the cost is going to kill [...] 948 62 15_Re: Getting it.5_Shari15_sfr2@hooked.net36_Tue, 5 Nov 1996 01:29:05 -0500 (EST)564_- Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" From: Shari Subject: Re: Getting it.

At 11:02 PM 11/4/96 -0500, Steve Stein wrote: >OK, here's a flip side of this discussion: > >I would have had no problem with the mention of "Christmas" in their >concert, as long as it wasn't the exclusive subject of the performance, >and none of the really Christian songs (e.g. Oh Come All Ye Faithful, >Silent Night) were performed (though I admit I really love those songs). > >What say you, Jewish parents? > I say: [...] 1011 103 18_Re: Trick or Treat0_21_joshua@cimatron.co.il36_Wed, 6 Nov 1996 15:20:36 -0500 (EST)558_- Without meaning to offend....

pourel@iastate.edu (I. Pour-El) wrote:

>In article <01BBC918.B0BE9A20@nb1-ppp17.swin.edu.au>, >Earle Orenstein wrote: >>Meredith Warshaw posted that Trick or Treating and Halloween is too minor to >>worry about... >>I disagree. It is rooted in Christian tradition

>No it isn't. It was adapted by Christianity from much older traditions, >some pagan. It is not, unlike Christmas, rooted in a known specific >religion. There are a lot of theories but no real hard origin data. [...] 1115 38 29_Re: My Daughter's Drama Class0_21_joshua@cimatron.co.il36_Wed, 6 Nov 1996 15:22:33 -0500 (EST)323_- raifft@ix.netcom.com (Richard A. Ifft ) wrote:

>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. [...] 1154 33 29_Re: My Daughter's Drama Class12_naomi pardue19_npardue@indiana.edu36_Wed, 6 Nov 1996 15:23:28 -0500 (EST)505_- Richard A. Ifft (raifft@ix.netcom.com) wrote: > 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 [...] 1188 54 43_Re: Jewish day school & monocultural milieu15_Fred Rosenblatt34_Frederic.H.Rosenblatt@jpl.nasa.gov36_Wed, 6 Nov 1996 15:29:36 -0500 (EST)465_- In article , d.lear@cchs.usyd.edu.au (Dana Lear) wrote:

> > Even if it were an option for us, I'd feel uncomfortable having my son go > to school with virtually only white kids. My question for those who have > chosen Hebrew day school is how do you feel about raising your kids in a > mostly mono-cultural -racial -socioeconomic environment - or am I assuming > too much about who goes to day school? > > Dana [...] 1243 24 34_Hebrew books for beginning readers18_John D. L. McBride18_jmcbride@erols.com36_Wed, 6 Nov 1996 15:32:27 -0500 (EST)312_- My wife and I have a 10 month old and we would like to start introducing her to elementary Hebrew. I have been looking for Hebrew books for beginning readers but can't find any. The one's I can find are for older children who already have some reading ability. Can anyone point me in the right direction? [...] 1268 100 18_Re: Trick or Treat0_18_root@newsa.att.com36_Wed, 6 Nov 1996 19:40:12 -0500 (EST)498_- joshua@cimatron.co.il wrote: > > It only glorifies and sanctions hooliganism. > And, yes, it was still used as a cover for anti-semitic vandalism > during my childhood in Connecticut.

I assure you that was not the case with our celebration. Some parents IMOP corrupts Chanukah. That doesn't mean we won't celebrate it. For me Halloween allows my son and I to make fun of the monsters. It’s an excuse for a party and to have some fun. I see nothing intrinsically un-Jewish about that. [...] 1369 19 43_seeking material 4 'father's letter to son'0_16_catalyst@his.com36_Wed, 6 Nov 1996 22:57:18 -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. [...] 1389 48 27_Re: They just don't get it!7_MRisman15_mrisman@aol.com36_Thu, 7 Nov 1996 08:47:29 -0500 (EST)606_- Leah Adazio's post referred to being the "Chanukah Mom" at her child's school. I did this one year at my son's secular, private, Montessori preschool. Though my presentation was well received, I opted not to do it again. I also opted not to be the "Passover mom" when asked.

I am conflicted about this, but I do not like presenting this skewed version of Judaism, where our celebrations are only presented in juxtaposition to Christian holidays. Even if you explicitly state the opposite, just the timing gives the message that Chanukah is the Jewish Christmas, and Pesach the Jewish Easter. [...] 1438 58 29_Re: My Daughter's Drama Class15_Richard A. Ifft20_raifft@ix.netcom.com36_Thu, 7 Nov 1996 10:19:44 -0500 (EST)388_- In <55puel$lo6@news.ibm.net.il> joshua@cimatron.co.il writes--in response to my post about my daughter not being comfortable saying "Hail Mary" in a play she is performing in her drama class:

>Is a performance of a Requiem outside a church purely cultural, or is >it still religious in nature? Similarly, is the topic of the play >something integral to a Christian culture? [...] 1497 102 27_Re: They just don't get it!6_frankp21_moles@frontiernet.com36_Thu, 7 Nov 1996 13:50:09 -0500 (EST)555_- MRisman wrote: > > Leah Adazio's post referred to being the "Chanukah Mom" at > her child's school. I did this one year at my son's secular, private, > Montessori preschool. Though my presentation was well received, > I opted not to do it again. I also opted not to be the "Passover mom" > when asked. > > I am conflicted about this, but I do not like presenting > this skewed version of Judaism, where our celebrations are only > presented in juxtaposition to Christian holidays. Even if you explicitly > state the opposite, just the timing gives [...] 1600 30 53_Child giving charity -- is there Jewish equivalent to15_Irene Bleiweiss16_IBLEIWEI@fcc.gov36_Thu, 7 Nov 1996 15:59:50 -0500 (EST)625_- Christian Children's Fund?

Every year our family supports several charities. This year we thought that it might help teach our child about the importance Judaism places on tzedakah if we let her select one of the charities. She is interested in a group that helps give food and medicine to needy children around the world AND in which you can exchange letters with one particular child you are helping. The only groups we know that have this correspondence option have a Christian focus -- like the Christian Children's Fund. Does anyone know of a Jewish or non-sectarian equivalent? The correspondence/receipt [...] 1631 133 18_Re: Trick or Treat11_Kris Hasson19_hasson@teleport.com36_Thu, 7 Nov 1996 16:02:42 -0500 (EST)460_- To the moderators: I read the below-quoted post, and it really left a bad taste in my mouth. The tone of it seems quite pointedly personal and nasty.

