1 SHAMASH.ORG /usr/www/wwwhc/listserv/archives/scj-parenting June 1997 2 25 26_Re: My wonderful kid, CTTD8_CBreglia16_cbreglia@aol.com36_Sun, 1 Jun 1997 00:41:19 -0400 (EDT)519_- My husband and I just went to a Catholic wedding with Gabriel who is 2 yrs 4 mos old. I explained to him on the way in that it was like being at the grownup service at temple--he had to sit quietly and be a big boy etc. While the priest was doing a reading (silence in the congregation) Gabriel picked up a hymnal, opened it up and started pointing to words, saying "Mikol, Haleylot, Baruch, Shel Shabbos." I thought my aunt sitting next to us would choke trying not to laugh out loud. Also, any time there is a [...] 28 19 11_Miscarriage8_CBreglia16_cbreglia@aol.com36_Mon, 2 Jun 1997 00:14:36 -0400 (EDT)353_- Is it permissable to say Kaddish in shul the first Shabbos one attends after a miscarriage? Even if it is not the first Shabbos after the mis? 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. 48 21 23_Move to West Palm Beach20_Carla Marie Atkinson24_cmatkins@acs.ucalgary.ca36_Mon, 2 Jun 1997 00:14:37 -0400 (EDT)364_- Last week I saw a message re schools. I am moving from Calgary,Canada to WPB in August and am also wondering if anyone knows what area would have Jewish kids. Mine are *,% and 3 years old. Which elementary school would have a large number of Jewish kids. The one advantage I know is that in general the Jewish community is much larger than here in Calgary. [...] 70 27 11_Bar Mitzvah11_David Green16_dgreens@SoCA.com36_Mon, 2 Jun 1997 02:19:19 -0400 (EDT)408_- We're having a Bar Mitzvah in January. Does anyone have any ideas to enhance the ceremony and celebration? Everyone we know is having a theme party. Any ideas? We've got an A student, involved in student government, a competitive swimmer with a passion for playing electric guitar. We think about these: "Reaching for the Gold" or just featuring his guitar, but feel "Is this the Jewish thing to do?" [...] 98 53 28_Bar/Bat Mitzvah Celebrattion12_r. bernstein18_rbernstein@btg.com36_Mon, 2 Jun 1997 10:16:18 -0400 (EDT)490_- Thinking about how bar/bat mitzvahs are celebrated in this country has, of late, caused me extreme consternation. I'm very curious is there are others out there who agree with why this upsets me.

A bar mitzvah is a religious celebration - on that, I'm sure we're all agreed. The bar mitzvah takes place during a formal religious service, either on a Friday night or Saturday morning. The child learns his "haftorah" portion and proudly recites it. Prayers are said, etc. etc. [...] 152 29 15_Re: Bar Mitzvah14_Aaron Kuperman12_akup@loc.gov36_Mon, 2 Jun 1997 12:41:20 -0400 (EDT)483_- At most the Jewish thing to do at a Bar Mitzvah is to have a nice meal with close friend and relations, and for the boy to show off his scholarship and act like an adult. Unfortunatley most of our boys (including the ultra-Orthodox who claim to be unaware of American culture) have assimilated the very un-Jewish concept of conspicuous consumption, and dreamed up the idea that a Bar Mitzvah should be a big party. The "Jewish" thing to do is to give charity and learn Torah. [...] 182 40 8_RE: CTTD0_16_NinaSalk@aol.com36_Mon, 2 Jun 1997 17:57:05 -0400 (EDT)597_- In a message dated 6/1/97 11:05:29 PM, Claudia wrote:

<>

Your story reminded me of something *my* Gabriel, almost 5, did a few weeks ago at the family Shabbat service. Gabe picked up the siddur and started going through the Hebrew text pointing out the letter SHIN and saying "SHIN" very loudly everytime he saw one. At first I was proud that he recognized the Hebrew letter. But then I [...] 223 58 15_Re: Bar Mitzvah9_Angelk 5916_angelk59@aol.com36_Mon, 2 Jun 1997 18:00:31 -0400 (EDT)444_- David Green writes:

>We're having a Bar Mitzvah in January. Does anyone have any ideas to >enhance the >ceremony and celebration? Everyone we know is having a theme party. >Any ideas? >We've got an A student, involved in student government, a competitive >swimmer with a >passion for playing electric guitar. We think about these: "Reaching >for the Gold" >or just featuring his guitar, but feel "Is this the Jewish thing to do?" [...] 282 51 15_Re: Bar Mitzvah12_Ron Kritzman18_ronk@NOSPAMais.net36_Mon, 2 Jun 1997 18:01:29 -0400 (EDT)545_- David Green wrote: > > We're having a Bar Mitzvah in January. Does anyone have any ideas to > enhance the > ceremony and celebration? Everyone we know is having a theme party. > Any ideas?

