[HANASHIR:16330] Re: dinosaur song

[Carol Boyd Leon <cbleon...>]

At the risk of presenting another point of view...

I believe The Dinosaur Song, as adapted to be a Shabbat song, is just as 
"legitimate" and worthy of being sung by our tiniest tots as are the many 
"classics" I teach them as well -- such songs as Mah Yafeh Hayom, Bim Bam, 
V'haeir Eneinu, etc.

The excitement surrounding Shabbat is there whether we're singing in English 
or in Hebrew, whether I use a dinosaur prop (who said anything about Barney? 
  I use a little green dinosaur) or a golden plastic crown (for Shabbat 
HaMalkah) or a Moses puppet.  They are as excited to hold a real kiddush cup 
as they are to hold the toy challah I use during "Shalom Shabbat Shalom" and 
love to march with huggable plush Torahs even as they understand I only read 
out of the "real" one.

And I firmly believe they are gaining an "accurate" understanding of Shabbat 
despite -- or perhaps, because of -- the age-appropriate songs and props I 
use.  To me, it's not at all a commercialization of the celebration.  The 
dinosaur is "selling" nothing except perhaps his love for the holiday.

Believe me, the kids I sing The Dinosaur Song with during the oneg Shabbat 
that follows Tot Shabbat -- and they range in age from 2 to 3rd grade, plus 
their parents -- are well aware there's no dinosaur that comes knocking at 
my door or anybody else's.  But the idea that Shabbat is so wonderful that 
even a dinosaur would want to celebrate the holiday is the lesson that 
sticks with them.

I wouldn't expect a preschooler to leave a Shabbat adult service feeling 
especially inspired about Shabbat.  Hopefully, that'll come in time when he 
or she is closer to adult age.  A children's service and children's songs 
are just that -- designed to be understood and appreciated by children.  And 
I, for one, appreciate the assistance I get from my little green dinosaur. 
:-)


Carol Boyd Leon
Songwriter/Cantorial Soloist/Music Educator
E-mail:  CBLeon (at) hotmail(dot)com
Phone:  703-250-0554
Web page:  http://www.geocities.com/CBoydLeon


----Original Message Follows----

>>With advanced apologies to the author of this song... I'm wondering about 
>>the desperate measures some of us are taking in trying to get our kids to 
>>be excited about Judaism.  A DINOSAUR to "sell" kids on Shabbat....?

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