Recommended Reading Lists

One of the sixth grade parents at Etz Chayim asked the other day whether I had a recommended reading list for students. Although I'd love to put one together, I sadly just don't have the time these days to keep as on-top of new releases in Jewish children's and young adult literature. On the other hand, I do know where to find a treasure trove of such lists (and many more, on almost every imaginable Jewish topic): the Association of Jewish Libraries' website. Each list is described, along with the date it was posted and its length in pages. Not only that, but it's well-maintained. The last update was this August. Bibliography Bank

Jewish Parenting, Jewish Kids, Interfaith and Jewish Families - Kveller

A new Jewish parenting website was launched this month. Check it out: Jewish Parenting, Jewish Kids, Interfaith and Jewish Families - Kveller

Big Questions and Answers from Your Kids

This past Sunday, both hours' classes took slight digressions from our main topic (the Jerusalem Temples, the past importance of sacrifices, and how prayer replaces sacrifices today) and hit many of the BIG Jewish spiritual questions: why do mitzvot, why God is quieter today than in the past, why God spoke through prophets in the past, why has God given human beings so much power in the world when we often abuse it so horribly. The kids asked the highest caliber of questions and gave just as good answers. I was very impressed that one of the girls actually knew the rabbinic answer to the question of what God does today, since human beings seem to be in charge of the day-to-day business. As Hannah reminded me, God makes marriages. (This is, depending on which class member you ask, either a brilliant answer from the sages of the past or one that just avoids the question.)

I love speaking to kids about God, as do Ari and Melissa. However, kids often benefit particularly from talking with their parents and other family members about God, the Universe, and the meaning of it all. I've put together a few (possibly too few) items for you to help prepare you for this task.

On the Web, you can do a search for "talking to kids about God Jewish" and find many helpful sites and repeated postings of a helpful article from Rabbi David Wolpe, a Conservative rabbi in LA: My Jewish Learning: How to Talk to Your Kids about God. I also recommend the following interview with Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, one of the most important Jewish children's authors: http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/features.php?id=15228. Sasso is best known for her book God's Paintbrush.

My favorite books on Jewish theology for middle-schoolers are:

• Kushner, Lawrence. The Book Of Miracles: A Young Person's Guide To Jewish Spiritual Awareness: For Parents To Read To Their Children, For Children To Read To Their Parents. UAHC Press, 1987. Jewish Lights Pub; 1997.
• Gellman, Marc. How Do You Spell God? Answers to the Big Questions from Around the World. Reading level: Ages 9-12. William Morrow & Company; 1995.
• Feinstein, Edward. Tough Questions Jews Ask: A Young Adult's Guide to Building a Jewish Life. Jewish Lights Publishing, 2003.
  

Do Parents Influence Teen Behavior?

I just saw some fascinating statistics about the effects parents have on their teenage children on the Moving Traditions (the organization that sponsors It's a Girl Thing!) website. You may want to check it out!

Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll
Do Parents Influence Teen Behavior?