[HANASHIR:8365] Re: Dr. Seuss

[NeilNFW <NeilNFW...>]

>>>>I'm just wondering to what lengths ( or depths... ) are we willing to go, 
>>>>in our desperation to "sell" Shabbat to our children.<<<<

Oh Shirona,

Do you really feel that the use of "secular" aids cheapens the meaning of 
Shabbat?  Or is it an effective teaching tool?  

We give our kids Snoopy cartoons to teach them Hebrew and use Harry Belafonte 
songs to illustrate the symbols of Sukkot.

We don't always teach Torah trope for Mi Chamocha, we might use a contemporary 
melody.  We have carnivals and costume parties to tell the Purim story, but we 
might not chant the entire megillah for young people.

Any method we can use to make our kids excited about learning, and to help them 
retain it, is valuable.

We have a group of kids use the Dr. Seuss Haggadah 
(http://www.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/Uncle_Eli/Eli.html).  Their enjoyment of 
learning is enhanced by the experience, not cheapened.

In today's world, we teachers face heavy competition from non-Jewish influences 
on our kids.  We need to make the most of the time we have together to help 
these kids learn, and hopefully make them want to learn more.

Neil Weinstein
Bellevue, WA

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