I think the questions raised by joshua@cimatron.co.il are good ones to consider, but the form of his comments goes over my border of acceptable behavior. Where is the positive alternative? It is merely a compendium of criticisms and sarcastic comments, with no suggestions to help us PARENTS who [...] 1765 24 13_Administrivia0_18_LayneMurph@aol.com36_Thu, 7 Nov 1996 17:04:45 -0500 (EST)359_- Just a reminder to be specific on the subject matter line of your postings. A helpful reader has pointed out that often times people who receive SCJP in digest form simply leave the digest number in lieu of replacing it with the actual subject of the posting. Keep this newsgroup user-friendly please and include actual subject when you submit a post. [...] 1790 46 18_Re: Trick or Treat10_Alan Light16_alight@panix.com36_Fri, 8 Nov 1996 01:54:02 -0500 (EST)607_- In <01BBC918.B0BE9A20@nb1-ppp17.swin.edu.au> Earle Orenstein writes: >Meredith Warshaw posted that Trick or Treating and Halloween is too minor to >worry about... >I disagree. It is rooted in Christian tradition and we have enough Jewish >traditions without taking on any of the majority of traditions from our >non-Jewish environment.

It very well may have been rooted in a Christan tradition at one time (I'm not even so sure about that). But in any case any religious meaning of Halloween has been totally lost (at least the way Halloween is observed in the U.S.). [...] 1837 50 27_Re: They just don't get it!15_Fred Rosenblatt34_Frederic.H.Rosenblatt@jpl.nasa.gov36_Fri, 8 Nov 1996 09:42:51 -0500 (EST)608_- In article <55sas5$lt6@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, mrisman@aol.com (MRisman) wrote:

> Leah Adazio's post referred to being the "Chanukah Mom" at > her child's school. I did this one year at my son's secular, private, > Montessori preschool. Though my presentation was well received, > I opted not to do it again. I also opted not to be the "Passover mom" > when asked. > > I am conflicted about this, but I do not like presenting > this skewed version of Judaism, where our celebrations are only > presented in juxtaposition to Christian holidays. Even if you explicitly > state the opposite, just [...] 1888 35 57_Re: Child giving charity -- is there Jewish equivalent to7_R Segal20_segalfam@westnet.com36_Fri, 8 Nov 1996 10:39:51 -0500 (EST)422_- snip > group that helps give food and medicine to needy children around the > world AND in which you can exchange letters with one particular child > you are helping. The only groups we know that have this > correspondence option have a Christian focus -- like the Christian > Children's Fund. Does anyone know of a Jewish or non-sectarian > equivalent? The correspondence/receipt of reports on a single child snip [...] 1924 44 28_Jewish identity and holidays10_I. Pour-El18_pourel@iastate.edu36_Fri, 8 Nov 1996 11:19:59 -0500 (EST)428_- Someone (sorry, I deleted too fast) responded to my posting about my children's enjoyment of Halloween with several invalid assumptions.

I had stated that my childen enjoyed Halloween because it was one holiday they could celebrate with the mainstream culture.

The poster responded (paraphrased) that my children must have a poor Jewish identity and not much observance of Jewish holidays to feel this way. [...] 1969 44 18_Re: Trick or Treat18_John D. L. McBride18_jmcbride@erols.com36_Fri, 8 Nov 1996 13:13:39 -0500 (EST)643_- Alan Light wrote in article <55thl3$cp9@panix.com>... > In <01BBC918.B0BE9A20@nb1-ppp17.swin.edu.au> Earle Orenstein writes: > >Meredith Warshaw posted that Trick or Treating and Halloween is too minor to > >worry about... > >I disagree. It is rooted in Christian tradition and we have enough Jewish > >traditions without taking on any of the majority of traditions from our > >non-Jewish environment. > > It very well may have been rooted in a Christan tradition at one time > (I'm not even so sure about that). But in any case any religious > meaning of Halloween has been totally lost (at [...] 2014 52 57_Re: Child giving charity -- is there Jewish equivalent to12_David Isaacs24_disaacs@worldnet.att.net36_Fri, 8 Nov 1996 13:15:05 -0500 (EST)406_- Irene,

I've also been looking for a charity/tzedakeh that has as it's focus helping children. While I understand another posters point about the highest level of charity requiring no acknowledgment from the beneficiary, I too feel that having a picture of a child and recieving a letter every now and then will help my son (a 3 year old) understand how our contribution really helps someone. [...] 2067 22 15_Pictorial Torah0_12_skc3@aol.com36_Sat, 9 Nov 1996 21:58:32 -0500 (EST)462_- I help sponsor a Tot Shabbat program for our Reform Temple in Pittsburgh PA. We are looking for a pictorial torah appropriate for ages 2-5 but haven't been able to find one. Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Sheryl - mother to Rebecca age 3.5 and Jessica age 1.5

* 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. 2090 30 50_Tzedekah and our children was Child Giving Charity16_Enid Yvonne Karr19_ekarr@ix.netcom.com36_Sat, 9 Nov 1996 22:00:00 -0500 (EST)383_- In <32835043.43ED@westnet.com> R Segal writes: >An important aspect of Jewish charitable giving which you might have >perhaps forgotten is the value we place on giving without humiliating >the receiver. Indeed, giving where the giver does not know the receiver >and the receiver does not know the giver is one of Maimonides' highest >level of tzedakah. [...] 2121 57 27_Re: They just don't get it!11_Leah Adezio16_sladezio@nac.net36_Sat, 9 Nov 1996 22:08:22 -0500 (EST)581_- > frankp writes:

> Without her Chanukah presentation, children in their school wouldn't > know anything about Jews or Jewish holidays. Many of them have never > even seen a Jew. They don't know the difference between Chanukah, Rosh > Hashanah or the Chinese New Year. The point is that if they're exposed > to something (anything) Jewish, and they have a nice feeling about it, > maybe, just maybe, they won't grow up to be anti-semitic adults. Isn't > that what multiculturalism is really all about? [...] 2179 47 27_A Jewish Response to Hunger0_16_NinaSalk@aol.com37_Sun, 10 Nov 1996 09:56:52 -0500 (EST)411_- Irene Bleiweiss asked if there was a Jewish equivalent to the Christian Children's Fund, which gives food and medicine to needy children around the world. The answer is YES! It is called MAZON.

Mazon, the Jewish response to Hunger was started by Leonard Fein, the founding editor of Moment Magazine. Mazon awards grants to local organizations that feed the hungry in America and around the world. [...] 2227 38 25_Thanksgiving vs Halloween15_Marjorie Peskin24_mpeskin@lynx.dac.neu.edu37_Sun, 10 Nov 1996 16:05:20 -0500 (EST)556_- I think we've all shared our opinions on Halloween, which has pagen roots, antisemetic historical overtones, and Xtian background. So lets move on to the next non-Jewish holiday -- Thanksgiving.