As far as enhancing the ceremony, there's really no ceremony to enhance. Its not like a wedding where the ceremony itself makes something happen. To become a bar mitzvah, all one has to do it wake up on his 13th birthday. The whole rest of it is a celebration of that. Traditionally the bar mitzvah boy is called to the Torah, because now he [...] 334 37 23_Adoption and Conversion2_RG13_roggr@mhv.net36_Tue, 3 Jun 1997 11:29:29 -0400 (EDT)296_- Can anyone out there help me?

My son (5 years old) and my daughter (1 year old) are both adopted. Both birthmothers are gentile. However, I want my children to be Jewish, to be considered Jewish by the larger community, for their children to be eligible for the law of return, etc. [...] 372 32 16_kids and kashrut10_I. Pour-El18_pourel@iastate.edu36_Tue, 3 Jun 1997 16:21:02 -0400 (EDT)525_- My 6 year old son will be eating lunch at our local public school beginning this fall. We need an easy explanation of dietary law observance so that he can sort out what is on his food tray i.e. not "the bible says that fish must have fins and scales" but a set of rules like "no ice cream after hamburger", easy to understand, memorize and follow. Does anyone have a good (hopefully amusing) text. He is not required to eat only kosher meat outside the home but we want him to "separate" and avoid "forbidden" foods. [...] 405 38 27_Re: Move to West Palm Beach12_S. Garfinkle13_seg@flash.net36_Wed, 4 Jun 1997 01:12:35 -0400 (EDT)642_- In message - Carla Marie Atkinson writes: :> :>Last week I saw a message re schools. I am moving from Calgary,Canada to :>WPB in August and am also wondering if anyone knows what area would have :>Jewish kids. Mine are *,% and 3 years old. Which elementary school would :>have a large number of Jewish kids. The one advantage I know is that in :>general the Jewish community is much larger than here in Calgary. :> There is a very good Conservative ("conservadox") elementary and middle school in the eastern part of WPB. If you think you will [...] 444 27 16_kids and kashrut19_Ilene S. Van Houter25_bk375@FreeNet.Buffalo.EDU36_Wed, 4 Jun 1997 10:51:48 -0400 (EDT)509_- MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII From: "Ilene S. Van Houter" Subject: kids and kashrut





Fins and Scales is an adorable picture book which is written in rhyme and easy to memorize. Sorry, I can't remember the author.

Ilene



* 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. 472 23 20_Re: Kids and Kashrut0_14_Srb162@aol.com36_Wed, 4 Jun 1997 11:37:04 -0400 (EDT)536_- My experience with an oldest child who is 6 yrs old is that he is too young and probably too concerned with pleasing you to put all responsibility of food choice on his shoulders. Our school sends a monthly food menu home and I sit down with my daughter to make choices together. That way she does not have to "worry" about making a mistake. Kids are very black and white about choices until they are older. In our home she understands kashrut primarily as dairy vs. meat as it apploies to the choice of plates and cutlery. I am [...] 496 29 20_Re: kids and kashrut10_ChanaRivka18_chanarivka@aol.com36_Wed, 4 Jun 1997 13:01:29 -0400 (EDT)349_- In article <5n1rfd$748$1@news.iastate.edu>, pourel@iastate.edu (I. Pour-El) writes:

>I guess what we need is a funny, dietary law rhyme.

What helped me with my kids is a book called "Fins and Scales: A Kosher Tale" by Deborah Uchill Miller and Karen Ostrove (Kar-Ben Copies, Inc) It's set in rhyme and we found it very amusing. [...] 526 30 15_Re: Bar Mitzvah19_Lynne A Fitzsimmons25_lynnef@mdhost.cse.tek.com36_Wed, 4 Jun 1997 14:44:56 -0400 (EDT)428_- (What to do about a Bar Mitzvah theme party?...)

I'd recommend reading Putting God on the Guest List, by Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin.

The centerpieces at my nephew's Bar Mitzvah were all envelopes and brochures from his favorite charities, wonderfully arranged on flower picks.

My daughter's party was just family and friends, nice weather, our backyard, grilled salmon, and the neighbor's portable stereo. [...] 557 46 16_Re: bar mitzvahs0_16_JRomjrom@aol.com36_Wed, 4 Jun 1997 16:57:45 -0400 (EDT)390_- In a message dated 97-06-03 03:58:46 EDT, you write:

<< I have virtually never met anyone who has done what I plan to do. In fact, when I was bas mitzvahed, girls did not have the lavish parties that boys did, but now they almost always do - equal time, I guess. Does anyone else understand my point? Has anyone else done what I plan to do??? Thanks for your input on this!>> [...] 604 50 29_Sharing Food in Kosher School15_Marjorie Peskin24_mpeskin@lynx.dac.neu.edu36_Wed, 4 Jun 1997 17:21:10 -0400 (EDT)556_- I need help with a small problem. My twins go to a preschool affiliated with the Conservative branch. The school has a kashrut policy, and is strictly dairy. However, most of the families in the school don't keep kosher, and pack what I consider questionable food in their kids lunchboxes. I don't think they're malicious, I just don't think they know better. Plus, the school has a policy of not allowing the kids to share food. But guess what? The kids share food all the time, and this is causing me no end of grief. My daughter ate gummies last [...] 655 60 31_Family trip to Jewish New York?17_L. Joseph Bachman25_jbachman@access.digex.net36_Wed, 4 Jun 1997 18:49:41 -0400 (EDT)338_- I'm researching the possibility of a long-weekend trip to New York for the family (my wife, 6-year-old daughter, and myself.) We would be travelling there over Shabbat, and I've heard that it's possible to find a few Jews and shuls in New York, and even kosher food :-). (Unlike some of the other places we've taken vacations to.) [...] 716 33 27_Re: Move to West Palm Beach18_Jeffrey A. Schlang23_schlang@rtp.ericsson.se36_Wed, 4 Jun 1997 22:52:10 -0400 (EDT)409_- Carla Marie Atkinson wrote:

