[HANASHIR:8373] Re: Dr. Seuss

[Joel Shickman <joel...>]

I may be lucky with my first child, or he may grow out of this love, but my
2-year old son loves lighting candles, drinking wine/grape juice, eating challa
and singing about them (reciting b'rachot) beforehand.  After dinner, we sing
every shabbat song imaginable until my hands cramp up or my voice goes (MY body
always quits before HIS desire ends).

In every book I've read about Jewish parenting, the authors mention that
children take cues (model) from their parents behavior.  If we can get excited
about whatever we consider to be 'traditional' Judaism, then hopefully we won't
need methods that smack of secular overtones.

Joel
Dallas, TX

PS Without contradiction, if Dr. Seuss, et al is the only way to get children
interested, I do believe in the 'by-any-means-necessary' approach.


Adrian Durlester wrote:

> Well guess what, Shirona? Ostensibly, I happen to agree with you. It is
> unfortunate that we do have to go to great lengths to "sell" Shabbat to our
> children (and even to our grown-ups!) However, as our sages taught us, and
> as is reiterated in the Pesach Seder each year, we must teach our children
> according to their ability to learn and assimilate knowledge. There was a
> time when using terms for Shabbat like bride and queen were meaningful to
> children. Yet these, too, are creative enhancements to bring deeper meaning
> and understanding.
>
> One uses what works. Gd has done no less in encounters with b'nei Yisrael.
> Gd often presents miracles in ways they can best be understood by human
> beings. should our parenting be all that much different than Gd's?
>
> Does it pain me to see "Sponge Bob Squarepants Shabbat" ? Sure.  But it if
> succeeds in turning on even one kid to the magic that is Shabbat, then why
> not? But here is my caveat. I think it is incumbent upon us to first try
> those things from within our tradition and liturgy and literature and
> cultural heritage that are designed to help us teach our children. Only when
> we fail with them (and our failure is an honest one, rather than one of
> anticipated failure bringing about it's own reward) then we can turn to
> other devices.
>
> Shabbat does not need help from Dr. Seuss, but, Shirona, I expect that Queen
> Shabbat would graciously accept the help rather than spurn it in righteous
> indignation.
>
> Adrian
> Adrian A. Durlester. M.T.S.
> http://members.home.net/durleste/
> Judaic/Ivrit and Music Teacher-Akiva School, Nashville, TN
> Music & Choir Director, Congregation Micah, Nashville, TN
> Editor, Bim Bam, Torah Aura Productions, Los Angeles, CA
> Evening Program Chair, CAJE 26, Aug 5-9, 2001, Colorado state University.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org [mailto:owner-hanashir (at) 
> shamash(dot)org]On
> Behalf Of shirona
> Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2001 3:57 PM
> To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Subject: [HANASHIR:8364] Re: Dr. Seuss
>
> I'll start this posting with a disclaimer - I do not wish to offend
> anyone...this is just my opinion -
>
> but - - - "Dr. Seuss Shabbat"???  How far is that from  "Mick Mouse
> Shabbat"?  I'm just wondering to what lengths ( or depths... ) are we
> willing to go, in our desperation to "sell" Shabbat to our children.
>
> Does Shabbat need help from Dr. Seuss?  If so, we are in big, major trouble.
>
> Shirona
>

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