In my family growing up, we didn't make a huge deal of TG. I mean, mom roasted a Turkey and we ate it willingly, but otherwise, nothing to make it seem like a holiday. And so I grew up not in the least bit interested or involved in the huge preparations that some families do on TG. In fact, last year we had pizza for TG. We just don't celebrate [...] 2266 47 29_Re: Thanksgiving vs Halloween13_Mitch Gilbert20_mgilbert@pdit-sc.com37_Mon, 11 Nov 1996 11:37:01 -0500 (EST)609_- In article <5654p8$lqr@chaos.dac.neu.edu>, mpeskin@lynx.dac.neu.edu (Marjorie Peskin) wrote: > >I think we've all shared our opinions on Halloween, which has pagen >roots, antisemetic historical overtones, and Xtian background. So lets >move on to the next non-Jewish holiday -- Thanksgiving. > >In my family growing up, we didn't make a huge deal of TG. I mean, mom >roasted a Turkey and we ate it willingly, but otherwise, nothing to make >it seem like a holiday. And so I grew up not in the least bit interested >or involved in the huge preparations that some families do on TG. In >fact, last year [...] 2314 53 13_chanukah mom?0_14_AlKeis@aol.com37_Mon, 11 Nov 1996 13:37:22 -0500 (EST)492_- In a message dated 96-11-09 00:16:53 EST, mrisman@aol.com (MRisman) wrote:

< I guess I'd rather be the Sukkot mom, or even the Tu B'Shvat mom, > so I could present something Jewish strictly on its own terms. > Obviously though, I'm not going to be asked to do this, though I imagine > I would be welcome to if I volunteered. Some combination of laziness and > bashfulness has kept me from doing this yet. I would be curious to know > if anyone has tried something like that. >> [...] 2368 20 57_Re: Child giving charity -- is there Jewish equivalent to0_16_cbreglia@aol.com37_Mon, 11 Nov 1996 13:38:01 -0500 (EST)439_- I think the name is "Save The Children" It is a non missionary aid fund that works the same way as Christian Children's Fund (it has also been around longer) We did this when I was a kid. "Mother Jones" magazine might have an ad for it. Claudia

* 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. 2389 57 34_Re: Jewish holidays/public schools10_Marc Davis15_mdavis@infi.net37_Mon, 11 Nov 1996 13:41:33 -0500 (EST)560_- MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Marc Davis Subject: Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 296

> > Our children enjoy celebrating Jewish holidays. As should also have been > obvious from the original post, we do not celebrate pseudo-Christmas instead > of Hanukah nor do our children feel deprived. > > They do live in a town with a very small Jewish population and get tired of > explaining why they eat differently, celebrate differently, etc. to their > school friends. > [...] 2447 42 16_Re: Thanksgiving14_Andrea Herrera15_andreah@utj.org37_Mon, 11 Nov 1996 13:48:07 -0500 (EST)553_- > Do you > get your kids all psyched for TG, and if so, what do you tell them about > the correlation between TG and Sukkot? > > Marjorie Peskin mpeskin@lynx.dac.neu.edu

In our home, Thanksgiving is always a time for family and friends. It's a day when everyone is off of work and school, and we get together for good food and friendship. I almost always have a Thanksgiving dinner at our home, complete with Turkey, stuffing and all the goodies. I see it more as a "time of year rite" rather than anything associated with religion. To me [...] 2490 48 31_Re: A Jewish Response to Hunger0_15_mrisman@aol.com37_Mon, 11 Nov 1996 13:55:16 -0500 (EST)582_- I also feel that the charities which send you a picture of an individual child might be violating the spirit of tzedakah which values anonymous giving and receiving.

Mazon is an important and wonderful organization which ought to be supported by all American Jews. If you are interested additionally in giving to a Jewish organization which specializes in assistance in the Third World (both disaster relief and self-sustaining programs in agriculture and small business formation), there is the American Jewish World Service, 15 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10010. [...] 2539 63 57_Re: Child giving charity -- is there Jewish equivalent to21_Jennifer M . Paquette13_Jfer@myna.com37_Mon, 11 Nov 1996 23:16:59 -0500 (EST)457_- >>An important aspect of Jewish charitable giving which you might have >>perhaps forgotten is the value we place on giving without humiliating >>the receiver. Indeed, giving where the giver does not know the receiver >>and the receiver does not know the giver is one of Maimonides' highest >>level of tzedakah. Therefore, I would be surprised if you found a >>"Jewish" charity where the receiver was made to feel obligated to the >>giver in any way. [...] 2603 44 35_Re: Teaching Tzedekah with Children11_Rick Dinitz16_dinitz@tibco.com37_Tue, 12 Nov 1996 09:05:02 -0500 (EST)560_- Enid Karr wrote: > [What] is a good way to teach the principles of tzedekah to our > children. The Hebrew school collects money, of course, and my kids > give willingly of their allowances to that. What do other families > do?

Tzedakah begins at home. We have tzedakah boxes planted in various locations around the house, and make it a routine to put a few coins in every day (usually before bedtime stories, or on Friday before lighting candles). Next to each pushke is a bowl of coins (fed by loose pocket change and occasional coin rolls from [...] 2648 59 18_Re: Trick or Treat12_Arlene Rimer17_arimer@wimsey.com37_Tue, 12 Nov 1996 09:05:02 -0500 (EST)515_- Now that it's past halloween, I want to put my two cents in about the festivities. As children, we all went out for Halloween and there was no religious aspect to it at all. IN fact I inherited a costume, my father wore to a Halloween party at a Jewish Fraternal Club, he belonged to. I went to day school and all teh while I was growing up, I had no idea there was anything wrong with dressing up and going door to door to collect Candy and those days apples and Unicef. The Unicef boxes were handed out at [...] 2708 54 31_Re: A Jewish Response to Hunger14_Edward Letzter24_letzter@fourier.tamu.edu37_Tue, 12 Nov 1996 13:03:54 -0500 (EST)417_- In addition to Mazon (which is excellent) there is

American Jewish World Service 989 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10018-5410 (212)736-AJWS (212)736-3463 (FAX) jws@jws.org

This group funds hunger relief projects throughout the world; check them out too. They have been around for at least 10 years, and have done a lot of good work. They can be viewed as a ``Jewish alternative'' to Oxfam. [...] 2763 63 57_Re: Child giving charity -- is there Jewish equivalent to14_Howard Gershen18_howard@boxhill.com37_Tue, 12 Nov 1996 13:06:25 -0500 (EST)626_- Several people have asked about a Jewish version of a charity that helps children and lets donors send to and receive letters from the recipients of that charity. I'd like to offer a caution...

I wrote a book on charitable giving called _A Guide For Giving: 250 American Charities and What They Do With Your Money_. The book's now out of print (it was published in 1990), but might be in the reference section of your local library. . One of the things I discovered from talking with the National Charities Information Bureau and the Philanthropic Advisory Service of [...] 2827 57 29_Re: Thanksgiving vs Halloween10_David Karr13_dkarr@bbn.com37_Tue, 12 Nov 1996 14:45:10 -0500 (EST)411_- mgilbert@pdit-sc.com (Mitch Gilbert) writes: >Thanksgiving is not a Jewish holiday, nor is it a Xtian holiday. Thanksgiving >is an AMERICAN holiday. Personally, I will be teaching my son to celebrate >Thanksgiving in a big way, to celebrate the freedom that he has living in our >great country. This holiday in our family is not about religion (even though >it did start with the quaker settlers). [...] [...] 2885 30 31_Re: A Jewish Response to Hunger0_18_suel107122@aol.com37_Tue, 12 Nov 1996 14:55:11 -0500 (EST)566_- Mazon is a fabulous organization that helps to feed thousands.