> Last week I saw a message re schools. I am moving from Calgary,Canada to > WPB in August and am also wondering if anyone knows what area would have > Jewish kids. Mine are *,% and 3 years old. Which elementary school would > have a large number of Jewish kids. The one advantage I know is that in > general the Jewish community is much larger than here in Calgary. [...] 750 42 27_Re: Move to West Palm Beach18_Jeffrey A. Schlang23_schlang@rtp.ericsson.se36_Wed, 4 Jun 1997 23:42:43 -0400 (EDT)547_- Carla Marie Atkinson wrote: > > Last week I saw a message re schools. I am moving from Calgary,Canada to > WPB in August and am also wondering if anyone knows what area would have > Jewish kids. Mine are *,% and 3 years old. Which elementary school would > have a large number of Jewish kids. The one advantage I know is that in > general the Jewish community is much larger than here in Calgary. > > * This post reflects the author's opinion; the moderators' opinions may differ. > * Posters seeking medical or halachic information should [...] 793 34 20_Re: kids and kashrut15_Marjorie Peskin24_mpeskin@lynx.dac.neu.edu36_Wed, 4 Jun 1997 23:48:03 -0400 (EDT)400_- ChanaRivka (chanarivka@aol.com) wrote: : In article <5n1rfd$748$1@news.iastate.edu>, pourel@iastate.edu (I. : Pour-El) writes:

: >I guess what we need is a funny, dietary law rhyme.

: What helped me with my kids is a book called "Fins and Scales: A Kosher : Tale" by Deborah Uchill Miller and Karen Ostrove (Kar-Ben Copies, Inc) : It's set in rhyme and we found it very amusing. [...] 828 43 23_Kids in shul on Shavuot13_Nicole & Mark22_instream@earthlink.net36_Thu, 5 Jun 1997 22:40:29 -0400 (EDT)366_- I recently joined my local Reform temple and was wondering what most people do in terms of attending Shavuot services with very young, rambunctious children. My 3 year old daughter has not behaved all that well in the past at very informal "Tot Shabbot" services and I have every reason to believe that her behavior will be no better at a "grown-up" service. [...] 872 76 33_Re: Sharing Food in Kosher School9_Angelk 5916_angelk59@aol.com36_Thu, 5 Jun 1997 22:42:35 -0400 (EDT)556_- Marjorie,

My first instinct is to say, "It's only 3 more weeks." However, there's more to this here. There is an issue of respect going on.

Like you said, I'm sure many of the parents that do not keep Kashrut are unaware of what they are packing. I know that when Micah was at the local JCC, kids would have stuff in their lunch...all Heshered...however it would be Beefaroni and chocolate milk and jello. Most of the parents thought, it has the mark on it, so it must be cool and not understand the beefaroni/chocolate milk conflict. [...] 949 36 33_Re: Sharing Food in Kosher School20_Jennifer M. Paquette22_JPaquette@premenos.com36_Fri, 6 Jun 1997 08:17:44 -0400 (EDT)423_- > don't know of any that are hechshered, do you? Yesterday she described a > cracker that had a 'cheese' filling that a friend shared with her. I'd > bet my life those aren't kosher.

Actually, and surprisingly, I managed to find a few months ago, some cheese crackers, of the type you describe, that WERE kosher. So there! Dan l'kaf zechus -- give this incident the benefit of the doubt. As for the Jello...? [...] 986 26 15_Re: Bar Mitzvah19_Alexander Shekhtman21_mitzvah@sj.bigger.net36_Fri, 6 Jun 1997 08:33:17 -0400 (EDT)369_- to the family of the bar mitzvah boy:

as on orthodox jew i see nothing wrong with this; just make sure the theme is indeed jewish and kosher.

mitzvah_boy@hotmail.com

p.s. mazel tov to your son...may he find the true path to Hashem and His Torah. and may you have lots of nachas from his wonderful accomplishments, both religious and secular [...] 1013 36 35_Re: Family trip to Jewish New York?15_Richard A. Ifft20_raifft@ix.netcom.com36_Fri, 6 Jun 1997 10:26:48 -0400 (EDT)608_- In jbachman@access.digex.net (L. Joseph Bachman) writes: > >I'm researching the possibility of a long-weekend trip to New York for the >family (my wife, 6-year-old daughter, and myself.) > >Jewish sites or activities that would be of interest to a 6-year old, and >her parents, too!