My boss, David Buskin, was honored to be invited to perform at their recent foodless banquet benefit in Hartford, Ct. What a wonderful evening - lovingly organized.

-Sue Leventhal Sue Leventhal Assistant to David Buskin } "ESPN, ESPN Joe-Pye Records} You're the reason I'm single again. 215-33B Hillside Avenue} Life is for losers Queens Village, NY 11427-1833}Sports is your friend 718-479-8299 fax: 718-479-DAVE 3283 }And who's got more sports on SueL107122@aol.com } Than ESPN." [...] 2916 101 34_Hebrew books for beginning readers11_Rick Dinitz16_dinitz@tibco.com37_Tue, 12 Nov 1996 15:27:53 -0500 (EST)348_- John D. L. McBride wrote: > My wife and I have a 10 month old and we would like to start > introducing her to elementary Hebrew. I have been looking for > Hebrew books for beginning readers but can't find any. The one's I > can find are for older children who already have some reading > ability. Can anyone point me in the right direction? [...] 3018 35 29_Re: Thanksgiving vs Halloween14_Jan Silbermann16_js@cs.tulane.edu37_Tue, 12 Nov 1996 16:25:50 -0500 (EST)383_- In article <5654p8$lqr@chaos.dac.neu.edu>, Marjorie Peskin wrote: >I'm not sure what to tell my kids about the Jews and TG. I know that TG >is supposidly based upon Sukkot, which is cool, but since we do >celebrate Sukkot in a big way in our house, is TG superfluous? Do you >get your kids all psyched for TG, and if so, what do you tell them about [...] 3054 35 31_Re: A Jewish Response to Hunger15_Warren Burstein24_warren@itexjct.jct.ac.il37_Tue, 12 Nov 1996 16:25:59 -0500 (EST)596_- mrisman@aol.com writes: In soc.culture.jewish.parenting you write:

>I also feel that the charities which send you a picture of an >individual child might be violating the spirit of tzedakah >which values anonymous giving and receiving.

I have no feeling for or against receiving the picture of a child whose one tzedakah assists. However, knowing who the recipient is not a *violation* of anything. Anonymous giving is preferred, but no one should think that there's something wrong if the giver and/or the recipient know the other's identity, let alone refrain from giving. [...] 3090 54 26_child sponsorship programs9_Dana Lear23_d.lear@cchs.usyd.edu.au37_Tue, 12 Nov 1996 16:26:03 -0500 (EST)378_- **Moderator's Warning: Please remember to keep your posts pertaining to raising children in a Jewish context. I am allowing this post through as a follow-up, but any further non-related posts will be refered to other lists. Thank you.

I'm speaking here as an academic in community health and one who has worked in health and education in the Caribbean and Africa. [...] 3145 52 25_Holidays in the Classroom16_Richard Schachet20_lvrabbi@accessnv.com37_Tue, 12 Nov 1996 16:34:59 -0500 (EST)455_- I have been following the discussion of parents going into the schools to "teach" about Hanukkah, Pesach or any other holiday.

I am a very firm believer in total separation of church and state. If we "teach about Jewish holidays" then this gives the PUBLIC schools the right to have Xmas and Easter etc in their classes. However, if we insist on NO Religious holidays being taught AS RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS then we have to stand by our beliefs. [...] 3198 90 29_Re: Holidays in the Classroom0_7_???@???37_Tue, 12 Nov 1996 23:30:44 -0500 (EST)444_- >From article <199611121903.LAA03690@bighorn.accessnv.com>, by "Richard Schachet" :

> I am a very firm believer in total separation of church and state. > If we "teach about Jewish holidays" then this gives the PUBLIC > schools the right to have Xmas and Easter etc in their classes. > However, if we insist on NO Religious holidays being taught AS > RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS then we have to stand by our beliefs. [...] 3289 36 25_Thanksgiving VS Halloween0_16_NinaSalk@aol.com37_Tue, 12 Nov 1996 23:35:43 -0500 (EST)505_- Gee, I love Thanksgiving precisely because it is one of the rare and sweetly seasonal times that Jews are NOT out of synch with the majority culture. It's just a lovely way to assemble family and friends over a long weekend, give thanks for the abundance we have, and for once, be in step with the rest of America. Besides, I love pumpkin pie, I love making my hoisin-marinated kosher turkey, I love to eat stuffing, and my kids think I'm the best just for making sweet potatoes with marshmallows. [...] 3326 87 39_Re: Tzedakah Opportunities for children0_14_AlKeis@aol.com37_Wed, 13 Nov 1996 10:00:26 -0500 (EST)470_- I can understand the concern for wanting to make tzedakah more concrete for young children. When my older daughter was in kindergarten I noticed that the tzedakah box in her room was suddenly much lighter than I thought it should be. When asked about it, she readily admitted having taken the money to the corner store to buy candy for herself and her friends. "You did what????" "But, Mama, you always say its for people who don't have any money and we didn't." [...] 3414 28 50_CTTS (Was Re: Tzedakah Opportunities for children)6_Louise22_daniel@herbie.ucsd.edu37_Wed, 13 Nov 1996 13:47:35 -0500 (EST)379_- I had no idea that my 3yo son had paid much attention to the meshulachim (fund-raisers) who come by periodically collecting either for themselves or their organizations.

Then our friend Harvey the stock broker came over as a favor to pick up an investment check and Daniel asked what Daddy and Harvey were talking about. I told him that Daddy was giving him money. [...] 3443 36 33_Re: Holidays in the Public Square0_16_ninasalk@aol.com37_Wed, 13 Nov 1996 14:18:51 -0500 (EST)595_- I've read everyone's thoughtful posts on holiday celebrations in the classroom. Here's another "dimension."

What do you all feel about exposing your kids to religious celebrations in the public square? Our local Chabad has a big, festive Hanukkah menorah lighting right in the center of town. I know that my 10 yr. old son would love to attend. But I have really mixed feelings about religious displays in public places. I am also troubled by the fact that the Chabad rabbi would not allow either of the two women rabbis in our community to be ceremonially involved in the menorah [...] 3480 66 33_Re: Holidays in the Public Square0_7_???@???37_Wed, 13 Nov 1996 17:01:41 -0500 (EST)448_- >From article <19961113184500.NAA28515@ladder01.news.aol.com>, by ninasalk@aol.com: > > What do you all feel about exposing your kids to religious celebrations in > the public square?

Public spaces are public. They are available for religious and secular public events. I've attended, and even helped arrange, Jewish services in city parks, and I see nothing particularly different about such an event if it involves a giant menorah. [...] 3547 33 29_Re: Thanksgiving VS Halloween10_Linda Ward27_dilemma@dilemma.demon.co.uk37_Thu, 14 Nov 1996 08:44:59 -0500 (EST)477_- In article <961112152847_137989079@emout09.mail.aol.com>, wrote: > > In the UK we look on Thanksgiving with the curiosity tourists give to one's National Monuments. In fact the closest I have ever got to Thanksgiving is watching that Addams Family movie! However, so long as it is mentioned in my diary, I know that if I phone my family in the U.S they will all be together...as predictable as 1st night Rosh Hashanah! Happy days, Regards, Linda 3581 37 29_Re: Thanksgiving vs Halloween12_r. bernstein16_rbernste@btg.com37_Thu, 14 Nov 1996 17:24:01 -0500 (EST)385_- > In article <5654p8$lqr@chaos.dac.neu.edu>, > mpeskin@lynx.dac.neu.edu (Marjorie Peskin) wrote:

> >So lets > >move on to the next ***non-Jewish holiday*** -- Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a 100%, prime AMERICAN holiday. It is NOT, repeat, NOT a religious holiday. It is not Catholic, Protestant, Morman, Buhddist, Hindu, B'Hai, or Hari K'rishna - it is AMERICAN. [...] 3619 37 23_Child Friendly Havdalah0_14_AlKeis@aol.com37_Sun, 17 Nov 1996 09:15:09 -0500 (EST)291_- Shalom all,

For the last couple of years, our preschool has done an annual Havdalah & Melevah Malkah (Dinner). We do it in January so we can start at 6:00 & get kids home at a reasonable time -- spring or summer would be nicer in terms of the weather, but we'd never get home. [...] 3657 54 27_Re: Child Friendly Havdalah0_21_joshua@cimatron.co.il37_Mon, 18 Nov 1996 08:17:48 -0500 (EST)316_- AlKeis@aol.com wrote:

>For the last couple of years, our preschool has done an annual Havdalah & >Melevah Malkah (Dinner). (snip) >Do any of you have any ideas that you would like >to contribute? If I don't have it already, I'll attribute it to you (or >whatever source you quote :-} ) and everything. [...] 3712 38 23_Child-Friendly Havdalah13_Joy Mendleson20_ab522@chebucto.ns.ca37_Mon, 18 Nov 1996 15:00:43 -0500 (EST)539_- Hello --

I was just looking at _Jewish Holiday Crafts for Little Hands_ last night, by Ruth Esrig Brinn (Kar-Ben, 1993)

On page 14 there is a Havdallah House. I thought it was a cute idea. You may have seen it, but just in case, here goes...

1. Draw a simple house on construction paper, and cut it out. 2. Draw a large door, 2 square windows, and a round attic window (use a small glass). 3. Cut out the door and 3 windows carefully on 3 sides, leaving 4th side attached. 4. Glue the house to white paper, but [...] 3751 23 8_Tephilin3_L&S29_L&S@helping-hands.demon.co.uk37_Mon, 18 Nov 1996 15:04:29 -0500 (EST)346_- My son has had his tephilin stolen. Does anyone have a pair not being used? I am sure there are people who have their father's or grandfather's tephilin laying in a drawer somewhere not being used. Perhaps you would consider passing them on to someone who will definitely use them every day. Your help would be appreciated. Zelda Landau London. 3775 86 19_Re: Nursing in shul35_Sophie Miron and Jawxillion D. Loeb16_sophjxl@dnai.com37_Mon, 18 Nov 1996 15:12:49 -0500 (EST)527_- First, my apologies for not responding sooner, I accidentally deleted this off both my servers and had to go into dejanews to retrieve it:

Hadass Eviatar wrote: > While I am a fervent breastfeeder, I must put in a small objection here. (Not > in the sense that Sophie shouldn't do it at her synagogue, but that I wouldn't > do it and I would probably say something to someone at my synagogue whom I saw > doing it). I do not bf in the sanctuary during services (although I do bf > there > if the service is being [...] 3862 63 28_Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 30210_Marc Davis15_mdavis@infi.net37_Mon, 18 Nov 1996 15:31:10 -0500 (EST)619_- MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Marc Davis Subject: Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 302

> lighting right in the center of town. I know that my 10 yr. old son would > love to attend. But I have really mixed feelings about religious displays > in public places. I am also troubled by the fact that the Chabad rabbi > would not allow either of the two women rabbis in our community to be > ceremonially involved in the menorah lighting. The male Reform rabbi in > town is absenting himeself from the event on these grounds alone! [...] 3926 21 52_Starting Hebrew Lessons at Age Five: The Right Time?11_Howard Sage15_sage@is.nyu.edu37_Mon, 18 Nov 1996 15:32:01 -0500 (EST)347_- Our Alan goes to his once-a-month Torah class, a kind of introductionn to various aspects of Judaism. I would like him to start his serious Hebrew study next Spring (when he will be 4 1/2 or next Fall when he'll be five. Is this roughly an appropriate age to begin? And how many classes per week would be average? Thanks in advance. Howard [...] 3948 28 9_Sofganyot7_Jo Benn21_jonsteve@rapidnet.com37_Mon, 18 Nov 1996 15:33:02 -0500 (EST)534_- I hope someone can help with a recipe. I found a recipe for quick and easy sofganyot in the Chanukah 1994 issue of Being Jewish. I thought I would use this with my younger kids or maybe in the Sunday School class I teach (which consists of my two youngest children and one other student.) This recipe uses baking powder instead of yeast. I thought the kids could mix it up and an adult could do the frying in hot oil. However, the list of ingredients for 12-14 sofganyot gives just 1/4 cup of flour. I know this is impossible. [...] 3977 29 38_Re: Hebrew books for beginning readers0_18_SteffiKarp@aol.com37_Mon, 18 Nov 1996 23:47:49 -0500 (EST)616_- Re: Parents with 10 month old Music! Music! Music! >From the earliest years my kids heard Jewish music, some all in Hebrwe and some with English and Hebrew. Interested in titles? Uncle Moishy tapes are pretty funny collection of cassettes for kids with really upbeat sound. Only they are seriously frum in that they say Shabbas and other ashkenazic pronounciation. If totally religious orientation doesn't bother you, go for their upbeat music. Also, try Joe Black's aleph-bet boogie tape and Growin' and Growin' II from Kol B'seder. For books, try reading Goodnight Moon in Hebrew. If the assumption is that [...] 4007 41 29_Re: Thanksgiving vs Halloween0_16_cbreglia@aol.com37_Tue, 19 Nov 1996 09:29:57 -0500 (EST)391_- >>Thanksgiving is not a Jewish holiday, nor is it a Xtian holiday. Thanksgiving is an AMERICAN holiday. Personally, I will be teaching my son to celebrate Thanksgiving in a big way, to celebrate the freedom that he has living in our great country. This holiday in our family is not about religion (even though it did start with the quaker settlers). Thanksgiving is a secular holiday [...] 4049 28 39_Children's judaica/toys on the internet19_Keith Jeremy Posner17_posner@sodalia.it37_Tue, 19 Nov 1996 11:34:44 -0500 (EST)323_- Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Keith Jeremy Posner Subject: Children's judaica/toys on the internet

Has anyone discovered any good web sites where you can buy children's judaica and Jewish toys?