My husband, my daughter--who was about 8 at the time, and I really enjoyed the tenement museum on the Lower East Side. It's not a totally Jewish site, as one of the apartments is re-created the way it was when it belonged to an Italian (I think) family, but it certainly is part of [...] 1050 37 27_re: Kids in shul on Shavuot18_Thomas A Longstaff20_tl2b+@andrew.cmu.edu36_Fri, 6 Jun 1997 11:38:19 -0400 (EDT)367_- Isaac has always gone to services with us. I have brought toys and coloring things and food. Life savers worked great at around 3.

Our Rabbi's want the kids there adn say they can talk over any kid. I try to be careful adn if he gets too wild I bring him to baby sitting. but he is 6 now and can handle just lying there and quietly playing for an hour. [...] 1088 93 33_Re: Sharing Food in Kosher School6_samfam20_samfam@easynet.co.uk36_Sun, 8 Jun 1997 19:42:27 -0400 (EDT)579_- I recognize the problem. In the school my kids go to they are in a similar situation ie they keep kosher and not all their class-mates do. The school is strict about only allowing kids to bring kosher things in for day-trips or breaktime snacks. Lunch is not a problem as it is provided by the school. My problem was birthday parties, where non-kosher families were usually very careful our kids only ate kosher but semi-kosher families were a problem. I usually solved it by hanging around. I found often the entertainers at parties would hand out sweets (non-kosher) as [...] 1182 35 33_Re: Sharing Food in Kosher School0_14_AlKeis@aol.com36_Sun, 8 Jun 1997 22:37:16 -0400 (EDT)569_- In a message dated 97-06-05 08:07:35 EDT, mpeskin@lynx.dac.neu.edu (Marjorie Peskin) wrote:

<< How do other Kosher schools deal with food sharing? And how do Kosher schools check for non-Kosher foods brought in various lunchboxes? >>

I'm at a JCC preschool and because of the very issues you raised, we don't allow children to bring in food, we supply lunch & snack. The exception is birthdays -- if parents like, they may bring in a treat from the kosher bakery. It makes kashrut a whole lot easier, but obviously adds to the cost of the program. [...] 1218 64 27_Re: Kids in shul on Shavuot9_K Goldman20_kgold@watson.ibm.com36_Sun, 8 Jun 1997 22:37:27 -0400 (EDT)441_- Nicole & Mark writes: |> I recently joined my local Reform temple and was wondering what most |> people do in terms of attending Shavuot services with very young, |> rambunctious children. My 3 year old daughter has not behaved all that |> well in the past at very informal "Tot Shabbot" services and I have |> every reason to believe that her behavior will be no better at a |> "grown-up" service. [snipped] [...] 1283 40 32_Re: Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebrations14_MS ANN SCHRAGE19_UYMZ77A@prodigy.com36_Sun, 8 Jun 1997 22:37:32 -0400 (EDT)522_- My daughter's Bat Mitzvah last year was the first I had attended in 14 years. When we originally spoke about it, we decided a small party in the backyard, a barbeque or something like that, was all that we could afford. I changed my mind, and Cindy had a small party the next day. Her Bat Mitzvah was on Sat evening in the synagogue and I'm so proud of her. The party was the next day, a luncheon. She was allowed to invite 20 friends, and the rest of the 53 people were basically my family and friends. Her father [...] 1324 33 35_Re: Family trip to Jewish New York?9_Amy Green26_agreen@mail.bcpl.lib.md.us36_Sun, 8 Jun 1997 22:37:34 -0400 (EDT)543_- jbachman@access.digex.net (L. Joseph Bachman) wrote:



=> =>Your favorite child-friendly kosher restaurants, especially for cusines =>that we can't find at home (at home [Baltimore], we have fast food, pizza, =>deli, Chinese, dairy bistro, and "American" kosher restaurants.) =>

I can't help with the rest, but I now live outside of Baltimore and let me tell you... there is no kosher deli in Baltimore. Well... not like there is in NY anyway. :-) You might want to try a real NY deli, it is a quite the experiance. [...] 1358 33 35_Re: Family trip to Jewish New York?14_Simon L. Klein16_slklein@tiac.net36_Mon, 9 Jun 1997 12:29:30 -0400 (EDT)571_- L. Joseph Bachman wrote:

> I'm researching the possibility of a long-weekend trip to New York for the > family (my wife, 6-year-old daughter, and myself.) We would be travelling > there over Shabbat, and I've heard that it's possible to find a few Jews > and shuls in New York, and even kosher food :-). (Unlike some of the other > places we've taken vacations to.) > I used to take a youth group from the Boston area to visit Jewish New York. Now I take my own 7-year-old daughter. I suggest the congregation at West 100th that [...] 1392 87 27_RE: Adoption and Conversion13_Renee Primack36_rprimack@ATLANTA.ViewCallAmerica.com36_Mon, 9 Jun 1997 17:40:30 -0400 (EDT)542_- MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Renee Primack Subject: RE: Adoption and Conversion

I sort-of hesitate to respond to this, because of what I consider to be the can of worms that this sort of question opens up. But, here goes anyway...

I am the spouse of a Reconstructionist Rabbi and myself spent a year and a half at the Rabinical college before deciding it wasn't for me. Just so you know where I'm coming from. [...] 1480 35 11_Bar Mitzvah0_16_JRomjrom@aol.com37_Tue, 10 Jun 1997 00:14:03 -0400 (EDT)425_- In a message dated 97-06-09 01:38:10 EDT, you write:

<< The main reason I changed my mind about the small backyard party is the candlelighting ceremony. >>

i think there might have been a thread about this a while back, but i am not sure. (as to how much an innovation a candlelighting ceremony was or if this is an older custom). we did it at my son's bar mitzvah and it seemed old fashioned and retro. [...] 1516 50 27_Re: Kids in shul on Shavuot13_Nicole & Mark22_instream@earthlink.net37_Tue, 10 Jun 1997 08:46:17 -0400 (EDT)294_- K Goldman wrote: (snip...) >When my son was 3-4, we sometimes brought some drawing materials, > and we suggested that he draw what he was seeing, the ark, Torah, > Rabbi, and so on. This seems to me somewhat better than just bringing > random toys which have nothing to do with Shabbat. [...] 1567 51 27_RE: Adoption and Conversion14_Andrea Herrera15_andreah@utj.org37_Tue, 10 Jun 1997 08:51:29 -0400 (EDT)590_- Renee Primack Wrote: > Here's my problem: the orthodox (realizing that this is a gross > over-simplification) rule the state of Israel with regards to personal > status, which is what you're asking about. So the short answer is, have > them converted by a reputable orthodox rabbi.

> The issue for me, though, is that you belong to a congregation that is > not, and you yourselves are not, orthodox. By allowing your religious > practices to be dictated by the orthodox you are invaldidating your > Rabbi, your faith and everything that you teach your children > religiously. [...] 1619 35 28_Re: SCJ-PARENTING digest 4560_16_JRomjrom@aol.com37_Tue, 10 Jun 1997 14:52:31 -0400 (EDT)425_- In a message dated 97-06-09 01:38:10 EDT, you write:

<< The main reason I changed my mind about the small backyard party is the candlelighting ceremony. >>

i think there might have been a thread about this a while back, but i am not sure. (as to how much an innovation a candlelighting ceremony was or if this is an older custom). we did it at my son's bar mitzvah and it seemed old fashioned and retro. [...] 1655 63 25_Celebrating a Bar Mitzvah12_r. bernstein18_rbernstein@btg.com37_Tue, 10 Jun 1997 18:34:26 -0400 (EDT)571_- [Mod - This is a repost of a message that did not make it onto most newsreaders due to expiration problems. Please pardon it if you've seen it before. Chag Sameach. ]

Thinking about how bar/bat mitzvahs are celebrated in this country has, of late, caused me extreme consternation. I'm very curious is there are others out there who agree with why this upsets me. > A bar mitzvah is a religious celebration - on that, I'm sure we're all agreed. The bar mitzvah takes place during a formal religious service, either on a Friday night or Saturday morning. The [...] 1719 62 29_Re: Celebrating a Bar Mitzvah13_Nicole & Mark22_instream@earthlink.net37_Thu, 12 Jun 1997 04:28:01 -0400 (EDT)571_- Risa-r. bernstein wrote: > > Thinking about how bar/bat mitzvahs are celebrated in this country has, > of late, caused me extreme consternation. I'm very curious is there are > others out there who agree with why this upsets me. (...snip) I can fully understand $10, 20, > even $50K (or way more, from recent weddings I've to) being spent on a > wedding. It's a lot of money, but parents-of-daughters-getting-married > will be parents. However, what I *can't* understand is the same amount > of money being spent on a bar-mitzvah party! When I was 13 and going to [...] 1782 84 27_Re: Adoption and Conversion19_Mark C. Chu-Carroll40_Anti_Spam__mcc__Anti_Spam@watson.ibm.com37_Thu, 12 Jun 1997 11:31:25 -0400 (EDT)613_- Andrea Herrera wrote in article <199706101032.FAA26220@oak.zilker.net>... > > >Renee Primack Wrote: >> Here's my problem: the orthodox (realizing that this is a gross >> over-simplification) rule the state of Israel with regards to personal >> status, which is what you're asking about. So the short answer is, have >> them converted by a reputable orthodox rabbi. > >> The issue for me, though, is that you belong to a congregation that is >> not, and you yourselves are not, orthodox. By allowing your religious >> practices to be dictated by the orthodox you are invaldidating your >> Rabbi, your faith [...] 1867 81 29_Re: Celebrating a Bar Mitzvah10_Irv Cantor15_ibclc@erols.com37_Fri, 13 Jun 1997 08:29:16 -0400 (EDT)578_- On Tue, 10 Jun 1997 18:34:26 -0400 (EDT), "r. bernstein" wrote:

>[Mod - This is a repost of a message that did not make it onto most > newsreaders due to expiration problems. Please pardon it if > you've seen it before. Chag Sameach. ] > >Thinking about how bar/bat mitzvahs are celebrated in this country has, >of late, caused me extreme consternation. I'm very curious is there are >others out there who agree with why this upsets me. >> >A bar mitzvah is a religious celebration - on that, I'm sure we're all >agreed. The bar mitzvah takes [...] 1949 86 27_Re: Adoption and Conversion38_Brent B. Powers Swaps Programmer x229313_powers@ml.com37_Fri, 13 Jun 1997 20:50:58 -0400 (EDT)438_- [Moderator note: This discussion has turned from discussing parenting issues regarding conversion of children, to the halachic implications of conversion. It is no longer under the umbrella of Jewish Parenting, and therefore is not within the scjp charter. Therefore, this is the last post on this discussion that will be allowed unless there is parenting content. Further discussion of this matter belongs on soc.culture.jewish.] [...] 2036 34 29_Re: Celebrating a Bar Mitzvah11_Marsha Rapp26_marsha@parker.inter.net.il37_Sun, 15 Jun 1997 09:00:17 -0400 (EDT)554_- I also have to agree with Risa about not doing a "big" thing for a bar/bat mitzvah.

Maybe I'm lucky in that where I live (Kiryat Arba Israel) people don't go overboard for either bar or bat mitzvah's. I figure that for my daughter (in 2 years) I'll have the obligatory party for her class (about 35-40 girls) at home, a simple birthday party - nothing too fancy, and then maybe about 2-4 weeks later (depending on when my family can come in from the States) a SIMPLE family dinner at a restaurant with my mom, sister, my husband's parents, [...] 2071 131 29_Re: Celebrating a Bar Mitzvah0_17_meirman@erols.com37_Mon, 16 Jun 1997 12:40:55 -0400 (EDT)609_- In soc.culture.jewish.parenting on Tue, 10 Jun 1997 18:34:26 -0400 (EDT) "r. bernstein" posted:

>[Mod - This is a repost of a message that did not make it onto most > newsreaders due to expiration problems. Please pardon it if > you've seen it before. Chag Sameach. ]

>Thinking about how bar/bat mitzvahs are celebrated in this country has, >of late, caused me extreme consternation. I'm very curious is there are >others out there who agree with why this upsets me. >> >A bar mitzvah is a religious celebration - on that, I'm sure we're all >agreed. The bar mitzvah [...] 2203 75 29_Re: Celebrating a Bar Mitzvah19_Shoshana L. Boublil25_toramada@netvision.net.il37_Mon, 16 Jun 1997 15:21:33 -0400 (EDT)400_- A few years ago my oldest daughter had her bat-mitzvah. As is customary, we planned to invite her class (about 40 girls) and our extended family.

B"H, counting only up to second cousins (and their children) - we had close to 200 people to invite.

To round it off, we invited just a few personal friends. We also decide that we might as well invite the rest of the family . [...] 2279 27 36_Looking for penpal for my 7 year old5_Robin21_robin214@pipeline.com37_Thu, 19 Jun 1997 17:17:22 -0400 (EDT)426_- Matthew who is 7 and is just finishing 1st grade this week has been bugging me to find him a penpal. We live in New York and are somewhere between reform and conservative. He likes baseball, soccer, science and whining. Is there someone out there who's child is interested in doing the same? I would probably have to help him write alittle bit. Thanks- Robin If you aren't sending spam respond to robin214@pipeline.com [...] 2307 25 14_Parsha Stories0_28_metzgerda@CCVAX.CCS.CSUS.EDU37_Sun, 22 Jun 1997 08:17:24 -0400 (EDT)514_- Ever since school ended my 6 year old has been requesting that I tell him "parsha stories." Can anyone recommend a good book that I can read to him? I guess any good bible story book would also work. Thanks, Debbie dmetzger@csus.edu



============================================================================== 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. [...] 2333 40 18_Re: Parsha Stories10_Irv Cantor15_ibclc@erols.com37_Sun, 22 Jun 1997 20:35:16 -0400 (EDT)337_- On Sun, 22 Jun 1997 08:17:24 -0400 (EDT), metzgerda@CCVAX.CCS.CSUS.EDU wrote:

> >Ever since school ended my 6 year old has been requesting that I tell him >"parsha stories." Can anyone recommend a good book that I can read to him? > I guess any good bible story book would also work. >Thanks, Debbie >dmetzger@csus.edu > > [...] 2374 38 27_Bibliography for older kids18_Bissell Tina Irene18_tbissell@umich.edu37_Mon, 23 Jun 1997 09:37:41 -0400 (EDT)658_- MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII From: Bissell Tina Irene Subject: Bibliography for older kids

Hello. Do you have any recommendations for books for middle-school-aged children (roughly 11 through 14)? In purchasing books for our synagogue library I have found plenty of choice for younger children, and older teens can and do read literature geared towards adults, but I haven't seen much for the middle group. There are several Holocaust-themed books but I am hoping to find other options. If you reply directly to me at the email address below, I will be happy to summarize to the list. Thank [...] 2413 22 18_Re: Parsha stories0_16_NinaSalk@aol.com37_Mon, 23 Jun 1997 09:38:25 -0400 (EDT)572_- I recommend Marc Gellman's book of children's midrash, "Does God Have a Big Toe?" It's not parasha by parasha, but it's wonderful. -- Nina Salkin

============================================================================== 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.