Many thanks

Keith 4078 73 19_Re: Nursing in shul0_21_joshua@cimatron.co.il37_Tue, 19 Nov 1996 13:37:13 -0500 (EST)572_- sophjxl@dnai.com (Sophie Miron and Jawxillion D. Loeb) wrote:

>First, my apologies for not responding sooner, I accidentally deleted this >off both my servers and had to go into dejanews to retrieve it:

>Hadass Eviatar wrote: >> While I am a fervent breastfeeder, I must put in a small objection here. >(Not >> in the sense that Sophie shouldn't do it at her synagogue, but that I >wouldn't >> do it and I would probably say something to someone at my synagogue whom I >saw >> doing it). I do not bf in the sanctuary during services (although I do bf [...] 4152 48 18_Re: Trick or Treat15_Claire Petersky28_petersky@chinook.halcyon.com37_Tue, 19 Nov 1996 17:05:19 -0500 (EST)515_- *Moderator's Note: This post is a follow-up, but is starting to stray a bit too far away from our Charter. Please make sure that any follow-ups to this post relate to raising a child in a Jewish context. Thank you.

John D. L. McBride (jmcbride@erols.com) wrote:

: Halloween is an interesting holiday. I believe its original roots had : something to do with being the day before All Saints Day; however, I : believe Alan is right in stating that the US version is entirely unique and : secular. [...] 4201 25 21_Jewish Family & Life!19_Yosef I. Abramowitz18_jfleditors@aol.com37_Tue, 19 Nov 1996 17:05:38 -0500 (EST)544_- *Moderator's Note: This is being sent to the list as a resource. Any follow-up please do so via email. Thank you.

Jewish Family & Life!

visit us online: http://www.jewishfamily.com

Innovative parenting and family webzine helping parents raise moral children and to celebrate holidays. Filled with tips, recipes, crafts and more!

* 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. 4227 41 28_Re: Beginning Hebrew Lessons0_16_EMADIANE@aol.com37_Wed, 20 Nov 1996 01:49:47 -0500 (EST)406_- In a message dated 96-11-19 00:15:18 EST, you write:

<< Our Alan goes to his once-a-month Torah class, a kind of introductionn to various aspects of Judaism. I would like him to start his serious Hebrew study next Spring (when he will be 4 1/2 or next Fall when he'll be five. Is this roughly an appropriate age to begin? And how many classes per week would be average? Thanks in advance. >> [...] 4269 133 15_Nursing in shul14_Hadass Eviatar26_eviatar@noether.ibd.nrc.ca37_Wed, 20 Nov 1996 01:49:47 -0500 (EST)320_- Sophie wrote:

> First, my apologies for not responding sooner, I accidentally deleted this > off both my servers and had to go into dejanews to retrieve it:

I wondered what had happened to you .



>> After all, I don't eat while >> wearing it, either. I wear my tallit to davven. [...] 4403 28 29_Children's Judaica on the Web0_23_sgs@mini.skynet.att.com37_Wed, 20 Nov 1996 13:34:28 -0500 (EST)428_- I've lost the article that requested it, but someone asked for a web source for children's judaica. I've just discovered one - http://www.kar-ben.com They carry children's books with Jewish themes, mostly (if not all) picture books aimed at the 3-8 year old range. I haven't ordered anything directly from them but I have a copy of the "Mouse and the Matzoh Factory" at home that's published by them and its really cute! [...] 4432 32 56_Re: Starting Hebrew Lessons at Age Five: The Right Time?10_Linda Ward27_dilemma@dilemma.demon.co.uk37_Wed, 20 Nov 1996 14:40:48 -0500 (EST)580_- In article <56j8ef$951@news.nyu.edu>, Howard Sage wrote: > > Our Alan goes to his once-a-month Torah class, a kind of introductionn to > various aspects of Judaism. I would like him to start his serious Hebrew > study next Spring (when he will be 4 1/2 or next Fall when he'll be five. > Is this roughly an appropriate age to begin? And how many classes per week > would be average? Thanks in advance. > Howard > In our shul (Reform UK) the children start cheder in the September following their fifth birthday. As a cheder teacher, this seems [...] 4465 46 18_Milk and parchment14_Hadass Eviatar26_eviatar@noether.ibd.nrc.ca37_Wed, 20 Nov 1996 14:45:14 -0500 (EST)367_- Joshua wrote:

> 2) Nowhere in Halakha is breast milk classified with other "bodily > fluids" of an unclean nature. This has bearing on the later paragraph > in which you discuss the "horror" of dripping milk on the Torah. When > I read the Torah, I am not "horrified" when I spray spittle on the > scroll. Breast milk is no more "impure" in that sense. [...] 4512 42 43_Jewish Children and the dreaded Xmas season6_Srs91514_srs915@aol.com37_Wed, 20 Nov 1996 15:30:26 -0500 (EST)564_- [Moderator's note: this post was submitted Apr 29 and was held with the poster's permission until the season arrived. -sherri]

I know it seems like a long way off, but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions about how to deal with the Christian holiday season.

Last year my 3 1/2 year old son was very angry about the whole "Xmas" thing. My husband and I are Jewish, my inlaws are not. We keep a Jewish home, in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood and he goes to a synagogue preschool. And yet he really struggled with the idea of Santa [...] 4555 63 29_Re: Thanksgiving vs Halloween15_Robin Netherton15_robin@dgsys.com37_Wed, 20 Nov 1996 17:31:05 -0500 (EST)336_- > > mpeskin@lynx.dac.neu.edu (Marjorie Peskin) wrote: > > > [Thanksgiving] is supposidly based upon Sukkot, which is cool,

r. bernstein (rbernste@btg.com) wrote: > Well, actually, I hardly think it can be based on Sukkot, since it is > derived from the Pilgrims who landed on Plymouth Rock in, I believe, the > year 1620. [...] 4619 32 7_Judacia10_Marc Davis15_mdavis@infi.net37_Thu, 21 Nov 1996 00:24:36 -0500 (EST)337_- Someone wrote a post the other day regarding jewish music. I think her email address was Steffikarp@aol.com I tried to contact her and failed.

I would like more information on where she got her tapes for the children. We have a severe shortage here in Virgina Beach and I would like to find out where to order these tapes. [...] 4652 44 29_Re: My Daughter's Drama Class0_17_shuzamsha@aol.com37_Thu, 21 Nov 1996 08:41:43 -0500 (EST)374_- I beleive that it is vital for us to have some feeling of differentness.

That is not to say that we always must announce our beliefs to others and expect them to be respected That would be the best but doesn't happen.

For your daughter to have to question herself about not saying a "hail mary" in a play means that she can be aware of "differentness". [...] 4697 62 43_Jewish Children and the Dreaded Xmas Season15_Irene Bleiweiss16_IBLEIWEI@fcc.gov37_Thu, 21 Nov 1996 14:01:15 -0500 (EST)430_- Susan asked for input on ways that Jewish families with Christian relatives handle the December Dilemma.

I wrote an article for next month's issue of Dovetail Magazine (a mag for interfaith families) that touches on that issue. Here is an excerpt dealing with Christmas. It is from a much broader article (explaining why we are raising our children Jewish and how we deal with interfaith issues throughout the year) [...] 4760 52 27_Re: Child Friendly Havdalah15_Dahlia Mevorach25_medalia@tx.technion.ac.il37_Fri, 22 Nov 1996 01:39:29 -0500 (EST)513_- AlKeis@aol.com wrote: > > Shalom all, > > For the last couple of years, our preschool has done an annual Havdalah & > Melevah Malkah (Dinner). We do it in January so we can start at 6:00 & get > kids home at a reasonable time -- spring or summer would be nicer in terms of > the weather, but we'd never get home. > > Each year I make a booklet of the blessings, lyrics, and havdalah > do-it-yourself ideas for parents to take home. Over the years it has evolved > into a reasonably nice guide, keeping the [...] 4813 35 15_Molly's Pilgram19_Ilene S. Van Houter25_bk375@FreeNet.Buffalo.EDU37_Fri, 22 Nov 1996 01:39:32 -0500 (EST)403_- MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII From: "Ilene S. Van Houter" Subject: Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 307

The book about the clothespin immigrant doll is Molly's Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen. It is in print (the copyright is 1983) and I saw it in paperback last week at a Book Fair. If I remember correctly, there is a video based on the book. [...] 4849 23 38_Molly's Pilgrim, was Thanksg vs Hallow0_31_dmcalexander@msuvx2.memphis.edu37_Fri, 22 Nov 1996 01:39:35 -0500 (EST)439_- The book Robyn described is "Molly's Pilgrim," and it is a staple of jewish children's libraries. My older daughter bought her copy when she was five and we've read it to all, many times a year! Highly recommended.

Deanna Memphis



* 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. 4873 59 16_Christmas Coping18_ADELE BRADY BOLSON26_102437.1612@CompuServe.COM37_Fri, 22 Nov 1996 13:51:40 -0500 (EST)533_- >>I know it seems like a long way off, but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions about how to deal with the Christian holiday season.

>>Last year my 3 1/2 year old son was very angry about the whole "Xmas" thing. My husband and I are Jewish, my inlaws are not. We keep a Jewish home, in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood and he goes to a synagogue preschool. And yet he really struggled with the idea of Santa Claus; we told him Santa was not real, but some people liked to pretend he was because it was nice [...] 4933 28 20_Re: Christmas Coping14_Jan Silbermann16_js@cs.tulane.edu37_Fri, 22 Nov 1996 23:01:26 -0500 (EST)337_- In article <961122161104_102437.1612_DHT62-1@CompuServe.COM>, ADELE BRADY BOLSON <102437.1612@CompuServe.COM> wrote: >preschool. And yet he really struggled with the idea of Santa Claus; we >told him Santa was not real, but some people liked to pretend he was >because it was nice to think there was some one in the world who was [...] 4962 40 20_Re: Christmas Coping14_Andrea Herrera15_andreah@utj.org37_Sat, 23 Nov 1996 17:17:14 -0500 (EST)369_- > This is kind of a weird question. We have always told our kids that > Santa is not real and the ones in the mall are just men dressed up > in costumes etc... I always worried that my kids might go and spoil > Santa for some Christian kid by repeating this to them. Did > anyone ever have that experience? > Jan, Mommy to Tovah (6), Eliana (4) and Asher (21mo) [...] 5003 39 56_Re: Starting Hebrew Lessons at Age Five: The Right Time?0_38_Rabbi.Ari.Sintik@sunburst.ccs.yorku.ca37_Sun, 24 Nov 1996 09:24:47 -0500 (EST)511_- Linda Ward wrote:

>In article <56j8ef$951@news.nyu.edu>, Howard Sage > wrote: >> >> Our Alan goes to his once-a-month Torah class, a kind of introductionn to >> various aspects of Judaism. I would like him to start his serious Hebrew >> study next Spring (when he will be 4 1/2 or next Fall when he'll be five. >> Is this roughly an appropriate age to begin? And how many classes per week >> would be average? Thanks in advance. >> Howard [...] 5043 39 19_Re: Nursing in shul14_Robyn Kozierok16_robyn@ai.mit.edu37_Sun, 24 Nov 1996 20:04:22 -0500 (EST)648_- In article <9611191709.ZM5339@noether.ibd.nrc.ca>, Hadass Eviatar wrote: >This is correct. I am not concerned about modesty - I nurse *very* discreetly. >I do think it detracts from davvening.

Yours or that of others in the sanctuary? It sounds like you're talking about your davvening, but doesn't leaving detract even more?

>While I agree with you that YMMV, I'd be >interested in seeing what other women think of this. Could you keep your >kavvanah going with a babe suckling at your breast, or would your thoughts >wander off into sweet nothings? > >I don't find it easy to work while nursing, [...] 5083 50 19_Re: Molly's Pilgrim0_14_AlKeis@aol.com37_Sun, 24 Nov 1996 20:06:12 -0500 (EST)615_- Hi Robin and all,

In a message dated 96-11-21 00:20:21 EST, you write: >book that says that the Pilgrims got the idea for Thanksgiving from the traditional >"festival of tablernacles," so evidently at least some historians have made a link.

What I learned in one of my college american history courses, (oh, so long ago ) was that in pilgrim society almost everything had its roots in the Bible. That's why they were out searching for religious freedom -- they were prototypical fundamentalists and felt that one's actions should be directed by the book. Did the pilgrims say to themselves, [...] 5134 26 25_Crafts for Chanukah party0_18_greenhou@erols.com37_Sun, 24 Nov 1996 20:07:19 -0500 (EST)538_- I'm having a small Chanukah party for the children in my daughter's preschool class. We are Jewish, and she goes to a synagogue preschool, but I am at a loss for a small arts & crafts project that these kids (aged 4 and 5 yo) and their younger siblings (ages 2-3 yo) could do and take home. I tried making menorahs out of felt, but the thought of cutting out over 100 "candles" and 18 menorahs was overwhelming. Suggestions? Please, if you can, email me directly, but I will check the newsgroup as well. Is there an archive on the [...] 5161 24 17_Make a wish Molly0_14_AlKeis@aol.com37_Sun, 24 Nov 1996 20:08:27 -0500 (EST)437_- I was at the bookstore last night & saw a book: "Make a Wish, Molly", also by Barbara Cohen, author of "Molly's Pilgrim". I was reading the jacket when the baby threw a major temper tantrum, so I didn't stick around to buy it. :-}