ACKs are handled by an autoresponder. If you modify your From: or Reply-To: lines to prevent spamming, you will not receive ACKs of submission or posts 2436 66 18_Re: Parsha Stories8_AngelK3816_angelk38@aol.com37_Mon, 23 Jun 1997 14:37:29 -0400 (EDT)556_- >Ever since school ended my 6 year old has been requesting that I tell him >"parsha stories." Can anyone recommend a good book that I can read to him? > I guess any good bible story book would also work. >Thanks, Debbie

Debbie,

Shari Lewis put out a couple of One Minute storybooks that might be up your alley. There is one that is entitled One Minute Jewish Stories and I think there's One Minute Bible Stories that are from the Hebrew Scriptures. We have the Jewish Stories one and it has stories like King David and the spider, why [...] 2503 28 22_Saving Upshirnish Hair14_Jan Silbermann16_js@cs.tulane.edu37_Tue, 24 Jun 1997 08:23:25 -0400 (EDT)302_- Does anyone have some neat ideas for saving upshirnish hair? Asher is due for his first haircut next year. One idea I have is to buy a picture frame with three spaces. One space will be a photo of him before the hair cut, one space after the haircut and one space for the hair. Any other ideas? [...] 2532 37 18_Re: Parsha Stories9_Shluchim217_shluchim2@aol.com37_Tue, 24 Jun 1997 10:00:26 -0400 (EDT)378_- You might want to take a look at the following:

The Little Midrash Says (Feldheim or Moznaim Publishing, available in most Jewish community bookstores). This is a five-volume children's version of The Midrash Says, an English translation of all the classic Midrashic commentaries on the Torah. It comes complete with illustrations and questions after each Parsha. [...] 2570 22 21_Bar Matzvah for Twins10_Brian Link21_briandl@ix.netcom.com37_Tue, 24 Jun 1997 12:58:00 -0400 (EDT)517_- Does anyone have any experience with putting together a Bar Mitzvah for twin boys?



============================================================================== 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.

ACKs are handled by an autoresponder. If you modify your From: or Reply-To: lines to prevent spamming, you will not receive ACKs of submission or posts 2593 24 18_Re: Parsha Stories0_15_TAlpert@aol.com37_Wed, 25 Jun 1997 06:34:04 -0400 (EDT)491_- One book that I'd recommend is "Sidrah Stories," published by UAHC Press. It doesn't tell the story of each parashah; rather, it provides Jewish stories that reflect a theme of that week's portion.

--Tom Alpert

============================================================================== 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. [...] 2618 34 25_Re: Bar Matzvah for Twins11_Alan Houser15_troop24@emf.net37_Wed, 25 Jun 1997 09:27:11 -0400 (EDT)455_- Brian Link (briandl@ix.netcom.com) wrote: : Does anyone have any experience with putting together a Bar Mitzvah for : twin boys?

Yes, what would you like to know?

My sons shared the service, each doing a different portion of the Torah and the Haftorah readings.

Other twins in our congregation have done theirs separately, Saturday morning & afternoon, Friday evening and Saturday morning, or even different Shabbats entirely. [...] 2653 32 14_books for kids14_MS ANN SCHRAGE19_UYMZ77A@prodigy.com37_Wed, 25 Jun 1997 18:40:44 -0400 (EDT)527_- In the last digest I received, Karla mentions the book about the Oakland fires during Sukkot. Funny, I just read that to my little one tonite, and every time I read it, it brings a tear to my eye. The book is called "Tikvah Means Hope", it's written by Patricia Polacco (she also wrote Mrs. Katz and Tush but I haven't read that one). It's published by Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc. Copyright 1994. ISBN 0-440-41229-3. > It's a wonderful book. [...] 2686 26 25_Re: Bar Matzvah for Twins0_18_JGoldmeier@aol.com37_Thu, 26 Jun 1997 10:10:23 -0400 (EDT)324_- As far as reading the Torah is concerned, a family in my shul made a Bar mitzvah for twin boys. The father made them each learn the whole Parsha and then right before Laining started he told the first one which half he was going to lain. The rest of the service was easier, one did Shacharis and the other did Musaf. [...] 2713 65 17_Tikvah Means Hope15_Marjorie Peskin24_mpeskin@lynx.dac.neu.edu37_Thu, 26 Jun 1997 10:10:50 -0400 (EDT)613_- MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Marjorie Peskin Subject: Tikvah Means Hope

> > In the last digest I received, Karla mentions the book about the > Oakland fires during Sukkot. Funny, I just read that to my little one > tonite, and every time I read it, it brings a tear to my eye. The > book is called "Tikvah Means Hope", it's written by Patricia Polacco > (she also wrote Mrs. Katz and Tush but I haven't read that one). It's > published by Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, a > division of [...] 2779 61 30_A Bas Mitzvah to be Remembered12_r. bernstein18_rbernstein@btg.com37_Thu, 26 Jun 1997 13:17:58 -0400 (EDT)321_- I recently posted my dismay at what people think they "have" to do to celebrate a Bas/Bar Mitzvah. Well, this past weekend we went to one (my husband's cousin's daughter - follow?) and I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised by what his cousin did. Thought I'd pass it along to y'all (I'll try to be short). [...] 2841 60 37_Survey request - Jewish kindergartens13_Daniel Levine22_daniel@herbie.UCSD.EDU37_Thu, 26 Jun 1997 22:57:05 -0400 (EDT)276_- [ Mod. - As the author admits. "This is not the forum for a discussion of the issues of starting school a year earlier or later." Only comments related to the last paragraphs questions are on charter and I ask respondants to please limit their replies to this topic. ] [...] 2902 116 48_Patricia Pollacco Books (Was: Tikvah Means Hope)8_AngelK3816_angelk38@aol.com37_Fri, 27 Jun 1997 05:31:31 -0400 (EDT)573_- Majorie writes about _Tikveh Means Hope_:

>I love this book too, but I'd recommend that parents read it first by >themselves. I first got it from our former preschool Shabbat book >lending program, and when I brought it out to read to the kids I ended >up sobbing uncontrollably and couldn't go on. Now, I admit I'm a wimp >when it comes to reunion stories in general, and I'm from California and >lived in a fire belt and have experienced firsthand dangerous fires as a >child, plus I'm a cat lover, but this book really took me beyond >personal experience. [...] 3019 30 23_Multiples B'nai Mitzvah0_16_JRomjrom@aol.com37_Fri, 27 Jun 1997 05:31:33 -0400 (EDT)506_- In a message dated 97-06-26 13:26:19 EDT, you write:

<< Does anyone have any experience with putting together a Bar Mitzvah for : twin boys? >>

our cantor did a b'nai mitzvot for QUINTUPLETS. article about it in Hadassah magazine. the kids did a skit about their parsha instead of a speech. i hear it was a wonderful service, no dry eyes in the house. then again, our cantor (David Shneyer) does WONDERFUL B'nai Mitzvot. Personal, spiritual, learning, musical, embracing. joanna in DC [...] 3050 48 26_Cut off date in day school15_Marjorie Peskin24_mpeskin@lynx.dac.neu.edu37_Fri, 27 Jun 1997 11:46:46 -0400 (EDT)616_- MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Marjorie Peskin Subject: Cut off date in day school

> > What is the age cutoff for kindergarten in the Jewish > schools in your town? What percentage of kids actually > follow that cutoff? In our school, although the cutoff > is Dec. 1, the school prefers that children born towards > the end of the summer on wait the extra year. That would > have my son starting 1st grade just before his 7th birthday. > > I am only interested in surveying Jewish day schools, not > public [...] 3099 35 18_Re: Parsha Stories9_FanofPern17_fanofpern@aol.com37_Fri, 27 Jun 1997 11:47:30 -0400 (EDT)555_- Hi everyone!

This is my first post. In a previous post Karla says:

<< We have the Jewish Stories one and it has stories like King David and the spider, why the moon shines at night, etc.>>

Would "Why the moom shines at night" be the same as _Why the Moon Only Glows_ by Dina Rosenfeld? We picked up this book at a very nice Judaica bookstore in Pittsburgh, PA while visiting my sister and my almost 4 year old son loves it. According to the prefix it's based on Rashi's commentary of the Midrash Chulin 60, Berashis Rabbah 6:6 [...] 3135 81 33_Re: Sharing Food in Kosher School18_William D. Ratnoff17_wratnof@emory.edu37_Fri, 27 Jun 1997 17:57:41 -0400 (EDT)482_- From: "William D. Ratnoff" Subject: Re: Sharing Food in Kosher School Organization: Emory University

In article <5n48l2$73m@chaos.dac.neu.edu> Marjorie P. wrote: : I need help with a small problem. My twins go to a preschool affiliated : with the Conservative branch. The school has a kashrut policy, and is : strictly dairy. However, most of the families in the school don't keep : kosher, and pack what I consider questionable food in their kids [...] 3217 46 27_Re: Multiples B'nai Mitzvah15_Marjorie Peskin24_mpeskin@lynx.dac.neu.edu37_Sat, 28 Jun 1997 20:33:47 -0400 (EDT)555_- JRomjrom@aol.com wrote:

: In a message dated 97-06-26 13:26:19 EDT, you write:

: << Does anyone have any experience with putting together a Bar Mitzvah for : : twin boys? : >>

: our cantor did a b'nai mitzvot for QUINTUPLETS. article about it in Hadassah : magazine. the kids did a skit about their parsha instead of a speech. i : hear it was a wonderful service, no dry eyes in the house. then again, our : cantor (David Shneyer) does WONDERFUL B'nai Mitzvot. Personal, spiritual, : learning, musical, embracing. joanna in DC [...]