According to what I was able to read, Molly is invited to a birthday party during Pesach & has to decide whether or not to eat the cake. Has anyone read this book? Is it as good as the other? [...] 5186 45 56_Re: Starting Hebrew Lessons at Age Five: The Right Time?15_Georganne Burke19_nbcnet@inforamp.net37_Sun, 24 Nov 1996 20:19:26 -0500 (EST)384_- If you are serious about Hebrew as a language, start early and in an "immersion" or Ulpan setting. The way Hebrew as a language is taught in most schools is awful (take it from me, I am a former language teacher --- not Hebrew ...). It should be fun, conversational and natural. The Hebrew which will be needed to study sacred texts is not the same, and should not be equated. [...] 5232 45 20_Re: Christmas Coping20_Irene Stern Friedman13_lexf@epix.net37_Mon, 25 Nov 1996 01:29:22 -0500 (EST)603_- Susan wrote about her preschool aged child objecting to the pervasiveness of Christmas. He also objected to he admiring Chrismas decorations. I don't think we can teach acceptance of these traditions where we are the minority, to a toddler. We can teach him tolerance and understanding of differences at other times, such as when he is NOT the minority. But on this issue it'sbest not to admire or notice in the child's presence the neighbors' Christmas decorations. Have several hannukiot at home. Make one from clay and one from paper towel cardboard rollers (don't use this one). I'm not good [...] 5278 91 20_Re: Christmas Coping16_Enid Yvonne Karr19_ekarr@ix.netcom.com37_Mon, 25 Nov 1996 14:02:44 -0500 (EST)538_- I diagree with this strongly. I think stressing Hannukah so strongly as a response to Christmas is misguided. What is important, IMHO, is stressing Judaism all year round, especially High holidays, Pesach, Sukkos and above all, Shabbat. My kids know all their holidays, celebrate Hannukah but not excessively (they prefer Pesach and Purim. Why Pesach??? Matzoh Balls!). We don't have a problem admiring christmas displays (athough CAN'T they wait till after Thanksgiving?), but we adamantly do not participate in Christmas events. [...] 5370 34 56_Re: Starting Hebrew Lessons at Age Five: The Right Time?12_naomi pardue19_npardue@indiana.edu37_Mon, 25 Nov 1996 14:03:48 -0500 (EST)396_- Howard Sage (sage@is.nyu.edu) wrote: > Our Alan goes to his once-a-month Torah class, a kind of introductionn to > various aspects of Judaism. I would like him to start his serious Hebrew > study next Spring (when he will be 4 1/2 or next Fall when he'll be five. > Is this roughly an appropriate age to begin? And how many classes per week > would be average? Thanks in advance. > Howard [...] 5405 21 35_Why is the Havdalah candle twisted?5_Terri22_artemis@mindspring.com37_Mon, 25 Nov 1996 14:04:57 -0500 (EST)340_- The heading says it all. We need to find out the answer for a Sunday school project for the morning.

Thanks!!!

Terri and Joel in GA

* 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. 5427 32 33_Re: Children's Judaica on the Web15_Robin Netherton15_robin@dgsys.com37_Mon, 25 Nov 1996 14:33:28 -0500 (EST)482_- sgs@mini.skynet.att.com wrote:

> I've lost the article that requested it, but someone > asked for a web source for children's judaica. I've > just discovered one - http://www.kar-ben.com > They carry children's books with Jewish themes, mostly (if not all) > picture books aimed at the 3-8 year old range. I haven't ordered > anything directly from them but I have a copy of the "Mouse and > the Matzoh Factory" at home that's published by them and its > really cute! [...] 5460 81 15_Nursing in shul14_Hadass Eviatar26_eviatar@noether.ibd.nrc.ca37_Tue, 26 Nov 1996 14:22:47 -0500 (EST)565_- Robin wrote:

>> This is correct. I am not concerned about modesty - I nurse *very* discreetly. >> I do think it detracts from davvening.

> Yours or that of others in the sanctuary? It sounds like you're talking about > your davvening, but doesn't leaving detract even more?

Yes, it would. Our solution is to bring a bottle of EBM (expressed breast milk) to shul with us. Sometimes he has to go out anyway because he is very tired but too excited to sleep in the sanctuary, with all the davvening going on. In that case either my husband [...] 5542 35 17_chanukah projects10_Marc Davis15_mdavis@infi.net37_Tue, 26 Nov 1996 14:27:14 -0500 (EST)616_- MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Marc Davis Subject: Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 311

In reagard to the woman who was asking for chanukah projects, have the children paint their hands blue and make two handprints on a paper with the thumbs touching. Each finger is a candle and the two thumbs together is the shamash. They can glitter the tops of each finger to look like a candle burning. It looks very nice. Also, if you cut a stencil of a dreidel and cut the inside out so it looks like a picture frame, they can color [...] 5578 25 16_Childrens' Names12_alex speigel19_orenda@interlog.com37_Wed, 27 Nov 1996 09:36:03 -0500 (EST)329_- We are expecting our fourth child in the third week of December. I would be interested in lists of Hebrew names that are related to the season, but that sound good in English. We don't know the gender. So far suggestions include Nessa, Liora, Orli, but these are all girls names, so have a 50% chance of not being useful. [...] 5604 31 33_Re: Children's Judaica on the Web14_Robyn Kozierok16_robyn@ai.mit.edu37_Wed, 27 Nov 1996 14:12:38 -0500 (EST)535_- In article <57cbo3$blc@news.dgsys.com>, Robin Netherton wrote:

>I am thrilled with the books I've gotten from Kar-Ben for my 3yo, >particularly the board books, which make nice, simple introductions to the >holidays and other concepts.

Which ones do you have? We have Sammy Spider's First Hanukkah (BIG hit!) and First Passover (less exciting). We also have "A Taste for Noah" which I don't think Ryan even let me read last Passover ;-( "Only 9 Chairs" (also for Passover) went over pretty well. [...] 5636 101 19_Re: Nursing in shul14_Hadass Eviatar26_eviatar@noether.ibd.nrc.ca37_Wed, 27 Nov 1996 14:14:43 -0500 (EST)277_- On Nov 27, 1:08pm, Robyn Kozierok wrote: > > I guess this is another case of YMMV. This *might* have worked for > Ryan, but it would never work for Matthew. Matt is a reluctant bottle > taker (even though he is in daycare full-time), even more so if I am in > the room. [...] 5738 30 39_Re: Why is the Havdalah candle twisted?0_17_shuzamsha@aol.com37_Thu, 28 Nov 1996 18:17:52 -0500 (EST)342_- Hi B~)

The Ashkenaz custom is to have more than one wick of the havdalah candle making more than one flame. This is as the Bracha states "Creates the LightS of fire"

To help ensure that the wicks do intertwine the candle is twisted.

Sorry but no Kabbalistic insights here.

Kol Tuv

In Torah Blessings [...]